February 15th 2025.
In the world of gaming, there has been a lot of buzz around Astro Bot – a game that is said to have Nintendo-like qualities. One reader, in particular, is curious about Sony's response to the game's success and believes that it could pave the way for a new era of PlayStation games.
This week has been filled with PlayStation news – from the mixed reviews of State of Play to the surprising success of Christmas sales despite the lack of new games. However, what caught my attention the most was Sony's plan to create more family-friendly games, following the success of Astro Bot.
To me, this seems like a no-brainer. But for some reason, it's something that Sony hasn't really done in the past two generations. I can't say for sure why they stopped, but one would think that they would have taken a cue from Nintendo and realized that targeting games solely towards 20 to 30-something men is limiting.
Unfortunately, being labeled as "family-friendly" is often seen as an insult by hardcore gamers. But in reality, it's actually a secret weapon that has kept Nintendo going strong for so many years, even during difficult times. If Sony has finally recognized this, it could have a significant impact on the gaming industry, especially if it allows them to compete more effectively against the upcoming Nintendo Switch 2.
Now, let's talk about the phrase "family-friendly" – whether it's in reference to games, movies, or any other form of entertainment. Contrary to popular belief, it does not mean that it's only suitable for children. It simply means that it's appropriate for all ages. Games like Monopoly, Star Wars, and Just Dance are all considered family-friendly, as are Mario and Zelda. However, a game like Kirby may be geared more towards kids.
The beauty of being family-friendly is that anyone can enjoy it. And as seen from the examples above, it's clear that people of all ages do. I personally dislike the "family-friendly" category at The Game Awards because it's often seen as a dumping ground for anything that isn't rated 18+. It's unhealthy to view violence as the default state for all video games, and anything that deviates from that is considered a niche category only for children. Nintendo understands this, and it seems like Sony did too in the past, until they... forgot?
It's strange that both Microsoft and Sony keep talking about a lack of growth, yet they never specify who they are targeting to expand their audience. Maybe it's because they don't know, but families should have been the obvious choice. The Wii was all about reaching a new market, and there were countless stories about non-gamers and elderly individuals playing. But apart from some unsuccessful attempts at motion control, Microsoft and Sony have never really tried to do the same. Instead, they just sit around complaining that they're out of ideas after trying nothing.
My hope is that Sony is serious about making more games like Astro Bot. They have stated that they don't care about its sales, which is a good sign. So, if they do commission a sequel, which I'm sure they will, I hope they also start exploring more family-friendly games.
This doesn't mean that they should try to copy Zelda and Mario Kart, but rather come up with their own unique ideas. They can take inspiration from Nintendo, but only in the sense that they strive to make games that appeal to a wide range of audiences without compromising their essence. The upcoming Nintendo Switch 2 is expected to be a massive success, and a significant factor in that is the fact that anyone, regardless of age, can pick up and enjoy their games.
Games like Mario are suitable for everyone, while Zelda has a bit more serious tone, and Metroid even more so. There are different levels of family-friendliness, and any type of game can fall under this category – from real-time strategy games to online shooters.
It's surprising that Sony and other companies haven't figured out Nintendo's secret a long time ago. But if they are finally realizing what they have been missing out on all these years, the gaming industry could become more inclusive and imaginative than it has been in recent years.
[This article has been trending online recently and has been generated with AI. Your feed is customized.]
[Generative AI is experimental.]
