Astro Bot: Release Date, Gameplay, New Bosses, & Confirmed Cameos

Summary Astro Bot sequel for PS5 with new abilities and 80 levels across 6 galaxies.

Included cameos from PlayStation games like God of War and Uncharted, adding humor and references to the game.

Over 70 new enemies and Boss battles, including Lady Venomara, promise an exciting and varied experience.

At long last, Astro Bot has been announced as a full-length platformer game that will follow the epic journey of the beloved little mechanical robot of the same name. Despite being a tech demo to showcase the PS5's technology, Astro's Playroom became one of the highest-rated games on the system and left fans wanting to see more of him, so much so that he has even been highlighted as a possible new mascot for the company. Although Astro was featured again in Astro Bot: Rescue Mission, it was exclusively for the PSVR headset, limiting its reach to eager fans.

Announced with a debut trailer at the PlayStation State of Play event, Astro Bot will make use of the PlayStation's DualSense controller's features of adaptive triggers and haptic feedback. Developed by Team Asobi, the game will tell a story of Astro working to reunite his crew after tragedy has befallen them. Although little has been announced yet regarding the specifics of gameplay, it appears as though many of the same abilities and gameplay mechanics will be carried over from Astro's Playroom, although it is said there will be a variety of new skills for players to discover as well.

Related Astro Bot Rescue Mission Review: PS VR’s Killer App Sony's own Japan Studio excels with their PlayStation VR game Astro Bot Rescue Mission, giving the hardware one of its first must-buy exclusives.

A PlayStation 5 Exclusive Title

Astro Bot will be released exclusively for the PS5 on September 6, 2024. Pre-orders will open for the title beginning on June 7, 2024, alongside more information on the game. Likely, at this time there will be more information on any special order bonuses as well as physical media options. The PlayStation blog includes a picture of a physical case for the game, which suggests that it will not follow the recent trend of digital-only games — unless it's just the case with a redemption code included inside.

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Not only does the game feature technology that is specifically adapted for the PS5 and its DualSense controllers, but the universe in which Astro resides is heavily focused on PlayStation's history of consoles and gaming, making the little robot an unofficial mascot for the company. Whether flying a DualSense controller as a speeder or seeing a PS4 rise out of the desert, this is clearly a Sony world.

Astro Bot Gameplay Is A Full Game That Isn't Just More Of Astro's Playroom

Over 80 Platforming Levels Across 6 Galaxies And 15 New Abilities

Astro Bot will take place in 6 galaxies that will be home to a total of over 80 platforming levels while Astro searches for his scattered friends and crew. Each world will provide unique biomes, including forests, beaches, deserts, and more, and each comes with some incredible enemies and bosses to defeat. While the game appears very similar to Astro's Playroom, there are 15 new abilities to mix things up, including a couple that use special friends that can ride on Astro's back and provide new powers.

Barkster The Bulldog is one of these friends who will ride on Astro's back and gives the ability to air-dash through enemies as well as some obstacles in the world. Visible in moments in the trailer are also a chicken, another robot-type creature, and a fish or possibly penguin. Another ability shown in the trailer is the Twin-Frog Gloves, which will allow Astro to punch from far away and swing on certain platforms.

Related Astro's Playroom Review: More Than A Tech Demo Astro's Playroom far exceeds its role as a showcase for the PS5's technical offering, with an extremely fun 3D platforming romp to explore and enjoy.

Confirmed Cameos In Astro Bot

All The Games Referenced In Astro Bot That Are Known So Far

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Previously, in Astro's Playroom, the little mechanical bot was no stranger to being surrounded by Easter eggs and cameos from other PlayStation games. It seems that tradition will, happily, continue in Astro Bot, and many glimpses of cameos were already present in the announcement trailer. How much each of these characters will play into the actual story and game is yet to be seen, but their appearances are already helping to set the tone for the comedy present in the game.

Character Cameo Franchise It Is From Kratos God Of War Nathan Drake Uncharted Aloy Horizon Ratchet Ratchet & Clank Clank Ratchet & Clank PaRappa Rappa PaRappa the Rapper Colossus Shadow of the Colossus Wander Shadow of the Colossus Pipo Monkey Ape Escape Spike Ape Escape Ico Ico

Having Kratos and PaRappa show up in Astro Bot forms does not mean to imply that the game is simply a mashup of other titles. The platforming game will focus on its own unique story to create a full-length game. That said, the PlayStation Blog announcement hints that these cameo characters might play a larger role than simply appearing in the background, as they did in Astro's Playroom.

There are likely more cameos and Easter Eggs that will be in the game that have not been revealed at the time of writing.

Related Square Enix Shares Tomb Raider Easter Egg In PS5's Astro's Playroom Astro's Playroom pays tribute to PlayStation's long history, and Tomb Raider protagonist Lara Croft is included in that long list of references.

Astro Bot Bosses Include A Chaotic Variety

Several Bosses To Keep Astro Bot On Its Toes

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Astro Bot isn't just giving Astro new powers, though, as there are more than 70 new types of enemies for the little robot to face off against in the adventure. Large and powerful bosses, including the cobra queen Lady Venomara, will await Astro at the end of each of the galaxies. She is the only boss who has been named thus far, but others shown include a massive King Kong-style gorilla and an Aladdin-like Genie in an oversized lamp.

Four years after his first appearance in a tech demo, Astro will finally get the adventure he deserves, which his fans have been clamoring for. The new abilities, enemies, and galaxies from the trailer feel as though they will be a natural fit for the series while proving that the humor and lighthearted entertainment that were present in Astro's Playroom will continue forward here, particularly with its Easter eggs and cameos. Astro Bot will be available for pre-order very soon and launch for the PS5 this fall.

Source: Wario64/X, PlayStation Blog