Team Asobi

History

Team Asobi is a Tokyo-based developer that technically, was formed in 2021. Asobi originally formed in 2012 as part of Japan Studio, but became independent when Japan Studio closed in 2020.

Asobi are primarily known for smaller games that showcase new PlayStation hardware, like 2013's The PlayRoom for DualShock 4 and 2018's Astro Bot Rescue Mission for PSVR. They're are also one of the smallest PS Studios with a headcount of around 65.

So far, Asobi has released 2 PS5 games. The first being 2020's Astro's Playroom - a free, pre-installed PS5 launch title. Its gameplay showcased new PS5 features like haptic feedback and even after 4 years, it's still one of the best uses of the DualSense. The game's positive reception is why Asobi survived the Japan Studio closure.

Asobi's next game, Astro Bot, came out recently in September 2024. The near 4-year development cycle resulted in it being Asobi's biggest game to date. But most importantly, it led to monumental critical and commercial success that no one saw coming.

My Analysis & Predictions

Critically, Astro Bot achieved a 94 on Metacritic, making it the highest rated game of 2024 and tying God of War: Ragnarök as the highest rated first-party PS5 game. Astro Bot is also the most awarded platformer of all time with 195 nominations/wins, including winning Game of the Year at the 2024 Game Awards.

Commercially, 2.5 million copies have sold, and it's now part of many PS5 bundles. Considering the small development budget of around $50 million, Astro Bot has returned tens of millions in profit.

The world is Asboi's oyster after this unprecedented success. So whatever they want to do next, I can't imagine Sony says no. However, Astro Bot is now the blueprint, so I predict Asobi stick to it and release a worthy follow-up near the end of the PS5's lifecycle in 2027/28.

Team Asobi With Mascot Astro Bot

PS5 Games