Players are only a few days away from getting their hands on the PlayStation 5. And while the prospect of new hardware tends to be exciting for players, this generation will be even more special, as thePS5 comes with the added bonus of a free game:Astro’s Playroom.
The cute platformer, starring Astro ofAstro Bot Rescue Missionfame, will likely be player’s first exposure to the power of their new PlayStation console, and while games that are packed-in with consoles are sometimes lacking in any meaningful content, it seems the game has played an instrumental role within Sony’s marketing strategy. In fact, it was recently reported thatAstro’s Playroomplayeda major role in the design of the PS5’s controller, the DualSense.
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Players will be happy to know thatAstro’s Playroomis a little more substantial than most tech demos.PS5 owners can expect around five hours of total playtimeif they wish to find all of the secrets and collectiblesAstro’s Playroomhas to offer.
WhileAstro’s Playroomdoesn’t seem to have the longevity and replayability like that of the Wii’s pack-in title,Wii Sports, reviews for the PS5 launch title have been generally positive. Reviewers for the title have stated that while it certainly feels like a game created to showcase the PS5’s technical prowess, it seems like it has the added benefit ofbeing a love letter to PlayStation fans. The game holds many secret collectibles that reference various PlayStation products, like the PlayStation Move Sharp Shooter, and franchises such asMetal Gear Solid.
Although players will no doubt be excited to hop intoAstro’s Playroomupon receiving their PS5, there is some bad news. Unfortunately,PS5 games will not support PSVR at launchwith many speculating that it might be 2022 before a new headset and VR titles will become available on the system. This means that Astro’s adventures will be confined to that of thePlayroomandAstro Bot Rescue Missionthrough PSVR backward compatibility.
Astro’s Playroomwill launch for free with the PS5 on July 24, 2025.
