When Astro Bot Rescue Mission launched on PlayStation VR in 2018, it blew away expectations Ampland. Here was a game that didn’t just accommodate virtual reality it celebrated it. With playful charm, tight platforming mechanics, and a surprisingly emotional heart, Astro Bot quickly earned comparisons to Super Mario, Crash Bandicoot, and Ratchet & Clank. It was a game that made people say: “This is what VR was made for.”
Then… silence.
Aside from Astro’s Playroom, a brilliant PS5 tech demo that continued the character’s legacy, the world has seen surprisingly little of this delightful little bot and few, if any, games that match its energy. So the question lingers:
Why aren’t there more games like Astro Bot?
VR’s Slow Burn and Fragmented Market
Astro Bot Rescue Mission was a VR exclusive—specifically, for the original PlayStation VR. At the time, VR was still niche, expensive, and far from mainstream. Even today, while headsets like Meta Quest 2 and PlayStation VR2 have advanced the tech significantly, adoption rates remain modest compared to traditional consoles.
Developing a high-quality game like Astro Bot is a massive investment. Doing it for a niche platform means a high financial risk. For smaller studios, it’s unfeasible. For bigger studios, it’s a tough sell to executives. If VR isn’t selling tens of millions of units, they ask, why should we spend tens of millions building for it?
Sony took a gamble. It paid off critically but not commercially. That alone helps explain the absence of similar titles.
The “Tech Demo” Stigma and Platforming in 3D
There’s an ongoing perception issue in the gaming industry when it comes to platformers—especially ones that are bright, whimsical, and character-driven. They’re often dismissed as “kiddie games” or worse, “tech demos.”
That’s a shame, because Astro Bot showed that joy, polish, and creativity can be every bit as valuable as grit and realism. But unless a platformer carries the weight of a legendary IP (Mario, Crash, Sonic), it risks getting overlooked in a market increasingly dominated by open-world adventures, live-service models, and gritty realism.
The industry loves innovation—but it loves monetization more.
Creative Brilliance is Hard to Replicate
Let’s give credit where it’s due: Astro Bot is an exceptionally well-crafted game. From the way it uses the player’s physical perspective to the design of its levels and boss fights, the game oozes creativity and polish.
You can’t churn out a game like this on an assembly line.
It takes a studio with a bold vision, a deep understanding of hardware, and a willingness to play with design principles—not just within the screen, but around it. Team Asobi, the studio behind Astro Bot, treated the player’s head as a camera, and built levels around the concept of perspective. That’s a level of spatial and mechanical thinking that goes beyond traditional design.
It’s hard. It’s niche. It’s not always profitable.
The Legacy of Astro Is Still in Flux
Astro’s Playroom—bundled with the PlayStation 5—was arguably one of the best launch titles in console history. It was short, sure, but it delivered pure delight while showing off the DualSense controller’s capabilities.
And it left fans asking: What’s next?
The answer hasn’t come yet. While rumors swirl of a full-scale Astro Bot sequel (perhaps for PS VR2), nothing official has landed. It’s possible Sony is biding its time, waiting for a broader PS VR2 install base, or perhaps even considering a non-VR Astro experience.
Until then, the character’s future and his influence—is uncertain.
The Market Is Shifting Maybe Back Toward Joy
Despite all this, there’s reason for hope. In recent years, there’s been a quiet resurgence of “joyful” games titles like It Takes Two, Sackboy: A Big Adventure, and Hi-Fi Rush have proven that there is still an appetite for colorful, inventive experiences. Nintendo continues to dominate with Mario and Kirby. And indie games are keeping the spirit of experimentation alive.
Sony has the resources, talent, and IP to keep Astro Bot at the forefront of this movement—if they choose to.
Conclusion
The lack of Astro Bot successors isn’t due to lack of love it’s due to a perfect storm of market caution, hardware limitations, and the high bar of quality the original set. But that doesn’t mean the dream is dead. In fact, it might just be waiting in the wings. As VR becomes more affordable, as players grow hungrier for joy over realism, and as nostalgia meets innovation in fresh new ways Astro Bot could become more than just a beloved mascot. He could be a beacon for what modern platforming can become.
