Summary
- Astro Bot pays homage to PlayStation's past with Easter eggs of iconic characters like Nathan Drake and Wander.
- The new Astro Bot game is a fully fleshed-out 3D platformer with over 80 stages and 15 abilities for Astro to use.
- The upcoming Astro Bot continues the tradition of incorporating references to PlayStation hardware and first-party IP.
Originally introduced in the 2013 PS4 pack-in game The Playroom, Astro Bot has been a lesser-known PlayStation mascot for the best part of a decade now. Astro Bot's big breakout hit came in the form of Astro Bot Rescue Mission, a 2018 PSVR-exclusive platformer that sees the titular mascot rescue the members of his lost crew who have all been scattered across multiple colorful worlds. Most players likely had their first experience with the robotic hero in Astro's Playroom, the 2020 pack-in game for the PS5 that's still cited as one of the most enjoyable tech demos ever made.
While Astro Bot has been at the center of a few different PlayStation experiences now, the one throughline of all his related projects has been their unashamed reverence for PlayStation's past. Every Astro Bot game is packed to the brim with references to PlayStation's first-party IP and hardware, often coming in the form of in-game collectibles or hidden Easter egg cameos of Astro Bots dressed as iconic PlayStation characters. Based on its recent announcement trailer, it seems as though the upcoming Astro Bot will continue that tradition.
Every PlayStation Reference in The Astro Bot Announcement Trailer
Uncharted
After a brief glimpse at Astro Bot's colorful worlds and new flying gameplay, fans got their first of many teases of the Easter eggs in store for them on September 6. Ambushed by a horde of pirate-themed enemies, a Bot dressed as Nathan Drake pops his head out from cover and makes a shocked expression. This Nathan Drake Bot is wearing the character's iconic tan shirt outfit from the first Uncharted, but is holding the toy gun Drake uses in Uncharted 4's prologue.
Journey
The camera then cuts quickly to a Bot dressed as The Traveler from Journey, the beloved 2012 Indie adventure game that sees players calmly explore a vast desert. Here, The Traveler is sat in the middle of the desert, knitting away to create the character's long, billowing scarf.
Ico
In that same desert, the titular protagonist of Ico can also be seen, wearing his iconic horned helmet and orange tunic. This Astro Bot Easter egg is actually a two-for-one, as the Ico Bot is holding a watermelon which in itself is an Easter egg in both Ico and Shadow of the Colossus. In Ico, players using the PAL version of the game can get a unique ending that sees Ico and Yorda enjoying a watermelon together at the end of their journey. In BluePoint's Shadow of the Colossus remake, players can find a watermelon washed up on the southwest beach.
PaRappa The Rapper
PaRappa the Rapper then makes a quick appearance, marking a fun little change in the trailer's soundtrack to a more hip-hop-like beat. As the music changes, PaRappa nods his head and performs a little breakdancing routine.
Shadow of the Colossus
Another Team Ico game gets its time to shine next, with Shadow of the Colossus' Wander being represented in Bot form, holding his Sword of Dormin up high to evoke its guiding light. Just next to Wander is another Bot dressed as Mono, the young girl that Wander is trying to resurrect throughout Shadow of the Colossus' story. Agro the horse can also be seen in the background of the frame.
God of War Ragnarok and Horizon
After a few more shots of in-game footage, the recent Astro Bot announcement trailer then reveals another handful of PlayStation-themed Easter eggs. Kratos — specifically a Bot wearing his God of War Ragnarok Armor of the Black Bear outfit — makes a quick appearance, hurling the Leviathan Axe into the air and watching it land right in front of Astro Bot's feet. Atreus also makes a brief cameo in the final shot of the trailer, standing close to Horizon's Aloy.
PlayStation Hardware
Right before the trailer fades to black, Astro Bot and all his Bot buddies can be seen flying through space on the back of an array of PlayStation hardware. A DualSense controller and PS5 take center stage, while other Bots can be seen riding all other mainline PlayStation consoles. A few iconic peripherals can also be spotted, such as the PSVR Aim controller and the PlayStation Move wands.
Astro Bot
- Released
- September 6, 2024
WHERE TO PLAY
JOIN ASTRO IN A BRAND-NEW, SUPERSIZED SPACE ADVENTURE
The PS5® mothership has been wrecked, leaving ASTRO and the bot crew scattered all over the galaxies. Time to ride your trusty Dual Speeder across more than 50 planets full of fun, danger and surprises. On your journey, make the most of ASTRO’s new powers and reunite with many iconic heroes from the PlayStation universe!
Blast off on a supersized adventure
From sandy beaches to lush jungles and piping-hot volcanoes, explore a myriad of memorable planets in search of Astro’s lost crew!
Power up your platforming
With your new powers, battle out a whole new roster of quirky baddies and huge bosses. Feel every hop, punch and crack through your DualSense wireless controller.
Join the PlayStation celebration
Reunite with over 150 iconic PlayStation heroes and celebrate 30 years of PlayStation history!
- ESRB
- E10+ For Everyone 10+ Due To Crude Humor, Fantasy Violence
- Developer(s)
- Team Asobi
- Publisher(s)
- Sony Interactive Entertainment
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5
- Genre(s)
- Platformer
