This month players on PlayStation rejoice in the upcoming new release, Astro Bot. After the character’s debut back in 2-18 in the PlayStation VR exclusive Astro Bot: Rescue Mission, the potential console mascot is returning with a new full release adventure. Not to mention that the character did make a return with Astro’s Playroom – a technical demo which came bundled with every PlayStation 5.

In anticipation for the new release, Sony Interactive Entertainment also issued a special edition DualSense controller themed after the titular robot. Featuring an all-white body with the characterizing eyes emitted from the touchpad shows to be one of the most sought out for controller yet for the entire generation.

Now ahead of its release, PlayStation presses on what Astro Bot features to bring its unique taste to players. Among its endless callouts to PlayStation history, Astro Bot is said to feature over 100 ‘Cameo Bots’ – many of which are from the legacy repertoire for PlayStation. More surprising is that it confirms on is the newly-acquired Microsoft IP Crash Bandicoot.

They had to be a cool sci-fi design but also have things like fabrics or furry boots, so we sometimes felt we might be going against the original intent of the character. So we substituted more organic materials, like hair, with materials such as vinyl.

But with all of these characters, the eyes are paramount. Sometimes LED eyes just didn’t work on certain characters because the original design relies so much on the pupils being a certain size or color for instance . So for more cartoony VIPs like Crash Bandicoot or from Ape Escape, the Bots are wearing a mask to help bridge that problem!

Nicolas Doucet, Team Asobi Studio Director

Of course, the Crash Bandicoot series is very well associated with the PlayStation platform. Although it was never truly exclusive to Sony’s consoles, it is one of the most synonymous franchises with the brand. And despite Xbox now the true owner of Crash Bandicoot and associated IPs, the orange marsupial will be featured in Astro Bot.

And, this is not the first time Crash Bandicoot crossed paths with Astro Bot. In the original PlayStation VR title, there was a Cameo bot for the character well before Microsoft even considered outright purchasing Activision.

Are you surprised by this new detail for Astro Bot?

Astro Bot launches September 6, 2024 for PlayStation 5.

Source: PlayStation Blog