Astro Bot: Cut Content Revealed - Bird Flight Level and Headless Astro

Astro Bot enthusiasts are well-versed in the tale of the sponge power-up's creation, but did you know that Team Asobi also experimented with even more unconventional powers? Imagine wielding a coffee grinder or spinning a roulette wheel in the game! This fascinating detail came to light during IGN's coverage of GDC 2025, where Team Asobi's studio director, Nicolas Doucet, delivered an insightful talk titled "The Making of 'ASTRO BOT'". In his presentation, Doucet delved deep into the development process of the PlayStation mascot platformer, revealing a treasure trove of early prototypes and cut content.

Doucet kicked off his talk by discussing the initial pitch for Astro Bot, which was crafted in May 2021, shortly after Team Asobi began its prototyping phase. The pitch went through a rigorous 23 revisions before being presented to top management. It was creatively conveyed through an adorable comic strip that highlighted the game's core pillars and activities. This approach evidently struck a chord, leading to the project's green light.

Doucet then shed light on the team's idea generation process, which involved extensive brainstorming sessions. Team Asobi organized small groups of 5-6 members, mixing individuals from various disciplines. Each participant contributed ideas on sticky notes, resulting in a visually striking brainstorming board:

However, not all ideas progressed to prototyping, with only about 10% making the cut. Despite this, the team's commitment to prototyping was unwavering. Doucet emphasized that all team members, including those from departments outside game design, were encouraged to prototype their ideas. For instance, audio designers crafted a theater within Astro Bot to test haptic controller vibrations synchronized with different sound effects, such as the opening and closing of doors.

The importance of prototyping was further underscored by Doucet's revelation that a dedicated group of programmers focused on creating prototypes unrelated to platforming. This approach birthed Astro Bot's iconic sponge mechanic, where players could squeeze the sponge using the adaptive trigger. The fun and interactivity of this feature led to its inclusion in the final game.

Doucet also showcased a range of other prototypes that didn't make it into the game, such as a tennis game, a walking wind-up toy, a roulette wheel, and a coffee grinder. These images provided a glimpse into the creative possibilities explored by the team.

Moving on, Doucet discussed how levels were chosen and designed to complement specific mechanics. The aim was to ensure each level offered unique gameplay and avoided feeling repetitive. While some power-ups could be reused, their application needed to be distinct enough to maintain variety. Doucet illustrated this with examples of cut levels, including one themed around bird flights, which was discarded due to similarities with existing levels using Astro Bot's monkey power-up.

Concluding his talk, Doucet touched on the game's final scene, offering a **Spoiler Alert** for those yet to complete Astro Bot. In the original concept, players were tasked with reassembling a completely dismembered Astro Bot, but this was altered after feedback indicated it was too distressing. The revised ending, where Astro Bot is slightly more intact, was ultimately used in the game.

Doucet's presentation at GDC 2025 provided a fascinating behind-the-scenes look at the development of Astro Bot, a game that IGN praised with a 9/10 score, describing it as "A fantastically inventive platformer in its own right, Astro Bot is particularly special for anyone with a place in their heart for PlayStation."