The Journey of Astro: From Tech Demo to Sony Mascot
Is Astro a Sony Mascot?
Astro, the star of Astro’s Playroom and Astro Bot, has become synonymous with Sony’s Team Asobi. However, Nicolas Doucet, the head of Team Asobi, believes that a mascot’s status is determined by fan affection, not corporate designation.
Origins at Team Asobi
Initially, Team Asobi was an internal R&D studio under Sony’s Japan Studio, focusing on developing tools for other Sony studios. In 2012, the team was asked to develop minigames for The Playroom, a showcase for the PS4’s augmented reality technology.
The Birth of Astro
One of these minigames, “AR Bots,” featured small robots that roamed around and interacted with objects. These proto-Astros set the visual style and tone, designed to evoke baby-like qualities with a rounded tummy and large eyes.
When The Playroom VR was released in 2016, the robot character was rebranded as Astro. The name was chosen for its simplicity and ease of pronunciation in multiple languages.
Astro Bot Rescue Mission and Astro’s Playroom
Astro Bot’s first significant appearance was in Astro Bot Rescue Mission (2018), a well-received platforming game exclusive to PSVR. This success paved the way for Astro’s Playroom, a pack-in with the PlayStation 5 in 2020, designed to showcase the new DualSense controller features.
Team Asobi’s Evolution
In 2021, Sony announced that Team Asobi would become its own studio, separate from Japan Studio. The studio’s culture and design philosophy are steeped in Japanese traditions, focusing on tight controls and a “play feel” that resonates with platformer fans.
Design Philosophy
Astro’s design is intentionally cute and appealing to all ages. The platforming challenges are crafted to be approachable yet rewarding for experienced players. The story and humor are expressed wordlessly, making the game accessible to very young players.
Future Prospects
Team Asobi is now working on a new 3D platformer, celebrating PlayStation’s history with references and VIP characters from past games. The game aims to introduce new tech toys and maintain the studio’s unique “technomagic” approach.
Rapid Prototyping
Team Asobi utilizes rapid prototyping, starting ideas with Post-It notes and refining them through collaborative sessions. This process enables the team to generate and test new ideas quickly, ensuring a polished final product.
Astro’s Legacy
Astro’s journey from a tech demo to a beloved character symbolizes Team Asobi’s evolution. While Doucet believes that only fans can decide Astro’s status as a long-term mascot, the character’s endearing design and innovative gameplay have already made a lasting impact.
