Astro Bot has not seen the sort of mainstream success that other Sony platforming properties like Ratchet and Clank and LittleBigPlanet have, but it’s enjoyed a lot of critical acclaim. Both Astro Bot Rescue Mission and Astro’s Playroom have been received very well by critics and players alike, and there’s been no shortage of people who’re hoping to see more of the franchise soon.
So is an expansion or a sequel to Astro’s Playroom something that Asobi Team at SIE Japan Studio are working on? Speaking in an interview with Edge, SIE Japan Studio boss Nicolas Doucet said that though there’s been a lot of praise for the PS5 pack-in game, there are no plans for a follow-up yet, and whether or not that happens is something that will depend on the plyers.
“At this moment in time, there’s no plan for an extension of Astro’s Playroom, but I think it’s going to come down to the popularity of the game,” Doucet said. “So far we’ve heard a lot from the media, and it’s been very positive, and we’re really, really happy. But a lot of it is going to come down to the consumer experience.
“I think we need to hear from them too. And that’s going to happen post-launch, once the console is in the hands of consumers. But if the character has popularity, and if it proves that people are really having fun, [an extension or sequel] could be one avenue to follow.”
Doucet went on to say that the development team already has a lot of ideas for what to do with a new game (many centering around the DualSense controller and its unique features), before adding again that nothing has been finalized yet.
“In Team Asobi we’re always trying to come up with ideas from technology, and so there are lots of things we want to try and do around the controller,” Doucet said. “And as we make these prototypes, if one of them turns out to be a game idea in its own right, it could end up being a new direction that we take and we’ll run with it. So it could be one or the other, but at this moment in time I don’t really know.”
For what it’s worth, Astro’s developers have teased that the series “will be back soon with more news”, so there’s that.
Meanwhile, Astro’s Playroom is available on PS5, and comes pre-installed with every PS5. If you have PlayStation VR, you can also play Astro Bot Rescue Mission (and you should, because it’s incredible).