Astro Bot (series)
{{short description|Video game series}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2024}}
{{Infobox video game series
|title = Astro Bot
|image = File:Astro_Bot_Logo.svg
|alt=
|genre = Platform
Augmented reality
|developer = Japan Studio
Team Asobi
|publisher = Sony Interactive Entertainment
|creator = Nicolas Doucet
|composer =
|platforms = PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5
|first release version = The Playroom
|first release date = November 15, 2013
|latest release version = Astro Bot
|latest release date = September 6, 2024
}}
{{nihongo foot|Astro Bot|アストロボット|Asutorobotto|lead=yes|group=lower-alpha}} is a series{{cite web |title=Introducing Team Asobi, creators of the Astro Bot series |date=June 2, 2021 |url=https://blog.playstation.com/2021/06/02/introducing-team-asobi-creators-of-the-astro-bot-series/ |access-date=10 November 2024}} of augmented reality and platform games developed by Team Asobi, originally a group within Japan Studio, and published by Sony Interactive Entertainment. The series began with the launch title The Playroom for PlayStation 4 in 2013.
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Setting
Each game in the Astro Bot series takes place within PlayStation peripherals and consoles. Games in the series released on the PlayStation 4 took place within the player's DualShock 4 controller. Games released on the PlayStation 5 take place inside the player's PlayStation 5 console.
Gameplay
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Games
{{Timeline of release years
| compressempty = yes
| range1 = 2013 –
| range1_color = #6495ED #00BFFF
| last = 2024
| 2013 = The Playroom
| 2016 = The Playroom VR
| 2018 = Rescue Mission
| 2020 = Astro's Playroom
| 2024 = Astro Bot
}}
| class="wikitable"
|+Overview of Astro Bot video games |
| scope="col" | Year
!scope="col" | Title ! scope="col" | Developer !scope="col" | Platforms |
|---|
| style="text-align:center;" | 2013
|scope="row"| The Playroom | rowspan="4" style="text-align:center;" | Japan Studio | rowspan="3" style="text-align:center;" | PlayStation 4 |
| style="text-align:center;" | 2016
|scope="row"| The Playroom VR |
| style="text-align:center;" | 2018
|scope="row"| Astro Bot Rescue Mission |
| style="text-align:center;" | 2020
|scope="row"| Astro's Playroom | rowspan="2" style="text-align:center;" | PlayStation 5 |
| style="text-align:center;" | 2024
|scope="row"| Astro Bot | style="text-align:center;" | Team Asobi |
=''The Playroom''=
{{main|The Playroom (2013 video game)|l1=The Playroom (2013 video game)}}
The Playroom is a collection of augmented reality mini-games meant to demonstrate the use of the PlayStation Camera and the DualShock 4 controller, and comes preloaded with all PlayStation 4 consoles. The PlayStation Camera accessory is required to play the game.{{cite web |title=Reminder: Playroom Will Be Pre-Installed on Every PlayStation 4 |date=August 20, 2013 |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2013/08/20/reminder-playroom-will-be-pre-installed-on-every-ps4 |access-date=11 November 2024}} If a camera is not present, only a trailer for The Playroom will be displayed and the game cannot be accessed. Firesprite, a studio founded by former employees of Studio Liverpool, worked on the visuals. Downloadable content is free, with Double Fine assisting in development.{{cite web|url=http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2013-12-06-from-the-ashes-of-wipeout-dev-studio-liverpool-rises-firesprite|title=From the ashes of WipEout dev Studio Liverpool rises Firesprite|last=Yin-Poole|first=Wesley|date=6 December 2013|work=Eurogamer|publisher=Gamer Network|accessdate=6 December 2013|archive-date=8 December 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131208145506/http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2013-12-06-from-the-ashes-of-wipeout-dev-studio-liverpool-rises-firesprite|url-status=live}}
=''The Playroom VR''=
{{see also|The Playroom VR|l1=The Playroom VR}}
The Playroom VR, is a virtual reality game released on October 13, 2016.{{Cite web |last=Fitzgerald |first=Simon |date=25 October 2016 |title=Review: The Playroom VR (PS4) |url=https://www.pushsquare.com/reviews/ps4/the_playroom_vr |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210610123255/https://www.pushsquare.com/reviews/ps4/the_playroom_vr |archive-date=10 June 2021 |access-date=7 September 2024 |website=Push Square}} It contains a series of asymmetrical multiplayer minigames to demonstrate the features of PlayStation VR (running on the PlayStation 4). It comes free with the VR headset and contains six minigames: Cat and Mouse, Monster Escape, Wanted, Toy Wars, Ghost House, and Robots Rescue.
=''Astro Bot Rescue Mission''=
{{main|Astro Bot Rescue Mission|l1=Astro Bot Rescue Mission}}
Rescue Mission stars a cast of robot characters first introduced in The Playroom, where they appeared as robots that lived inside of the DualShock 4 controller. In the game, the player teams up with Captain Astro and goes on a quest to rescue his lost crew scattered across different worlds.
=''Astro's Playroom''=
{{main|Astro's Playroom|l1=Astro's Playroom}}
Similarly to The Playroom for PlayStation 4, Astro's Playroom comes pre-installed on every PlayStation 5, serving as a sequel to Rescue Mission and additionally as a free tech demo for the DualSense controller.{{Cite web|last=Gartenberg|first=Chaim|date=2020-07-17|title=PlayStation 5 pack-in Astro's Playroom is a DualSense controller demo|url=https://www.theverge.com/2020/7/17/21328533/playstation-5-astro-playroom-game-dualsense-controller-demo-geoff-keighley|access-date=2020-11-14|website=The Verge|language=en}}{{Cite web|date=2020-10-27|title=Astro's Playroom preview: PS5's free pack-in is more than just a tech demo|url=https://www.androidcentral.com/astros-playroom-preview|access-date=2020-11-14|website=Android Central}}{{Cite web|date=2020-06-11|title=Astro's Playroom brings adorable 3D platforming to PS5|url=https://venturebeat.com/2020/06/11/astros-playroom-brings-adorable-3d-platforming-to-ps5/|access-date=2020-06-12|website=VentureBeat|language=en-US}}{{Cite web|date=2020-06-12|last=Avard|first=Alex|title=Astro's Playroom is a free PS5 game pre-loaded onto the console at launch|url=https://www.gamesradar.com/astros-playroom-is-a-free-ps5-game-pre-loaded-onto-the-console-at-launch/|access-date=2020-06-12|website=GamesRadar+|language=en}}
Astro's Playroom was announced on June 11, 2020, at the PlayStation 5 reveal event,{{Cite web|date=2020-06-11|title=Astro's Playroom Coming To PS5, No Mention Of VR Support|url=https://uploadvr.com/astros-playroom-ps5-no-vr/|access-date=2020-06-12|website=UploadVR|language=en-US}} was released on November 12, 2020, and was the final game released by Japan Studio before their dissolution in April 2021, when Team Asobi was formally spun off into an independent studio within Sony's PlayStation Studios.
=''Astro Bot''=
{{main|Astro Bot|l1=Astro Bot}}
Astro Bot, was announced on May 30, 2024, and was released for the PlayStation 5 on September 6, 2024.{{Cite web |date=2024-05-30 |title=Astro Bot arrives on PS5 September 6 |url=https://blog.playstation.com/2024/05/30/astro-bot-arrives-on-ps5-september-6/ |access-date=2024-06-01 |website=PlayStation.Blog |language=en-US}} It was the first game featuring Astro not to be developed by Japan Studio due to its dissolution. The game was released in celebration of PlayStation's 30th anniversary. Astro Bot won multiple awards, including Game of the Year.{{Cite web |last=Moore |first=Bo |date=2024-12-13 |title=The Game Awards 2024 Winners: The Full List |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/the-game-awards-2024-winners-the-full-list |access-date=2024-12-13 |website=IGN |language=en}}
Reception
{{VG Series Reviews
| game1 = The Playroom
| mc1 = —
| game2 = The Playroom VR
| mc2 = 77/100{{Cite web |title=The Playroom VR |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/the-playroom-vr/critic-reviews/?platform=playstation-4 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210610124756/https://www.metacritic.com/game/playstation-4/the-playroom-vr |archive-date=10 June 2021 |access-date=7 September 2024 |website=Metacritic}}
| game3 = Astro Bot Rescue Mission
| game4 = Astro's Playroom
| game5 = Astro Bot
}}
While the original game does not have an aggregate score according to Metacritic,{{cite web |title=The Playroom |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/the-playroom/ |website=Metacritic |access-date=10 November 2024}} The Playroom VR and Astro's Playroom received "generally favorable reviews" based on six and seventy-two critic reviews, respectively. Simon Fitzgerald of Push Square called The Playroom VR a "good collection of couch co-op mini-games that demonstrate the capabilities of the VR headset superbly. Although a few of the games you'll play once and never touch again, Robots Rescue is a standout experience that you'll wish was a fully-fledged game in itself."
According to Metacritic, Rescue Mission and Astro Bot are both critically acclaimed based on over fifty reviews for each game. The former won and was nominated for numerous awards and is the highest rated VR game on Metacritic,{{Citation needed|date=December 2024}} and many publications have referred to the latter as a masterpiece released in the ninth generation of video game consoles.{{cite web |title=Astro Bot Review - A Masterpiece, Not A Museum |date=September 5, 2024 |url=https://www.thegamer.com/astro-bot-review/ |access-date=11 November 2024}}{{cite news |title=Astro Bot is virtually flawless and a joyous celebration of gaming |website=Eurogamer |date=September 5, 2024 |url=https://www.eurogamer.net/digitalfoundry-2024-astro-bot-is-virtually-flawless-a-ps5-masterpiece-and-a-gaming-celebration |access-date=11 November 2024}}{{cite web |title=Astro Bot Review: A Platforming Masterpiece |date=September 13, 2024 |url=https://www.digit.in/features/gaming/astro-bot-review-a-platforming-masterpiece.html |access-date=11 November 2024}}
=Sales=
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Notes
{{notelist}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Sony franchises}}
{{Team Asobi}}
Category:Sony Interactive Entertainment franchises