Astro Bot Snubs One of the PS5’s Best Exclusives

Astro Bot Snubs One of the PS5's Best Exclusives

Key Takeaways

  • Astro Bot lacks Returnal references unless transferred from Astro’s Playroom.
  • The other bots from Astro’s Playroom have their own references in Astro Bot itself.

As a dedicated PlayStation fan who’s spent countless hours navigating the vibrant worlds of Astro and his pals, I must confess my disappointment in not finding any direct references to Returnal within Astro Bot Rescue Mission. While I appreciate the nod to Selene through the transfer from Astro’s Playroom, it’s a bit puzzling that Housemarque’s groundbreaking roguelike shooter seems to have been overlooked in this charming platformer.


In Astro Bot, you won’t find any direct references to Returnal. However, if you transfer a bot from Astro’s Playroom, there might be a connection. The appeal of Astro Bot lies in its immersive world exploration, where players hunt for the various VIP bots inspired by popular video game characters. Over 169 cameo bots from some of PlayStation’s most iconic franchises can be discovered within the game itself.

In the game, there are over 169 cameos of characters from Astro Bot for players to uncover, including classic characters like Crash Bandicoot and newer heroes such as Nathan Drake. It’s surprising, though, that one exclusive PS5 title appears to have been overlooked by Astro Bot, even though it does receive some recognition for those who transferred their specialized bots from Astro’s Playroom.

As a devoted PS5 gamer, you might not have noticed, but the beloved game, Astro’s Playroom, sneakily received several updates prior to Astro Bot’s release. These updates introduced new collectible bots, one of which is modeled after Selene from Returnal. The other three bots hail from Bloodborne, Gran Turismo, and Ape Escape. Incredibly, these four bots can be moved over to Astro Bot, where they become part of the game’s main hub world. Yet, it’s worth mentioning that, despite my thorough exploration, I couldn’t find any subtle nod or tribute to Returnal within Astro Bot itself.

Astro Bot Doesn’t Have Returnal References, Unless You Transfer from Astro’s Playroom

Astro Bot Snubs One of the PS5's Best Exclusives

Indeed, the other three special bots from Astro’s Playroom still have their franchises well-represented in Astro Bot. Astro Bot players can unlock a Gran Turismo-themed outfit from the gacha machine, while there is an entire level dedicated to Ape Escape. Bloodborne also has its own bot to collect in Astro Bot, with Returnal the only game requiring players to play through Astro’s Playroom to get representation.

It’s not entirely certain why the character from Returnal wasn’t included in Astro Bot, but it might have simply been an oversight. Given that Astro Bot extensively celebrates PlayStation across its entire gameplay, the absence of a tribute to Returnal within the game itself is unfortunate, yet it doesn’t necessarily imply that Sony holds less regard for the IP. Keep in mind that Returnal received critical acclaim, won numerous awards, and was even made available on PC.

If you’re a fan of PlayStation and hoping to see Returnal in Astro Bot, here’s how you can do it: Find all the hidden Astro bots within Astro’s Playroom. The good news is that this game comes free with every PS5, giving everyone a chance to collect the Selene bot for their own game.

Read More

2024-09-07 19:53