Astro Bot is back and ready for his biggest adventure yet. This lovable white-and-blue robot from Sony made a splash during last May’s State of Play showcase, where the latest title from Team Asobi was officially revealed. The game takes us through various worlds and galaxies and gives players tons of features to explore using the DualSense controller.
Astro Bot is a direct sequel to Astro’s Playroom, which came pre-installed on all PlayStation 5 consoles at launch.
Astro Bot Release Date and Platforms
Astro Bot will launch on September 6, 2024 (16 Shahrivar 1403 in the Iranian calendar) exclusively for the PlayStation 5. According to Nicholas Doucet, the game’s creative director and head of Team Asobi, there are no plans to release the game on PSVR2. However, he added that if demand is high, a PC version might be considered in the future.
Released Trailers
The first trailer for Astro Bot was shown during the PlayStation showcase a few months ago, giving us a colorful look at the new journey ahead. The trailer starts with Astro waking up on a desert-like planet and then flying using a winged DualSense controller. Right from the start, it was clear this game would follow the same playful path as its predecessor.
The PlayStation 5 is presented as a spaceship, and the game is filled with devices and characters tied to PlayStation’s history. The trailers released so far highlight the game’s large worlds, platforming mechanics, combat, and unique features. Recently, a launch trailer was also released to get players excited for Astro’s next mission.
Astro Bot Gameplay
Alongside the hardware features of the PlayStation 5, Astro Bot introduces 15 new abilities that give the game its unique style. According to details on the PlayStation website, these features are designed to make the most of the DualSense’s haptic feedback and trigger effects, helping players feel every moment of the adventure.
Some exciting powers were also shown in the trailers. One of them is Barkster the Bulldog Booster, a cute dog that helps Astro with air-dashes and defeating enemies. The Twin-Frog Gloves allow long jumps and ranged attacks, while the Giant Sponge power turns Astro into a huge sponge that grows by absorbing water. These elements and the eye-catching platforming are sure to remind fans of games like Super Mario Odyssey and Kirby and The Forgotten Land.
The game takes place across 6 galaxies and 80 stages, featuring rich and varied environments such as jungles, volcanoes, and deserts. There’s a wide range of enemies, and players will have many creative ways to move and fight using Astro’s skills. Overall, Astro Bot offers a bigger, more expansive experience than its predecessor, combining familiar platforming fun with fresh twists.
Cameos From Iconic PlayStation Characters
Just like Astro’s Playroom, this game features plenty of cameos from iconic PlayStation characters. In the first trailer, we saw Aloy from Horizon, Kratos, Monkey and Spike from Ape Escape, Ratchet, and Nathan Drake, all helping Astro. There were also fun appearances from characters like the Traveler from Journey, PaRappa the Rapper, the Hunter from Bloodborne, and 2B from Nier Automata. It seems that robotic versions of nearly every famous PlayStation character might appear in this game.
Other Details About the Game
The standard edition of Astro Bot will cost $59.99 for both physical and digital versions. There’s also a digital deluxe edition priced at $69.99. At launch, the game will take up 66 GB of storage space, excluding the day-one update.
It’s expected to take 12 to 15 hours to complete. A free DLC will be released by the end of the year, adding new stages and a Speedrun mode.
Interestingly, the Platinum Trophy in the game includes a fun message. The trophy, called “Astro-nomical”, reads: “You got all the trophies. Congrats! See you in Astro’s next adventure.” This clearly hints that another Astro Bot sequel might already be in the works. A similar hint was hidden in the trophies of Astro’s Playroom as well.
