Team Asobi’s highly anticipated Astro Bot for the PlayStation 5 will feature a completely overhauled game engine and an estimated completion time of 12 to 15 hours, according to studio director and creative director Nicolas Doucet. In a recent interview with French journalist and YouTuber Julien Chièze, Doucet shared new insights about the game, a sequel to 2020’s Astro’s Playroom.

The sequel, boasting 80 levels, is set to be Team Asobi’s largest project to date. Despite its size, the team prioritized a consistent tempo over length, aiming for a playtime of 12 to 15 hours to avoid repetition. Doucet emphasized that the goal was never to create a 20+ hour game but rather to hit a “sweet spot” that many players find ideal for platformers today.

Astro Bot will showcase significant improvements over its predecessor, including enhanced physics and visuals, thanks to the revamped game engine. Additionally, Asobi has formed a dedicated ‘DualSense 2.0’ team to innovate new ways of utilizing the PS5 DualSense controller. Astro’s Playroom already highlighted the capabilities of Sony’s controller, and the sequel promises to elevate this experience even further.

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Team Asobi decided against an open-world format in favor of a level-based approach to maximize variety and control. As Doucet explained in EDGE Magazine, “We initially considered an open-world design but ultimately chose a level-based approach to ensure optimal variety.”

Astro Bot is set for a worldwide PS5 release on September 26, with a potential PC release expected later. For more details, watch the full interview with Doucet below.