The PlayStation 5 exclusive title, Astro Bot Rescue Mission, received its final announced DLC drop today, a new weekly speedrunning level. However, the game's credits list several unreleased characters, sparking fervent speculation amongst fans about further downloadable content.
Reddit user pkowswald highlighted the discrepancy, noting that despite today's addition of two new bots, numerous game franchises remain unassociated with playable characters within the credits. These include prominent titles such as Assassin's Creed, Rayman, Beyond Good & Evil, Worms, Croc, and Tomba â the latter of which was mysteriously added to the credits with today's update.
The possibility of future DLC is bolstered by the fact that the credits were themselves updated with the release of the final speedrunning level. This suggests an active process of credit management, making the inclusion of the aforementioned franchises â rather than their removal â all the more intriguing. Furthermore, a similar pattern was observed previously with the inclusion of Stellar Blade in the credits prior to its protagonist, Eve, being added as a playable bot via DLC.
This pattern of credit additions preceding the release of new playable characters leads many to believe that the currently unassociated franchises may yet feature as playable bots in future releases. While Sony Interactive Entertainment has not officially commented on the matter, nor confirmed or denied plans for further DLC, the success of Astro Bot Rescue Mission makes this scenario entirely plausible.
The gameâs commercial performance has been strong, with 1.5 million units sold within its first two months of release. Critical reception has been equally positive, with IGN awarding the game a 9/10, praising it as "a fantastically inventive platformer... particularly special for anyone with a place in their heart for PlayStation."
The absence of official confirmation regarding further DLC leaves the future of Astro Bot Rescue Mission somewhat uncertain. However, the tantalising presence of these unreleased characters in the credits, coupled with the game's considerable success, strongly suggests that the adventure may not be over just yet. The mystery surrounding these unused licenses will undoubtedly fuel fan anticipation and speculation in the coming weeks and months.
