There was a time when Sony Interactive Entertainment, or PlayStation for short, had a relative wealth of popular mascots – Crash Bandicoot, Spyro, Parappa the Rapper, Ratchet & Clank, and Sly Cooper, to name a few.
Then came the more mature mascots, if you will, such as Kratos and Nathan Drake. Kratos has since returned with the modern God of War games, as have the duo of Ratchet & Clank, while Nathan Drake is seemingly retired.
We’ve also grown to love (or hate, depending on who you ask) Ghost of Tsushima’s Jin Sakai, and The Last of Us’ Joel and Ellie.
But somehow, a diminutive, charming automaton named Astro Bot has managed to capture the hearts of PlayStation fans, and perhaps embody the very soul of an entire ecosystem.
Yes, the recent Ratchet & Clank games have been acclaimed by both critics and fans alike, but those characters don’t quite lay on the charm like the beloved Astro Bot.