Astro’s Playroom Is a Full, Multi-hour Game

During the Summer Game Fest PlayStation 5 DualSense controller presentation, a major focus was actually a built-in game. Astro’s Playroom, which comes with every system, is a means of learning how to use the new controller and show off what it can do. Interestingly enough, the presentation confirmed that this isn’t just an elaborate tech demo. It is actually a full, multi-hour game.

The presentation began with showing how Geoff Keighley moving the controller in the real world caused it to move in game, and him flicking on the touchpad to send an Astro Bot out of the PS5 DualSense controller and into the CPU Plaza hub. Prior to that, he showed that you could “hear” the Astro Bot walking around inside the controller.

From the CPU hub, Keighley went into the Cooling Springs area. This is a beachfront resort, where multiple other Astro Bots are relaxing. The footage made it seem like a traditional sort of 3D platformer.

A big part of the Astro’s Playroom demo looked at how the adaptive triggers work. This is a DualSense feature that involves feeling tension, which is programmable, to perform actions. In the case of this title, Astro Bot can go into a frog suit for a 2.5D level. Pressing the adaptive triggers has the character leap left and right to proceed. The pressure you use could determine the degree and distance for the jump.

After that, the presentation looked at Cooling Spring’s Frozen Pool. It showed again how sound and vibration can come from the PS5 DualSense to create ambiance as the Astro Bot walked toward a frozen gate and fan. This segment also had a segment where Keighley had to blow into a controller to make a fan move and pull to open up a box to get a PlayStation 3.

Here’s the full video.

And here’s the DualSense alongside the DualShock 4

A new member of the family. #PlayStation5 #SummerGameFest pic.twitter.com/xuCTkBmq8h

— Geoff Keighley (@geoffkeighley) July 17, 2020

The PlayStation 5 will be released in time for the 2020 holiday season and will come with a copy of Astro’s Playroom.