Highlights
- The Astro Bot series is expanding with a new full-length sequel, building on Playroom's success.
- Fortunately, Playroom's PlayStation character cameos are returning in significant, spotlighted roles.
- The next Astro Bot title may feature cameos aiding Astro in overcoming obstacles on his journey, taking the beloved cameos to new heights.
This week, Sony premiered its May 2024 PlayStation State of Play, during which the company revealed a brand-new entry in the Astro Bot series. The title, aptly called Astro Bot, will deliver a full-length sequel to the wildly popular Astro’s Playroom, which was packed in with the PlayStation 5 at launch. While Astro Bot’s reveal offered fans a glimpse at a range of original content, one fan-favorite element from Playroom made a very big return. If the trailer is anything to go by, Astro Bot is set to build on, and embolden, Playroom’s greatest strength.
The Astro Bot franchise made its debut on the PS4, with a tech demo titled The Playroom, which saw fans utilize the PlayStation Camera and Dualshock 4 in a collection of augmented reality mini-games. The first true Astro Bot title, Astro Bot: Rescue Mission, was released years later for the PS VR, becoming one of its most critically acclaimed titles. The series’ next entry, Astro's Playroom, launched with the PS5 and remains one of the platform's highest-rated games. It appears that the next Astro Bot title will be the biggest and boldest the series has ever seen, delivering a true, full-length adventure title to fans of Sony’s lovable robot mascot.
Astro Bot - Announcement Trailer
Check out the announcement trailer for Astro Bot, launching on September 6, 2024.
Astro Bot Will Build Upon Playroom’s PlayStation Cameos
Astro's Playroom delivered an exceptional platformer experience while introducing fans new and old to the PlayStation 5 hardware, as well as Sony's gaming legacy. While the title's environments and collectibles thrust the company's legacy hardware, peripherals, and formats into the spotlight, Playroom's exceptional character cameos were its greatest overall strength. Sprinkled throughout the title's many environments were Bots dressed as some of Sony's most revered characters and mascots from the past and present. With the announcement of this year's full-length Astro Bot title, the franchise's cameos are set to return in a very big way.
The reveal trailer for Astro Bot featured a host of familiar faces, as PlayStation cameos were front and center for the announcement's latter half. Nathan Drake, Aloy, Kratos, Ico, and PaRappa the Rapper were just some of the icons on display. However, the nature of these cameos were altogether different than those found in Astro's Playroom. Rather than being hidden in the background, these characters were placed in the spotlight, with some seemingly given their own cutscenes and animations. Though nothing has been officially confirmed, Astro Bot looks to be building its cameos into something a bit more significant, with one character, in particular, providing a possible glimpse of what's to come.
Astro Bot’s Cameos May Be More Than Meets the Eye
Astro Bot's announcement trailer features a variety of cameos, but it's Astro's scene with Kratos that may prove its most significant. While the other cameos appear similar in nature to those found in Astro's Playroom, Kratos can be seen directly interacting with Astro in a scripted cutscene. After removing the Leviathan Axe from a block of wood, Kratos tosses the weapon to an ill-prepared Astro, who attempts to catch it in his hands, before buckling under its immense weight. If this interaction is any indication, Astro Bot may feature its cameos in more prominent roles, with some directly or indirectly helping Astro overcome unique obstacles on his journey.
Little is currently known about Astro Bot's narrative and original gameplay features. Regardless, the title is already shaping up to be a major end-of-year release. The Astro Bot series has long been utilized to tout Sony's newest gaming technology, but the next entry will finally provide the lovable mascot with the sprawling AAA adventure that he deserves. Sony's May 2024 PlayStation State of Play wrapped up by confirming that Astro Bot will be released on September 6, 2024, meaning fans will be back in the adorable robot’s hover-boots before the year's end.
Astro's Playroom
Astro's Playroom was a launch title for the PlayStation 5 that comes pre-installed on the console. The game is a fantastic tech demo for the DualSense controller while also being an enjoyable platformer in its own right.
Astro's Playroom has been described as a love letter to PlayStation, as the game is full of references to past and present Sony franchises.
