UPDATE: 2025-08-19 17:59 EST BY KYLE GRATTON
A previous version of this article incorrectly stated that theAstro Botin-store demo was exclusive to Canada and would cease to be available on September 6. Both of these inaccuracies have been corrected.
A few lucky fans can try a demo of an eagerly awaitedPlayStation 5exclusive before it comes out. The game is scheduled for release in Fall 2024, but a demo will be available for about two weeks before it’s launched. However, it looks like the demo won’t be available for everyone. Instead, only residents of a specific country will have access to it, and only if they visit a specific store franchise.
PlayStation and developers Team ASOBI invite fans to tryAstro Botbefore it’s officially released. The catch istheAstro Botdemo will only be available in select stores .The “Astro Bot in-store demo experience,” as thePlayStationwebsite is calling it, will be playable in 31 Best Buy stores across Canada. Interested Canadian fans can check if there’s a participating store near them on the PlayStation website. The demo will be available to try starting August 26. Those in other countries should keep an eye on local retailers for theAstro Botdemo. For those not in Canada you can visit retailers in your local country to see availability of demos.
Astro Bot: All Edition Differences & Pre-Order Bonuses
Several different editions of Astro Bot are available for pre-order, with general pre-order bonuses as well as specific edition incentives available.
Astro Bot Demo Is A Nod To Its Origins
A Long Journey For A Small Robot
Astro Botfirst rode its tiny jetpack onto the gaming scene in 2016. At the time, Team ASOBI was a part of Sony’s in-house development studio, and needed a way to show new VR users how to use the device. The result wasThe Playroom VR,a virtual playground available for free with the purchase of a VR console.The Playroomhad several minigames designed to get new users familiar with the controller and headset. Among these was the little robot that became the star ofAstro Bot.
Since the release ofThe PlayRoom VR,Team ASOBI has launched two successful VR games,Astro Bot Rescue MissionandAstro’s Playroom.The latter was another free demo designed to showcase the PlayStation 5’s capabilities, and it came pre-installed on new consoles.
Today, Team ASOBI is its own independent studio, and the upcomingAstro Botwill be a full-length game. For the second time in the little robot’s career, the game won’t use VR, making it much more accessible to players who simply don’t want to shell out for a PS VR. This doesn’t mean the game won’t have its fun with the resources it does have: The team has confirmed thatAstro Botwill have players using their DualSense controllers in innovative ways.
But first, the developers want to getAstro Botinto players' hands. Although it’s limited in scope, the in-store demo experience is a way to reconnect to its roots as a free game.Astro Botlaunches on September 6 for everyone.
