Gaming

Astro Bot is oddly therapeutic

And a little bit nostalgic

Published

September 5, 2024

I have been low-key anticipating playing Astro Bot ever since it was first announced. At the time, I had this feeling that I’ve been exposed to too many dark and brooding pieces of media. I wanted something light and after spending some time with the game I can say for certain that I got exactly what I was hoping for.

Astro Bot is a full-fledged game that’s a follow-up to Astro’s Playroom. The latter is the free game that comes with every purchase of the PlayStation 5 (PS5). And while it was short, it was, and arguably still is, the best showcase of the many features introduced on the PS5 at launch.

Those features included the incredible haptic feedback of the DualSense controller. The level, kind, and intensity of vibration varies depending on the surface Astro is traversing. It also showcased the many possibilities of the adaptive triggers. Half presses would perform a different action than long presses. You get the gist.

Astro Bot is a lot more of the same PS5 showcase but with a more relatively cohesive plot line. And what is certainly a longer experience than its predecessor.

Saving your fellow robots

The game starts with Astro Bot and an entire crew of other robots aboard a ship shaped like a PS5 console. They suddenly encounter a huge green space creature and get attacked. This particular part reminded me of the end of Thor: Ragnarok where the Asgardians who escaped the explosion of Asgard were met in space by Thanos’ ship.

Anyway, so there starts your journey. With 100 bots scattered across different galaxies. It’s your mission to save them by visiting different planets within these galaxies and ultimately repairing your PS5 ship.

Modern classic platformer

Astro Bot starts off relatively easy. The first galaxy plays like a masterful tutorial that doesn’t spoon feed you but it does a good job of introducing you to the mechanics of the game. Each planet becomes progressively more difficult, incorporating all the gameplay things you learned every step of the way.

The vibes feel like a classic platformer. Though definitely not as difficult, I’m reminded of my much, much younger days playing Crash Bandicoot and Spyro the Dragon on the first PlayStation. The cartoony art style and lively bright music contribute to this feeling. It’s extremely nostalgic for me.

As much as it has that vibe, it also certainly plays like a current gen title. Perhaps even moreso than a lot of the PS5 exclusives that have come before it. Like Astro’s Playroom, it takes full advantage of the DualSense features.

DualSense Showcase

The haptic feedback vibrates differently when Astro is walking on sand, shallow waters, clay/mud, and much, much more. The gyroscope is also utilized very well in different sections of the game. And it’s not to an annoying extent. Lastly, the adaptive triggers come into play too.

All the different features mentioned above are properly spaced and implemented. In certain planets, Astro will come equipped with “special backpacks”. Each one introduced a different platforming mechanic that takes advantage of the aforementioned features.

Some of the early ones you’ll encounter are one that gives Astro the ability dash on ground and in mid-air. The other that I personally had a lot of fun with is one that lets you do a lot of climbing as well as grab and throw projectiles.

A lot of the planets also start to feel less linear as you go along. Each planet has a list of objectives. It’s done so in a way that you’ll know exactly if you potentially missed one and encourages more exploration on that particular planet.

Oddly therapeutic

I struggle to call this article a review (I still will for SEO purposes) because as of writing, I’ve only completed up to the second galaxy. But that’s both intentional and a force of circumstance.

At the risk of sounding apologetic, I didn’t immediately see the email when PlayStation representatives reached out for this review. And by the time I got the code, I was already in the thick of completing a few backlogs as well as preparing for our IFA 2024 coverage. It was pretty hectic.

But playing Astro Bot to end my incredibly hectic last couple of days proved to be exactly what I needed. The art style and general bright disposition of the game helped me relax and wind down. That’s not something I can say about all the game reviews I take on.

That’s why the night before I wrote this, I decided to take my time with the game. Because I know for sure I’m gonna need the sense of calm I get whenever I play it, especially in the always busy last quarter of the year.

Don’t get me wrong, there are sections of the game that can be challenging. I’ve found myself falling and failing more than a handful of times. But it’s just so damn fun that I don’t mind it at all.

Is Astro Bot your GameMatch?

Astro Bot is a charming platformer that showcases the best things about the PS5. It’s Astro’s Playroom but expanded and made even more fun and engaging.

The game is easily recommendable to anyone who owns a PS5. It’s light, bright, fun, and an absolute good time.

Related Topics:Astro Bot PlayStation 5 PS5

Gaming

Valve unveils price of the Steam Frame

The VR headset starts at US$ 1,059.

Published

September 15, 2026

Luigi Leonardo

The trifecta is complete. Almost a year after announcing their new hardware, Valve has finally unveiled the price tag of the Steam Frame, complementing the Steam Machine and Steam Controller revealed a few months ago.

Whereas the Steam Machine is a console of its own, the Steam Frame is a traditional VR headset with a pair of controllers for both hands. Unfortunately, despite being in a different segment, the headset is not immune to the rising prices of technology. The Steam Frame will start at US$ 1,059 for a 256GB model and can go up to US$ 1,299 for the 1TB model. On the plus side, each box will come Half-Life: Alyx packaged along with the headset.

Here’s a more detailed rundown of what you’re getting. The Steam Frame will ship with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset, paired with 16GB of RAM. Each eye comes with a 2160 x 2160 LCD screen, putting out images at up t0 a 144Hz experimental refresh rate. As mentioned above, the headset will start with 256GB of storage but can go up to 2TB. It will come packaged with SteamOS 3 and a rechargeable 21.6Wh battery.

This might be a hard buy for some. The industry currently has more affordable options, for one. Also, virtual reality isn’t the most thriving segment of gaming today.

If you’re still decided on buying one, however, Valve is using its lottery system. Interested customers can sign up from now until September 17. The company will then randomize the purchasing order. Those who draw the first ones in the lottery can get a purchase email as soon as September 18. Meanwhile, anyone who registers after September 17 will automatically be put at the back of the queue.

Gaming

BlizzCon 2026 announces World of Warcraft: Forever and Diablo V

StarCraft, Overwatch, Hearthstone, and more also get news

Published

September 14, 2026

GadgetMatch

Blizzard Entertainment kicked off BlizzCon 2026 with a packed Opening Ceremony featuring new games, major expansions, updates, and other announcements across its biggest franchises.

Blizzard Entertainment President Johanna Faries opened the event at the Anaheim Convention Center, celebrating the community behind the company’s games and the teams that bring its worlds to life.

World of Warcraft: Forever and Diablo V

The biggest announcement was World of Warcraft: Forever, a new World of Warcraft experience launching November 5 AEDT, with its beta beginning September 18 AEST. The new experience will feature three zones, more than 1,000 quests, nine dungeons, two raids, and a new Skyborne race.

Blizzard also officially announced Diablo V, marking the next era of the franchise. The game is set to launch in North America in Spring 2029, with Sanctuary having fallen and Diablo having won.

StarCraft is also returning with a new story-driven, open-world shooter. The game is currently planned for a Spring 2030 release in North America.

Beyond games, Blizzard revealed that an animated series set in the Diablo universe is in development with Netflix. The company says this is only the beginning of its plans to expand its universes beyond gaming.

For Warcraft III Reforged, the new Forsaken Kingdom campaign is available today. It marks the Warcraft RTS series’ first new storyline in more than 23 years and explores the fall of Lordaeron and the origins of the Undercity. The accompanying 3.0 update also brings graphical improvements and a revamped World Editor.

Heroes of the Storm is adding Xal’atath as its newest Hero. She arrives in the Nexus on September 29 AEST, with her PTR release scheduled for September 15 AEST.

Existing games updates

Meanwhile, Diablo IV is preparing for its next major content drop. Season of Hell’s Legacy begins September 16 AEST and celebrates the franchise’s 30-year history with the return of the Prime Evils and Deckard Cain, alongside themed rewards and gear.

The legendary Amazon class will also arrive in the first half of 2027 as part of Diablo IV’s first class pack. The Diablo IV: Age of Hatred Collection is additionally coming to Nintendo Switch 2 on September 16 AEST with cross-platform play and cross-progression.

For World of Warcraft, Blizzard teased the next major update for Midnight. Eclipse (12.2) will see Xal’atath move closer to her goal of claiming Azeroth’s Worldsoul. Blizzard also offered another look at The Last Titan, the next expansion in the Worldsoul Saga and a major culmination of more than two decades of Warcraft storytelling. More information is coming early next year.

Overwatch is getting a major update with Season 5. The season introduces new Support Hero Doctrine, reworks for Sombra and Roadhog, and the new Watchpoint: Grimsvötn map. It will also conclude The Reign of Talon, Overwatch’s first year-long narrative arc.

LE SSERAFIM & YOASABI

BlizzCon also featured performances from YOASOBI and LE SSERAFIM. YOASOBI will perform during the first-ever esports halftime show at BlizzCon, while LE SSERAFIM will return to the Main Stage to close the weekend. A new LE SSERAFIM in-game collaboration is available now, with another Overwatch Spotlight scheduled for February 2027.

Finally, Hearthstone is getting its first new class in more than six years. The Monk arrives in 2027, while the upcoming Reign of the Black Empire expansion takes players back to the earliest age of Azeroth. It introduces the Assemble keyword, which combines two cards into a new one. Battlegrounds is also adding Aberrations as a new minion type.

BlizzCon 2026 is now underway, with Blizzard promising more announcements and details throughout the weekend.

Gaming

Just Dance: Decades of Hits to launch on October 13

All-new Just Dance experience that brings every generation together

Published

September 12, 2026

GadgetMatch

Just Dance: Decades of Hits will launch on modern consoles on October 13, Ubisoft has announced.

This will offer fans of the franchise a new experience across eras of music. The game will be available on PlayStation5 , Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch on the launch date.

Nintendo Switch 2 users, meanwhile, will be able to enjoy the title by November 10, 2026.

Just Dance: Decades of Hits brings together every generation to one dance floor with 25 iconic songs across six different decades:

Mamma Mia by ABBA
Uptown Girl by Billy Joel
It’s Tricky by Run-DMC
No Scrubs by TLC
Wannabe by Spice Girls
Bye Bye Bye by *NSYNC
Feel Good Inc. by Gorillaz
Turn Down for What by DJ Snake and Lil Jon
Danza Kuduro by Don Omar feat. Lucenzo
Manchild by Sabrina Carpenter
NUEVAYoL by Bad Bunny
And more!

Bringing every generation together

Songs, visuals, and an all-new Adventure Mode are all designed to immerse players in the spirit that made each decade unforgettable.

From the funky ’70s disco floors and the electrifying ’80s rock scene to the glossy 2000s pop and beyond, travel through time and share the joy of rediscovering iconic moments with friends and family.

In Adventure Mode, follow Lyra, Dr. Gigavolt’s daughter, in a playful journey through time to rescue her father.

Explore the decades through six themed worlds, enjoy fun mini activities, and unlock exclusive rewards.

For unpredictable, chaotic fun where the rules change every round, players can jump into Party Mode. Or they can get moving with the Workout Mode, which tracks calories burned with each dance.

Up to six players can dance locally in the game, with no extra accessories needed.

In addition those who own Just Dance: Decades of Hits as well as Just Dance 2023-2026 editions will be able access all their songs in one place on the same console without having to switch games or separate menus.

This also includes songs from purchased Music Packs and songs available through an active Just Dance+ subscription.