The PS5 exclusive game Astro Bot can now be started on a PC emulator, thanks to users booting up the game on an emulator dedicated to playing PS5 titles on modern PC operating systems. However, getting Astro Bot to be fully playable on the aforementioned PS5 emulator is still a work-in-progress.
Originally released in September 2024, Astro Bot is a 3D platformer that features 90 levels and cameos from various Sony franchises and third-party games with historical PlayStation ties. In short, Astro Bot is a love letter to Sony’s storied console history spanning three decades and five console generations. Astro Bot took home several awards at The Game Awards 2024, including the coveted Game of the Year honors. Even two years after its launch, Astro Bot remains an integral part of the PS5’s game lineup.
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Astro Bot Booted Up in PS5 Emulator
Given that the PS5 utilizes AMD’s technology, it was only a matter of time before tech-savvy gamers would try to emulate Sony’s current console on a capable PC. Two Discord users named RSantila and Nemmax managed just that, as they were reportedly able to boot up Astro Bot on the SharpEmu emulator. However, Astro Bot is not completely playable on SharpEmu, as Nemmax was only able to reach the PlayStation Studios title screen before the emulator crashed. Though the PlayStation Studios video ran at a low frame rate and had choppy visuals, it marked the farthest point in getting Astro Bot to run on an emulator to date.
Who’s That Character?
Identify the silhouettes before time runs out.
Easy (7.5s)
Medium (5.0s)
Hard (2.5s)
Permadeath (2.5s)
Start
Restart
Back
Results
0
High Score: 0
—
The news came days after PlayStation confirmed it would be stepping away from physical game releases starting in January 2028. Although Sony later clarified that PS5 games released before January 2028 would still receive physical reprints as necessary, that has not stopped relentless rounds of criticism from being directed at the company. Sony’s decision also drew the attention of politicians across the globe, with two legislators from Mexico considering an antitrust lawsuit against PlayStation over its digital exclusivity push. The lawmakers claimed that Sony going fully digital with future PlayStation games would create a monopoly on PlayStation games and would be detrimental to players who do not have access to high-speed Internet throughout the country.
As of this writing, Sony has not officially commented on the Astro Bot emulation project. However, Sony’s own history with emulators goes far back to the days of the original PlayStation console. Former PlayStation game developer Brian Watson revealed that Sony once had a prototype PlayStation controller that contained an emulator with 10 games bundled into it. Codenamed “PlayStation Pulga,” this controller concept was originally considered to be manufactured and released exclusively in Brazil as a way to get around some import issues Sony was dealing with. However, the PlayStation Pulga project never saw a full release.
Despite the headway made in getting Astro Bot started up on SharpEmu, the emulator is still early in its development stages. Though major gaming companies like Nintendo have been litigious when it comes to console emulation, it remains to be seen how Astro Bot’s development on SharpEmu will fare in the days ahead.
Released
September 6, 2024
ESRB
E10+ For Everyone 10+ Due To Crude Humor, Fantasy Violence
Developer(s)
Team Asobi
Publisher(s)
Sony Interactive Entertainment
Source: GameGPU.com
