(Image credit: Bandai Namco)
The gaming world was abuzz with Nintendo Direct‘s latest announcements, which surprisingly starred classic PlayStation franchises making a comeback without Sony’s involvement. Last year’s release of Astro Bot reminded us how many beloved first-party franchises PlayStation had during its prime, though not many remain active today. While Sony seems focused on its major franchises, it appears more willing to license its series to other publishers. Notably, Bandai Namco revealed new Patapon and Everybody’s Golf games during the March 2025 Nintendo Direct.
The remastered collection, Patapon 1+2 Replay, brings back Sony’s beloved PSP rhythm strategy games. Bandai Namco announced that it will be available on PS5, Switch, and PC on July 11. Patapon stands out in Japan Studio’s legacy for delightfully quirky games, leading to two sequels. Few games have matched its uniqueness, aside from designer Hiroyuki Kotani‘s spiritual successor, Ratatan, expected in 2025.
Besides Patapon, Bandai Namco also announced Everybody’s Golf: Hot Shots, set to release on PS5, Switch, and PC later this year. Known as Hot Shots Golf in North America, this accessible golf game dates back to the PS1 era. Its return feels more surprising than Patapon’s, especially with the series receiving a new entry in 2019 with Everybody’s Golf VR. Check updates on Everybody’s Golf here.
This collaboration started with Bandai Namco’s release of Freedom Wars Remastered earlier this year. Originally a PS Vita exclusive, this Monster Hunter-style action-RPG was a first-party PlayStation game. While there’s no official announcement of Sony partnering with Bandai Namco, their mutual IP agreement is clear.
Although this development is puzzling, it’s exciting to see smaller IPs revived—a trend Sony seems to avoid. With whispers of Bloodborne in the air, some fans, like myself, hope for more obscure titles, like a new Tokyo Jungle. After all these years, fans demand it. Maybe it’s time for Bandai Namco to unleash that iconic Pomeranian back to the streets.
Meanwhile, Nintendo prepares for the Switch 2, introducing “Virtual Game Cards” that can be transferred between consoles and lent to friends for up to two weeks. Look forward to weekly digests, community tales, and more exciting content.