The exclusive PS5 game Astro Bot can now be launched on a PC emulator, thanks to users booting up the game on an emulator dedicated to playing PS5 titles on modern PC operating systems. But to get Astro Bot being 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 award. Even two years after its launch, Astro Bot remains an integral part of the PS5's gaming lineup.
Astro Bot started up in PS5 Emulator
Given that the PS5 uses AMD's technology, it was only a matter of time before tech-savvy gamers tried 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 fully playable on SharpEmu, as Nemmax could only reach the PlayStation Studio title screen before the emulator crashed. Although the PlayStation Studios video ran at a low frame rate and had choppy visuals, it marked the furthest point in getting Astro Bot to run on an emulator so far.
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The news came days after PlayStation confirmed that it would be moving 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 if needed, that hasn't stopped relentless rounds of criticism from being leveled at the company. Sony's decision also caught the attention of politicians around the world, with two lawmakers from Mexico considering an antitrust lawsuit against PlayStation over its digital exclusivity. The lawmakers argued that Sony going all-digital with future PlayStation games would create a monopoly on PlayStation games and would be harmful to gamers who do not have access to high-speed internet nationwide.
As of this writing, Sony has not officially commented Astro Bot emulation project. However, Sony's own history with emulators goes way 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 included in it. Codenamed “PlayStation Pulga”, this controller concept was originally thought 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 was never released in its entirety.
Despite the progress in getting Astro Bot booted on SharpEmu, the emulator is still in the early stages of development. While major gaming companies like Nintendo have been obliging when it comes to console emulation, it remains to be seen how Astro Bots development on SharpEmu will manage in the coming days.
- Released
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September 6, 2024
- ESRB
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E10+ for all 10+ due to crude humor, fantasy violence
- Developer
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Team Asobi
- Publisher
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Sony Interactive Entertainment
Source: GameGPU.com
