This new version is nearly the same as the previous one, but as indicated by the word “joyful” in its name, the shape of the eyes on the touchpad indicate the bot is smiling this time around.
It’s worth noting that, despite how it’s shown in the trailer, the eyes do not animate. They’re just printed on the touchpad in a joyful state.
Aside from the eyes, this iteration of the Astro Bot controller is the same as the previous one. It has a soft white and metallic blue design, perfectly reminiscent of the beloved bot.
Astro Bot is one of my personal favorite PS5 games. It’s a super charming platformer that has you exploring a colorful world with pitch-perfect controls. Each level introduces a new ability or environmental element and makes excellent use of it. There are plenty of collectibles throughout, including bots based on characters from the entire history of PlayStation. It’s a lovely game.
And this is a lovely looking controller. But it’s worth repeating: if you want to get your hands on one of these and it’s available for preorder, you’d do well to lock in your preorder. There’s no telling how long stock will last.
Chris Reed is a commerce editor and deals expert for IGN. He also runs IGN's board game and LEGO coverage. You can follow him on Bluesky.
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