Sony has announced that Astro Bot is getting a limited edition PlayStation 5 controller.
In a post on the PlayStation blog, Nicolas Doucet, studio head at developer Team Asobi, offered a first look at the Astro Bot Limited Edition DualSense Wireless Controller, inspired by the design of Astro's Dual Speeder spaceship from PlayStation’s upcoming platforming celebration.
The controller design features Astro’s blue accents on the handles and buttons, carved-in sci-fi lines, and Astro’s pair of eyes on the touchpad.
Starting Friday, August 9, at 7 a.m. PT in the U.S. and 10 a.m. local time in the U.K., France, Germany, Belgium, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Italy, Spain, Austria, and Portugal, players can pre-order the DualSense wireless controller—Astro Bot Limited Edition through direct.playstation.com and from select retailers. The controller is priced $79.99 / €79.99 / £69.99 / ¥11,980. The Astro Bot controller launches alongside the game itself on September 6.
Yes it's really that adorable.
FYI pre-orders for the Astro Bot Limited Edition DualSense are now live! https://t.co/k4L7ALYZD1 pic.twitter.com/RgtVjkOmTe— PlayStation UK (@PlayStationUK) August 9, 2024
The Astro Bot Limited Edition DualSense wireless controller is an homage to the titular bucket of bolts, which first appeared in a collection of VR minigames released in 2013. Sony calls the controller a “true work of art,” and it's easy to see why. This thing is certainly purdy. There are a pair of robotic peepers right on the touchpad. The handles and buttons feature Astro Bot’s signature blue accent.
The company has also explained how the upcoming 3D platformer takes advantage of the DualSense controller’s many features. The developer has increased the number of textures that players can feel through the controller via haptic feedback. The adaptive trigger response has been refined to exploit the protagonist’s new powers. Sony describes being able to ‘feel the thruster rattling” when using a jetpack as an example.
It says every new power-up in the game “has been given that same special treatment.” This includes the Dual Speeder gadget, which turns the controller into a motion-controlled spaceship. These new features are for all DualSense gamepads, not just those that look like robots.
