Summary

  • Astro Bot lacks Returnal references unless transferred from Astro's Playroom.
  • The other bots from Astro's Playroom have their own references in Astro Bot itself.

Astro Bot does not feature any Returnal references itself - only if players transfer a bot from Astro's Playroom. A big draw of Astro Bot is exploring its worlds in search of the game's various VIP bots, which are modeled after various video game characters. Nearly all of PlayStation's biggest franchises are represented in Astro Bot, with 169 cameo bots to discover in the game itself.

With 169 to find, there are plenty of Astro Bot cameos for players to discover, ranging from old-school characters like Crash Bandicoot to more modern heroes like Nathan Drake. That's what makes it so puzzling why one PS5 exclusive seems to have been snubbed by Astro Bot, though it does get a little love for those that have transferred their special bots from Astro's Playroom.

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A lot of PS5 gamers may not have even realized this, but Astro's Playroom received multiple updates in the lead-up to Astro Bot that added new special bots to collect. Among these is a bot based on Selene from Returnal. The other three are bots from Bloodborne, Gran Turismo, and Ape Escape. All four bots can be transferred to Astro Bot, where they will appear in the game's hub world. However, the fact remains that, unless I missed some obscure reference somewhere, Astro Bot itself doesn't pay any kind of tribute to Returnal.

Astro Bot Doesn't Have Returnal References, Unless You Transfer from Astro's Playroom

astro bot returnal

Indeed, the other three special bots from Astro's Playroom still have their franchises well-represented in Astro Bot. Astro Bot players can unlock a Gran Turismo-themed outfit from the gacha machine, while there is an entire level dedicated to Ape Escape. Bloodborne also has its own bot to collect in Astro Bot, with Returnal the only game requiring players to play through Astro's Playroom to get representation.

It's unclear exactly why the ball was dropped when it comes to Returnal representation in Astro Bot, but it was probably just an innocent oversight. Astro Bot exhaustively pays tribute to PlayStation throughout the entire experience, and so the lack of love for Returnal in the game itself, while disappointing, shouldn't be taken as a reflection of what Sony thinks of the IP. After all, Returnal earned rave reviews, won multiple awards, and was even ported to PC.

Any PlayStation gamers wanting Returnal to be featured in Astro Bot will have to hunt down all the special bots in Astro's Playroom. Luckily, Astro's Playroom is completely free to all PS5 owners, so everyone has the opportunity to get the Selene bot for their game.

Rating block community and brand ratings Image
Astro Bot Tag Page Cover Art
10 /10

Astro Bot
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Systems
PlayStation-1
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Top Critic Avg: 95 /100 Critics Rec: 99%
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Released
September 6, 2024
ESRB
E10+ For Everyone 10+ Due To Crude Humor, Fantasy Violence
Developer(s)
Team Asobi
Publisher(s)
Sony Interactive Entertainment
Engine
Proprietary Engine
Franchise
Astro Bot
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WHERE TO PLAY

DIGITAL
PHYSICAL
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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! 

Platform(s)
PlayStation 5
Genre(s)
Platformer
PS Plus Availability
N/A