Astro Bot for PlayStation has launched highly successfully, outperforming most non-Super Mario 3D platformers released in Europe over the past decade. This information comes from Christopher Dring, a journalist at GamesIndustry.biz, who has insight into the game’s sales performance, including physical and digital data in the region.
According to Dring, Astro Bot’s sales figures are already outperforming several high-profile competitors a month after its release. Specifically, the game has sold 34% more units than Sega’s Sonic Frontiers and 52% more than Activision’s Crash Bandicoot 4. “Astro Bot has done better than basically every new 3D platform game in the last ten years (Mario aside),” Dring shared on X, formerly known as Twitter. While it’s still early in the game’s lifecycle, Dring believes the full measure of its success will become apparent in the coming years.
However, Dring also noted that he cannot disclose exact sales figures due to agreements with European data distributors. While the available data indicates a strong launch, the complete commercial picture is not yet fully accessible to the public.
While Sony has not provided official sales figures for Astro Bot, the game has also experienced a positive reception in the U.S. market. Research firm Circana reported that Astro Bot had a strong debut, ranking second in unit sales during the week ending September 7, trailing only NBA 2K25. In addition, the Astro Bot-themed DualSense controller was the best-selling accessory of that week. Mat Piscatella, executive director of video games at Circana, described the game’s performance as “solid” during its first week, further reinforcing its early commercial success.
Don’t usually talk weeklies but wanted to add some context to the UK reporting from last week. Across both physical & digital, Astro Bot ranked 2nd in unit sales in the US for w/e Sept 7th (behind only NBA 2K25), and the Astro Bot DualSense was the week’s best-selling accessory. Solid week 1.
— Mat Piscatella (@matpiscatella.bsky.social) September 16, 2024 at 7:09 AM
Critically, Astro Bot has also been lauded by reviewers. The game currently holds an impressive score of 94 on Metacritic, a review aggregation site. Many outlets have praised the title for its innovative gameplay and design. This critical acclaim has only boosted the game’s reputation, ensuring it will remain a significant player in the platforming genre.
Looking ahead, PlayStation and the game’s developer, Team Asobi, have plans to expand Astro Bot’s content. Later this year, they will release a free speedrun-focused downloadable content (DLC) update, which is expected to enhance the game’s replayability further and provide additional challenges for players.
In conclusion, Astro Bot’s launch has been a significant commercial and critical success. With its strong sales performance, especially compared to popular platformers like Sonic Frontiers and Crash Bandicoot 4, the game is poised to leave a lasting impact on the genre.