PlayStation Now Has the Perfect One-Two Punch for Mascot…

The PlayStation has brought gamers 30 years worth of stories and memories all around the world. Sony's beloved console has continued its impressive run with help from both its devoted fan base and extensive roster of exclusive first-party titles. Through the years, the PlayStation has evolved with the ever-changing landscape of the industry, but one thing it has consistently done well is bring strong single-player stories to life.

Within the single-player landscape, the platformer genre quickly found a home on the PlayStation, and it greatly defined the early life of the console. As time passed, mascot platformers became less prevalent across all consoles, not just PlayStation. The more modern era of Sony's consoles have focused more on strong character-driven narratives, like The Last of Us and Ghost of Tsushima. This trend still continues, but the arrival of Astro Bot in 2024 marked an important milestone for Sony. Now, between Ratchet & Clank and Astro Bot, PlayStation has two mascots that perfectly define these separate eras.

Reggie Fils-Aime Has High Praise for Astro Bot

Former Nintendo of America president Reggie Fils-Aime has praise for Sony's Astro Bot, which won the Game of the Year Award in 2024.

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By Gabriel Machado Pureza

Ratchet & Clank and Astro Bot Show Two Sides of PlayStation's History

Ratchet & Clank Helped Kickstart PlayStation's Legacy of Mascot Platformers

Of course, it's important to note that Crash Bandicoot came before Ratchet & Clank made it onto the scene, but the former hasn't been a Sony exclusive since the 90s. However, once the PS2 dropped in 2000, it signaled a new era for Sony, paving the way for Ratchet & Clank to become a huge marketing pull for the console. The first Ratchet & Clank wouldn't arrive until two years later in 2002, but its impact on the console is unmistakable. The lovable Lombax and his robot companion quickly became an iconic duo, spawning years of sequels and spin-offs.

Even today, Ratchet & Clank has still played a part in Sony's plans. Rift Apart, launched for the PS5 in 2021, and there is still the possibility of more entries in the future. However, there is also the chance that the Ratchet & Clank franchise may be coming to a close. Developer Insomniac hasn't confirmed such a decision, but as time passes, Ratchet & Clank's importance to Sony doesn't feel as prevalent as it once did. Only time will tell, but if the series eventually meets an end, Astro Bot is already carrying the torch into the future.

According to the notorious 2023 Insomniac leaks, the next Ratchet & Clank game may not arrive until 2029.

Astro Bot is Now the Modern Face of Sony

For a free game that originally served as a tech demo for the PS5's DualSense controller, Astro's Playroom kickstarted excitement for the genre again. Thanks to the success of this incredibly fun demo, developer Team Asobi got the opportunity to create a full-blown Astro Bot game. Since its launch in 2024, Astro Bot has been praised for its blend of nostalgia and innovation that balances something fresh with the classic PlayStation platformer feel.

Astro Bot sold 1.5 million copies in its first 2 months.

The game took 2024's gaming awards season by storm, racking up an impressive number of Game of the Year titles. Astro Bot is a celebration of the PlayStation itself, but also marks the return of something the PS5 and Sony's modern era have been sorely missing; a mascot that appeals to a wide demographic. Characters like Ellie from TLOU and Horizon's Aloy are great in their own right, but Astro has the benefit of being both family-friendly and a joy for adult gamers.

Now, between Ratchet & Clank and Astro Bot, PlayStation has two mascots that perfectly define these separate eras.

The PlayStation's Future Will Likely Continue to Put Astro Bot in the Spotlight

While it's unfortunate that Ratchet & Clank may take a backseat moving forward, Astro Bot being the newfound face of the PlayStation brand at least puts the console's legacy in great hands. As the years continue, it will be fascinating to see how much more prevalent Astro Bot continues to become in Sony's marketing.

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