Unveiling the Creation of Astro Bot

During the recent Summer Games Fest, the gaming community was abuzz with excitement over Astro Bot, a 3D platformer and the spiritual successor to Astro's Playroom. The original game, which comes pre-installed with every PS5, showcased the capabilities of the console's DualSense controller, prompting Sony to invest in the developer, Team Asobi. This investment has led to the creation of Astro Bot, a full-fledged follow-up set to launch in September. The game's development process is rooted in a unique approach, where a core team focuses on the main project while a smaller group prototypes new ideas outside of the game. According to studio and creative director Nicolas Doucet, this approach allows the team to stay flexible and avoid restrictions. Team Asobi has maintained a tight-knit team of around 60 employees, with a focus on people knowing the game well. The development process involves regular meetings where team members showcase their work, receive feedback, and make decisions on how to proceed. This approach has led to the creation of a game that is distinctly PlayStation, with a strong focus on the DualSense controller's features. The game includes over 150 characters, including Astro versions of iconic PlayStation characters, which are not named but have distinctive designs and descriptions. The characters are also part of a museum where players can interact with them and receive humorous reactions. The game's use of the DualSense controller's adaptive triggers and haptics has been praised, with features like the 'feel the wall' mechanic allowing players to feel the change in texture as Astro runs his hands against a wall. Overall, Astro Bot's development process has resulted in a game that is purposefully created for the PlayStation platform, with a strong focus on innovation and creativity.