Astro Bot features a plethora of nods to the extensive history of PlayStation, showcasing everything from lesser-known first-party characters to beloved third-party figures like Crash Bandicoot. However, one prominent franchise that seems to have been notably absent is Final Fantasy, a series that holds significant importance within Sony’s gaming legacy. There may now be a glimmer of hope that we could see a Final Fantasy-themed bot in the future.
With around 300 collectible bot characters in Astro Bot, not every iconic game or character from PlayStation’s past is represented. Yet, fans missed out on a Final Fantasy character, particularly since this franchise enjoyed almost two complete console generations as a Sony exclusive, with Cloud’s journey being a major catalyst for the PlayStation’s overwhelming success.
Director Nicholas Doucet had previously indicated that he found it challenging to explain the absence of a Final Fantasy bot, hinting that Square Enix might have been wary of the idea. However, he now appears more receptive to the concept.
In response to questions about the lack of Final Fantasy representation, Doucet remarked, “Well, we’ll see,” with a smile directed at his colleague. While this doesn’t provide any definitive answers, it’s certainly a more hopeful response than his earlier statements.
Since the release of the game, Team Asobi has introduced various additional levels and bot figures, although those updates have wrapped up for now. If Doucet and his team do have plans for bot versions of characters like Cloud, Tifa, or a Moogle, they could potentially introduce them as part of future Astro Bot downloadable content or, ideally, a sequel.