
Astro Bot Rescue Mission, the PSVR exclusive outing, was a full-length adventure – but the upcoming Astro Bot on PS5 will kick things up a notch. Speaking exclusively with Entertainment Weekly, studio head Nicolas Doucet revealed that his team wanted to make a “big game” – in fact, its biggest game to date.
“This is really about going up one notch – really several notches – and having Astro's big story,” he said. “We call it Astro Bot because we treat this as a new beginning. That's a really, really big game. I think for us, that's the biggest game we've ever made.”
Team ASOBI obviously hasn’t made many games, but with its 80 levels and six worlds, it’s clear this is going to be a much larger experience than Astro’s Playroom, the excellent DualSense tech demo pre-installed on every PS5 console. Despite that, Doucet insisted it won’t run out of ideas: “We really wanted to make sure that the player has a renewed experience every 10 minutes or so.”
The story revolves around the eponymous pint-sized android’s DualSense space ship breaking up into little pieces, which get scattered around the universe. Naturally, you’ll need to retrieve all of the components, and you’ll meet up with many famous faces from PlayStation and pop culture along the way, including the likes of PaRappa the Rapper and Nathan Drake.
Despite this, Doucet promised that Astro will be able to stand on his own two metallic feet. “The core effort has gone into making Astro’s own game so that he can stand as a new PlayStation character with a good reputation and confidence, but also on top of that, there is this whole coating of nostalgia.”
[source ew.com]
Comments 65
Excellent I can't wait for this game and I've not said that for a while.
Astro Playroom has been the most joyful experience I have had on Playstation 5. If a game makes me feel like Im a 10 year old kid, then it must be a great game and that's exactly how I felt paying Astro for the first time. Looking forward to Astro's next adventure. Bring it on.
I get hyped for games all the time, but when I saw the trailer for this it was something else.
I can't remember the last time I felt excitement like this from watching a few minutes of gameplay.
Intense goosebumps the second the "I am Astro Bot" jingle started.
I don't have a single negative thing to say about this. Good luck to the team. This is the kind of thing that I was excited about when I got my PS5. Very excited to play this as soon as it drops.
Astros Playroom was an absolute joy. Took me back to being a kid and seeing Mario 64 for the first time. Loved it. Cannot wait for this!!
I have little to add to all of these comments, like everyone else Astro made me feel like a kid again. It was a great showcase for the dualsense and seeing the nods to Playstation classic games took me back 20+ years
I think Sony would do well to nurture this talent. We need more Nintendoey experiences on PlayStation.
I cannot wait for this I'm sooooooooooo excited I'm replaying Astro's Playroom right now ^__^
@FinneasGH That’s how I felt with Astro Bot Rescue Mission, easily one of the PS4’s greatest games.
It brought back all the memories I had playing Mario 64, realising that it had changed the way we play platformers.
That VR game was mind blowing.
A massive shame a lot of people will never get to play it. Saying that, a lot of people will have never even heard of it.
I was watching a video about the new Astro Bot a couple of days ago, and the guy said people have been demanding a full Astro Bot game and now we finally get one that isn’t just another Playroom. Shocking the amount of people that don’t even know Rescue Mission exists.
Think this is as close to a nailed on 10/10 as you'll get for me
Really excited about this game but disappointed it will not be VR.
Astrobot VR on PS4 was my favourite game ever. It was so immersive.
It’s a day one purchase for me with a pre pre preorder if possible. That’s my autumn sorted.
Very excited for this one. The last Astrobot tapped into something I've not felt probably since Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island - that sense of wanting to carry on just so I can see what the game throws at me next
Reading some info they released about the game and apparently it has over 150 classic playstation characters. I didn't think playstation had that many characters unless they are adding third party ones as well.
Not a fan of the name, they should have called it “Astro Bots BigAdventure” if that’s what it is.
Besides that yes.👍
And yet by not being in VR it’s a fraction of the quality it could have been. Rescue Mission players will know exactly what I’m talking about. The only saving grace it that so few people played that wonderous VR game most just won’t understand what they are missing as they play. For me, and I am looking forward to the game, it will be a very bittersweet gaming experience.
I do wonder what the devs feel about losing so much by going back to pancake gaming. I wouldn’t be happy to be creating a lesser work. Especially with the promise of PSVR2 so close.
Although it wont be of the same quality as Rescue Mission, at least I have Max Mustard to look forward to.
I cant add anything more than whats been said. Astro is probarbly the most fun expierience ive had on my PS5 and it was a day 1. Such a fun little game that is still, imo the best game that shows what the controller can do. I will be pre ordering it for day 1 and will support these guys. They deserve it.
Im looking forward to this very much.
I have a feeling a VR version may well follow
Couldn't be more sure that this game is going to be a great time. Really looking forward to it!
This will be so good. Every astro experience has been magical. More like this Sony. This is the sprinkling of magic Sony has been missing
Mental… I really do appreciate the outpouring of love and excitement that this announcement has caused but it’s only served to show me how far outve touch I am with the general gaming community.
Sure I’ll play it… but give me more sad-dad any day 😂
Astro Bot Rescue Mission is my favourite Sony exclusive on the PS4, VR or otherwise whilst the PS5 game is still the most fun I've had this gen. So yeah, I'm very much looking forward to this game
Following a dead baby's ghost around in the Witcher was freaking wild, but I've started to realize that maybe I don't really dig games with such dark themes as much as I used to now that I'm closer to 40 than 30 lol. I mean, seeing Astro in that Journey outfit was too god damn adorable and sold me a copy right there haha.
@PsBoxSwitchOwner 🙏
There is not much I can add to these highly positive comments either. This is the most excited I've been about a game in years.
Day one purchase for me for sure. I had a big goofy smile on my face the whole time I played that free game on my PS5, didn’t even bother installing any other games for a few hours.
These folks have my absolute faith. One of the few times I’ll preorder without hesitation.
@Moonmonkey Me too, it’s my most anticipated game of the year now. Looks like solid fun
Everyone’s talking about how they don’t understand why it’s not coming to VR and they don’t get why people haven’t played Astro Bot Rescue Mission.. PSVR 1 was a major turn off to me because of all the damn wires.. it wasn’t a money issue at all.. PSVR 2 looks more user friendly I agree but I’m sure a small percentage of PS owners even care for VR let alone actually own it
Still hyped for this game.. so far it’s the only game I’m looking forward to in 2024
Looks like cute fun, but nothing in this trailer screams “must have” for me personally. Hope everyone who is excited enjoys it though!
Making this game non VR is a smart move, having it be both would end up confusing people as them seeing the VR logo would assume it's a pure VR game and not buy it, also making this game non VR will get it way more sales as on VR2 it will probably get 100k-300k sales whilst on PS5 it should get into the 1-3 million range.
I am so ready that I need to pre order this
N.i.c.e. it feels like it from the trailer.astro bot is going to be a awsome game.word up son
It's honestly refreshing to see a platformer be a headliner on a Sony console nowadays. I'm super excited.
Astro’s Playroom is possibly still the best first-party PS5 exclusive I’ve played. Really hoping this turns out as good but I don’t doubt Team Asobi.
@Shepherd_Tallon
Not to take anything away from the game - which really looks good, my second thought after watching the trailer, the 1st being I want it, was how well the trailer was designed and made all the way through to the date reveal at the end - it reminded me of the GOWR trailer. I think well done trailers are underestimated sometimes.
Their biggest game and it looks really polished. But the budget probably at AA range and not more expensives than Uncharted 1-2 & TloU budget (around $20+ million according to Evan Wells).
Personally I disliked Astro's Playroom - Partly because I felt it was a 'tech demo' for the Hardware, particularly the DS5 and I really don't enjoy some of the 'mechanics' that you are 'forced' to use to play the game. I never liked 'motion control', don't want to be 'blowing' on the Mic etc so I have never completed it.
I don't have any excitement for Platformer collectathons these days either so I doubt I'll be buying this. Each to their own of course, but I don't think this is for me.
I am very excited for this game. I hope folks put their money where their mouth is and the game is a huge success!!!
@Rich33 You're absolutely right. It was very well put together.
Wages were well earned for whoever worked on that.
Yeah but why no VR tho?
This is going to be such a joy to play this through, feeding us with nostalgia, because those PS references were a delight and had one the best use of the Dual Sense tech. Very immersive experience!
This can’t go wrong I gather? And to 100% completion it could be at least +20 hours? Can’t wait!
I repeat what most have said here that it made me feel like a kid again playing PS1 & N64 games. It will be an automatic day one! I just hope it's priced accordingly so that it has a chance at reaching the general public.
Just re release the VR game for VR2!!
@Pusher2021 80 levels, 10 minutes for each new experience, they are potentially saying in a coded way it's a 12-15 hour game. Of course there will be lots of scope to revisit levels and collect things and find secrets, I imagine, so it could well be that 20-30 hours experience 👌
Feels like they're setting this up to be a $70 game, which I think will bury it. I'd still buy it but I don't think the vast majority would. Even $60 is pushing things because Playroom was free. I think $40-$50 would be the sweet spot. I want this game to succeed because if it doesn't Sony's take away won't be 'we screwed up on pricing and advertising,' it'll be 'gamers don't want games like Astro Bot.'
Hear me out if any one should take over a franchise , I’d love to see them take over Jax and Daxter or Sly Cooper.
@Gamer83 personally I am in the camp you're describing. I wouldn't go above 25 for this. I'd give them more of my money if they brought a smaller game and a medium sized vr game.
@CamPatUK
Yup. I get it. I hope Sony doesn't F things up.
@PsBoxSwitchOwner @Discol76 Don't toy with my emotions. It's cruel.
@Gamer83 there's 0% possibility is not $70. To Sony and all the modern industry all big games are full price games and if Nintendo gets away with $60 for what they sell then everyone else can to plus the $10 PS5 4k tax.
Anyone thinking this won't be full price is kidding themselves. It looks fantastic. Most hype game this year for sure.
Very excited for this - I hope they add a VR mode later.
Also yeah, fully expecting this to be 80€ but I don't mind. Sounds like a good time.
If this is a megahit then maybe there is hope that Asobi will just become the new Japan Studio and slowly expand and circle back around if you will. One can hope.
@NEStalgia
It's beyond ridiculous thinking. What's really crazy is, it's not that long ago that Sony realized budget pricing should exist for certain types of games.
Team Asobi created something really extraordinary with Astro. They should be a case study for PlayStation on how to create an IP the right way - every PS5 player I know is excited for Astro Bot.
@NEStalgia I really do think it may follow with VR, didn’t Sony even say at some point they want to release games like that (I forget how they call it).
Also you say Sony charge high, but recently HD2 was a good price, so you never know it may be £60 not £70
Definitely excited for this when it is available for pre-order.
Remember, it's always been about the games, Sony. Not all about the graphics. Not all about the hardware.
I hope they stick the landing with this, but I have concerns that the game may have so much variety that it becomes a cluttered mess, or that many of its ideas don’t get fleshed out. 80 levels is a lot to try and make interesting.
@Gamer83 yeah that was during laydens run. I don't know what the new managers will do, but for now they probably see hype for the game and see a 70 launch and then sales if performance drops.
@PsBoxSwitchOwner I'd love to believe it. I don't. But I want to believe.
Pricing, hd2 was a live service competing mostly against free titles so even 40 was waaaay more then the competition. Single player Astro is 70 guaranteed. Unfortunately. It'll be 60 or 50 on PC though 😂
@Jey887 I don't think Sony will slap $70 for this game because that price slot usually reserved for their AAA games. And from Hiroki Totoki statement after Sony fiscal report, they don't think Astro Bot is AAA or game from major franchise:
https://www.gameshub.com/news/news/sony-major-franchise-games-2024-2025-2636885/
Beside, Astro Bot: Rescue Mission was $40 and Sackboy: A Big Adventure for PS5 was $60. So, this game could be between $40-60. But we'll see...
Extremely hyped for this, strongly considering pre-ordering it, maybe the collector's edition if there is one for it.
Really weird that the exclusive interview the studio did was with Entertainment Weekly. EW is mostly about TV and movies. They have a meager gaming column, but mostly they write about gaming and TV/movie crossovers, like TLoU and Marvel stuff. Not sure why Asobi chose to do this with EW.
Astro is quickly becoming Playstation's very own unique and unmistakable mascot, innit?
Cudos to Team Asoby for managing to bring it up there with Sonic and Mario!
Why this game is not being made for psvr2 also is an absolute head scratcher!!
Looks incredible. Cannot wait.
Day one purchase, No doubts
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