It was in 2018 with the launch of the unbelievable Astro Bot Rescue Mission that the mascot platformer IP actually began gaining traction, whereas in 2020, the free PS5 pack-in tech demo Astro’s Playroom was additionally effectively obtained by gamers. Later this yr, nonetheless, the sequence will likely be making its full console debut with Astro Bot– which, in keeping with inventive director and studio head at developer Nicolas Doucet, was at all times the plan.
Talking in an interview with Push Sq., Doucet revealed that after growth on Astro’s Playroom wrapped up, the event staff’s focus instantly shifted to growing the IP’s first full-fledged console sport, and that assist for PS VR2 was by no means actually a consideration. The explanation for that, as per Doucet, is that within the case of a platformer, designing or not designing round VR are two fully totally different design philosophies.
“We centered 100% on this one from the get-go after Astro’s Playroom,” Doucet mentioned. “[It] was the hope that if it was welcome, it might be a platformer that stands by itself toes, and we might go off to make an even bigger model of it. So no, [PSVR2] was not a consideration.”
“Once we speak about VR versus non-VR, for a sport like Astro, for those who had been to make a VR model, it needs to be absolutely designed for that medium,” he added. “And if it’s not a VR model, it needs to be absolutely designed for that medium. Sure video games can afford to be hybrid, like first-person video games, as a result of there’s a more in-depth similarity. However in our case, the design philosophy for each are very, very totally different. So, you already know, it was a call to develop on the world of Astro’s Playroom and convey Astro to the massive stage. So from the start, that was actually our focus.”
Given the truth that Astro Bot’s first massive journey was a PS VR unique, there’ll clearly be some who will likely be a tad dissatisfied that the sequence is leaving the medium behind, however then once more, it’s additionally extremely thrilling to see it taking the following massive step ahead, particularly with a sport that’s trying so promising.
Astro Bot is due out on September 6 for PS5.
