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Astro, the charming robot from Astro's Playroom and Astro Bot, might have the qualities of a Sony
mascot, but Nicolas Doucet, head of Team Asobi, believes the title of mascot is earned by fan
affection, not corporate decree. Although Astro is now the face of the studio and features
prominently in its logo, Doucet feels it’s up to fans to decide if Astro is truly a mascot.
Team Asobi started as an internal R&D division within Sony's Japan Studio, focused on developing
tools and techniques rather than creating games. Their shift to game development began with a
request in 2012 to create minigames for The Playroom, a PS4 showcase for augmented reality. One of
these minigames, featuring little robots, laid the groundwork for Astro. These early bots were
designed to be endearing, with baby-like features to evoke a protective feeling from players.
Astro made his first major appearance in The Playroom VR in 2016, and the name “Astro” was chosen
for its simplicity and prominence. The character’s popularity grew with Astro Bot Rescue Mission
for PSVR in 2018 and further soared with Astro’s Playroom on the PS5 in 2020, which demonstrated
the DualSense controller’s advanced features. This game was praised for its innovative use of the
controller’s capabilities, cementing Astro’s role in showcasing Sony's latest technology.
Despite their success, Doucet emphasizes that Team Asobi’s core philosophy remains unchanged:
creating games for players, not just for the developers themselves. Whether working on R&D demos
or full games, the focus is always on delivering enjoyable experiences for players. Astro’s
journey from a small AR bot to a beloved character mirrors the studio’s own growth and evolution.
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