| firebush03 said: These are criminal figures for Astro. Sony’s most critically acclaimed first-party release *of all time* can’t even crack 2mil? The Sony base needs to get their priorities straightened out, this is insanity. I knew launch figures would be low, but not this low. These numbers will explode with the holiday season, I have no doubt. I remain optimistic for Astro. |
Let's be honest: platformers reached their peak popularity in the 80s and 90s. However, most of Sony current fanbase (read as those who buy first-party Sony games) has been built from the PS3 era onward. While fans from the PS1 and PS2 days like me are still around and many of us still enjoy platformers, we're probably not the target audience for Sony first-party releases today. At least two generations of gamers have now grown up in an environment where platformers aren't seen as particularly exciting or relevant
I see this difference reflected in my own social circle. My boyfriend, for example, tried Astro Bot for about 30 minutes but then dropped it, finding the gameplay loop of platformers to be boring and aimless. My younger cousins, ages 19 and 14, didn't like it either. The 19-yo cousin prefers simulation games like Animal Crossing or The Sims, while the 14-yo likes sandbox games like Minecraft. Neither of them fit the hardcore gamer type, unlike my boyfriend, who plays a lot of games. Interestingly, my 46yo uncle (a heavy gamer) loved Astro Bot, calling it his GOTY lol
This generational split highlights how certain genres have more lasting appeal among specific demographics, and that's okay. For example, JRPGs also don't have the high sales numbers of other genres, Fighting games will never sell 30 million like Hogwarts Legacy, but they still maintain a devoted following
That said, I think Astro Bot will still perform well. Three million sales are almost on lock imo, and if it does well during award season, it has a good chance of selling even more. I still believe it will cross 5 million, and 5 million for a platformer is a lot
Last edited by IcaroRibeiro - on 08 November 2024
