PlayStation boss says he’s open to reviving classic franchises


PlayStation co-CEO Hermen Hulst has said that Sony is open to reviving its back catalog of classic game franchises.

Speaking to Famitsu, the executive said that in the future, the platform owner intends to offer a wide range of experiences both from its own studios and by working with external developers.

“The various IPs we own are an important asset for PlayStation and, as part of our efforts to strengthen our portfolio, we continually look for opportunities to build on previous IPs, as well as develop new franchises,” he said.

“Our goal is to publish games from the best creators in the world, both inside and outside of PlayStation, and we have achieved many successes so far by working closely with third-party development studios.”

Hulst also praised the performance of team Asobi’s Astro Bot, which won game of the Year at The game Awards this month.

According to the co-CEO, Astro Bot sold 1.5 million copies in its first nine weeks, and nearly 40% of those sales came from players purchasing a PlayStation game for the first time or for the first time in two years.

“We’re delighted that it’s been so well received by the gaming community, with a Metacritic score of 94 and a wide range of players really enjoying the game,” Hulst said.

“It has also contributed significantly to community expansion, with a higher percentage of younger players and families purchasing the game compared to other titles.”