Sony bringing games to the Nintendo Switch is not something that happens often, so seeing two franchises make the jump is a big deal. During the March 2025 Nintendo Direct, both Patapon 1+2 Replay and Everybody’s Golf: Hot Shots were announced as new titles that would be making their way to the Switch. Both games were created by Sony’s Japan Studio, and they might be a good sign that one major exclusive has a chance to go multi-platform as well.
Plenty of great PlayStation games could thrive on a Nintendo console, and if Sony is willing to test the waters, who knows what could follow. While the biggest PlayStation exclusives seem like a long shot, Microsoft has already proven that a more aggressive multi-platform strategy can work. With the March 2025 Nintendo Direct, PlayStation becoming more open to major Switch releases doesn’t seem as impossible.
Patapon & Everybody’s Golf Coming to Switch Is a Big Deal
Sony Exclusive Games Are Coming To Nintendo Switch Soon
Patapon and Everybody’s Golf are classic Sony franchises, so seeing them jump to the Nintendo Switch is a surprise. These games have always been tied to PlayStation, and both series were largely handled by Japan Studio, which used to be one of Sony’s most important first-party developers. Their arrival on a Nintendo system feels like a shift in how Sony handles its older games.
For years, Everybody’s Golf was known as Hot Shots Golf in the United States, so the new game’s title combines both.
Patapon is a rhythm-based strategy game with a unique art style that stood out on the PSP. Players control a small army by drumming out commands to the beat, creating a mix of action and music. The new release, which will also come to PC and PS5, packages together both the original game and its sequel. Everybody’s Golf is an arcade-style golf series that has been around for years, but ignoring a VR game, Everybody’s Golf: Hot Shots is the first new release since a PS4 title in 2017.
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The bigger picture here is what this means for Sony’s approach to older games. PlayStation exclusives used to stay on PlayStation, with very few exceptions. LEGO Horizon Adventures marked a big shift when it debuted on Switch in 2024, and the recent release of Freedom Wars Remastered doubled down. Now, with these Japan Studio games coming to a Nintendo console, Sony seems more open to bringing its older franchises to other platforms.
This doesn’t mean PlayStation’s biggest games will suddenly show up on the Switch, and it’s worth noting that Freedom Wars Remastered, Patapon 1+2 Replay, and Everybody’s Golf: Hot Shots are all being distributed by Bandai Namco rather than Sony itself. It does, however, suggest Sony is loosening its grip on certain titles. Patapon and Everybody’s Golf may not be on the same level as Uncharted or God of War, but they’re still first-party games, and seeing them on another system is a big deal. If Sony is willing to do this, it’s possible other Japan Studio games could follow.
Astro Bot Is Essentially Another Japan Studio Game
Japan Studio Is Team Asobi, The Creators Behind Astro Bot
While 2024 GOTY winner Astro Bot was developed by Team Asobi now, its roots trace back to Japan Studio. After restructuring in 2021, Japan Studio was merged into Team Asobi, which had once been part of Japan Studio itself. The first Astro title, Astro’s Playroom, was also developed by Japan Studio. The studio helped make PlayStation stand out by creating games that were different from Sony’s big, story-driven titles, and Astro Bot continues its tradition of making games that are colorful, fun, and full of personality.
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Astro Bot would fit right in on a Nintendo console. Its bright world, charming characters, and platforming focus feel a lot like something out of a Mario or Kirby game. It doesn’t need to leave PlayStation, but it’s easy to imagine it doing well on the Switch 2, which would be more well-equipped to handle its graphical demands.
Sony usually keeps its exclusives locked to PlayStation, but with Patapon and Everybody’s Golf coming to Switch, things could be changing. If older Japan Studio games can get a second chance on a new platform, it’s not out of the question that the same could be done for newer titles like Astro Bot.
A Switch 2 Astro Bot Release Is a Long Shot, But Not Impossible
Astro Bot Would Do Pretty Well On The Nintendo Switch
Astro Bot coming to Switch 2 would still be an uphill battle. Sony owns Team Asobi, and Astro Bot is one of the few mascots still promoting the PlayStation brand, which also goes for some of the cameo characters found in the game. Unlike Patapon and Everybody’s Golf, which Sony hasn’t focused on in years, Astro Bot is a critical part of the brand. Astro’s Playroom was pre-installed on every PlayStation 5, showing off the console’s new features and including plenty of references for PS fans.
That said, if Sony finds value in sharing some of its smaller franchises, Astro could eventually make the jump in some way. Even if Astro Bot itself doesn’t make its way over, a port of Astro’s Playroom or a smaller spin-off could introduce the character to more players. Sony is already testing the waters by putting some of its older games on the Nintendo Switch. If that works out, there’s a chance we could see Astro Bot follow. Nothing is likely to happen right away, but the possibility is there in the future.
- Brand
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Nintendo
- Original Release Date
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March 3, 2017
- Original MSRP (USD)
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$299.99
- Weight
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.71 lbs
This story originally appeared on Screenrant
