Astro Bot: Rescue Mission appears to have struck gold, eclipsing all other 3D platformers except Mario in popularity over the past decade.
When tackling the development of a 3D platformer, you’re likely facing a daunting challenge. While 3D gaming’s early dominance faded over time, interest in it experienced a modest resurgence within the indie sphere. While Nintendo has a proven track record of producing highly successful platformers, it appears that Mario may face some level of competition from other developers and titles. According to GamesIndustry.biz’s Christopher Dring, who possesses insight into various sales data for consoles and video games, he recently tweeted about the current state of console sales as well as the performance of Astro Bot on Twitter this week.
In Europe, Astro Bot’s sales outpace those of Sonic Frontiers by a considerable 34%, as well as Crash Bandicoot 4 by an impressive 52%. This is all the more notable considering the immense brand recognition enjoyed by these veteran franchises, whereas Astro Bot remains a relatively new entrant in the genre. While Dring didn’t disclose exact sales figures, he noted that the game’s performance surpassed Sonic Frontiers’ in Europe alone, making it seem like a notable achievement when compared to the latter’s overall numbers. However, it could potentially unfold as intended, where it truly belongs. Within the past decade, Astro Bot’s success has surpassed that of most new 3D platformer games, with Mario being a notable exception. While true success may elude recognition for years to come, its promising start is undeniable.
It’s no surprise Astro Bot can’t outdo Mario, given the latter’s iconic status, but it seems like Astro Bot is indeed trying to conquer that lofty peak. PlayStation’s Hermen Hulst recently deemed Astro Bot “very, essential” to the platform, leading many to speculate that the lovable robot will make another appearance in the future.
