Astro Bot creative director Nicolas Doucet has shared remarkable insights about content that never made it into the final version of this acclaimed PS5 platformer. The revelations include unconventional abilities, abandoned level concepts, and even a more graphic alternate ending that was ultimately scrapped.

MILD STORY SPOILERS for Astro Bot aheadLaunched in September 2024 as a vibrant and cheerful platformer exclusive to PlayStation 5, Astro Bot exceeded all expectations with its overwhelmingly positive reception from both critics and players. The game debuted with an impressive 94 Metascore and maintains a 92% user rating. Remarkably, Astro Bot claimed the prestigious Game of the Year title at The Game Awards 2025, establishing itself as the most decorated platformer in gaming history.

While Astro Bot launched with 90 levels and over 150 VIP bots, director Nicolas Doucet recently disclosed that Team Asobi's initial vision for the game was even more ambitious. A new IGN report details Doucet's GDC 2025 presentation titled "The Making of Astro Bot," where he shared fascinating development insights. According to Doucet, the earliest concept for Astro Bot emerged in May 2021, shortly after Team Asobi began prototyping. The game underwent 23 different iterations before settling on the charming comic strip presentation that convinced PlayStation executives.

Following the initial pitch, Team Asobi's multidisciplinary teams brainstormed hundreds of ideas using sticky notes, though only about 10% progressed to prototyping. This process yielded successful abilities like the balloon and sponge that made it into the final game, along with more eccentric concepts like a roulette wheel and coffee grinder that were ultimately abandoned. A level centered on avian flight mechanics was also cut due to its similarity to the monkey power-up from Astro's Playroom and Astro Bot's Go-Go Archipelago level.

Most notably, Doucet revealed that Astro Bot's initial ending concept presented players with a completely disassembled Astro - missing arms, legs, and even its head - for reconstruction. Understandably, this proved too unsettling for some testers, prompting Team Asobi to revise the ending sequence to feature a more intact version of the protagonist.

These development insights offer a fascinating glimpse into the creative process behind one of gaming's most celebrated platformers. Team Asobi has continued supporting Astro Bot post-launch, recently adding five new speedrun levels, leaving fans curious about potential future content updates throughout 2025.