Astro Bot inventive director Nicolas Doucet has revealed that the platforming title’s VIP Bot levels had been initially deliberate to be executed at a a lot smaller stage. In an interview with Japanese publication Famitsu (translation through Genki), Doucet revealed that these VIP Bot levels had been conceived as mini levels reasonably than being full on levels.
“The [VIP Stage] was initially considered a mini-stage, but it surely acquired greater and greater,” mentioned Doucet (translated through Firefox). “It’s not mini in any respect.”
In the end, these VIP Phases ended up being broadly celebrated by Astro Bot gamers, since that they had a big half in celebrating the historical past of PlayStation by exploring traditional franchises by the lens of the cheerful platformer. A few of the video games referenced by these levels embrace Ape Escape by the Apes on the Free stage, God of Warfare by the Bot of Warfare stage, and even PSP platformer Poco Loco by the Going Loco stage.
Since its PS5 launch again in September 2024, Astro Bot has been extremely profitable for Sony. The corporate revealed again in November that the sport had bought greater than 1.5 million copies on the time. Together with being a business success, Astro Bot was additionally critically acclaimed, ending up as the very best rated sport of 2024 on Metacritic.
Since then, Astro Bot has continued to get help by free updates that introduced with them not solely new levels, but additionally celebratory occasions with their very own themed levels. For instance, December noticed the discharge of the Winter Marvel degree, which had gamers have fun Christmas by discovering “shiny presents”.
Again in February, Sony expressed an curiosity in bringing extra family-oriented video games to PlayStation. President Hiroki Totoki spoke throughout an earnings name that the success of Astro Bot can be value exploring extra family-friendly video games to PlayStation.
“At The Recreation Awards 2024, our first-party title Astro Bot received 4 classes, together with Recreation of the 12 months and Greatest Household Recreation – probably the most of any title,” mentioned Totoki. He additionally celebrated the success of co-op motion sport Helldivers 2.
“As well as, the reside service sport Helldivers 2, which was launched in February final 12 months, received Greatest Ongoing Recreation and Greatest Multiplayer Recreation awards,” he mentioned. “The truth that titles in genres we’re planning to increase sooner or later, together with titles for households and reside service video games, have obtained these awards is a serious stride in direction of constructing a broad title portfolio.”
February additionally introduced an replace to Astro Bot that options 5 new ranges (launched on a weekly foundation), in addition to help for the souped up {hardware} of the PS5 Professional. Among the many ranges launched within the replace was Tick-Tock Shock, which was initially revealed because of a speedrunning event earlier this 12 months.
Astro Bot Inventive Director Nicolas Doucet mentioned that the particular VIP Bot levels in Astro Bot had been initially simply imagined to be mini levels!
He mentioned the plan firstly was to have them as small levels however they turned out to be not “mini” in any respect!https://t.co/pDJIUguRcH pic.twitter.com/gBvxFIQW4M
— Genki✨ (@Genki_JPN) March 3, 2025
