In the credits for PlayStation’s latest platformer, Astro Bot, there is a notable mention of several games that do not actually appear within the game. The platformer features Astro Bot traveling across a galaxy to rescue 150 VIP bots, each of which is dressed as iconic characters from PlayStation’s 30-year history. This journey includes characters from both Sony’s in-house studios and third-party partners, showcasing a broad range of gaming history and characters.
The game’s credits conclude with a “special thanks to our long-time friends,” which interestingly lists various trademarks from well-known companies such as Activision, Konami, Capcom, and Sega. These companies have characters featured in Astro Bot, but the credits also extend acknowledgments to other games and developers not present in the actual gameplay.
Among the named games and developers are Stellar Blade and Shift Up, Rise of the Ronin and Koei Tecmo Games, Worms and Team17, and Croc and Argonauts Games. Additionally, several Ubisoft series, including Assassin’s Creed, Rayman, and Beyond Good & Evil, are mentioned. Despite these references, none of these games or their characters are visible in Astro Bot, leaving their inclusion somewhat mysterious.
The credits can be further explored in a video linked to the game’s YouTube page, where these mentions are visible at the 24-minute mark. This has led to speculation about why these particular games and developers are referenced despite not being part of the game’s content.
Looking ahead, Team Asobi has announced plans to release new challenge stages and levels for Astro Bot later this year. It is possible that the referenced games and characters could appear in these future updates or that the credits hint at content that was cut from the initial release. There may also be hidden elements within the current game that players have yet to discover.
