Astro’s Playroom designer says bundled PS5 game helped iterate DualSense ‘for nearly two years’

Astro’s Playroom, the PS5 platformer bundled with the next-gen console, helped iterate the function of the DualSense controller for nearly two years, its creative director has said.

Japan Studio boss Nicolas Doucet discussed the platformer’s development alongside DualSense in a new Famitsu interview, which was translated by VGC contributor Robert Sephazon.

Playroom is included with every PS5 console for free and features gameplay designed to demonstrate the DualSense’s new features, such as its haptic feedback and adaptive triggers.

Asked if Playroom was developed in collaboration with the DualSense hardware team, Doucet told Famitsu: “That’s correct. This was also the same process for the DualShock 4 and Project Morpheus [PlayStation VR].

“After considering the experience of the game, we thought about what parts should be further improved and what direction should be taken,” he added.

“We continued to send that feedback with the development of the DualSense. It’s really quite fun, and I think it’s an uncommon development practice, but it may lead the way to the future of gameplay, so it’s really exciting to be able to do this kind of work.”

The Astro Bot designer claimed that DualSense’s shape has “changed considerably” since its early prototypes, but said the haptic feedback and adaptive triggers were present from the start.

“After development of Astro Bot Rescue Mission ended, everyone on the team wanted to work on new technology again, and we got the opportunity to develop a pre-installed title, and the whole team decided to work on it,” he said.

“Regarding Astro’s Playroom and Playroom VR, we developed them through having weekly meetings with the hardware team. The hardware team considered the mechanics, we considered the gameplay, and we exchanged many opinions with each other.

“For example, as we tested haptic feedback and adaptive triggers, we compiled personal feedback, such as ‘this has too strong of a recoil.’ We shared such thoughts with the hardware team and then shared them with our international studios.

“The DualSense received a lot of feedback and was progressively getting more cohesive and better integrated. This was quite a long process – about a year-and-a-half to two years.”

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Gallery: The Japanese media gets up close with PlayStation 5

Hands-on videos and close-up hardware images were published on Sunday

Regarding Astro’s Playroom, Doucet said the PS5 title would last between four and five hours and contain many hidden homages to PlayStation’s 25-year history.

“Also, I can’t say in detail, but if you clear everything, there is a surprise that PlayStation fans will be pleased with,” he teased.

Sony recently announced a PlayStation 5 release date of November 12 in the US, Japan, Canada, Mexico, Australia and South Korea. The rest of the world will get the console a week later on November 19, including Europe, Middle East, South America, Asia and South Africa.

Publications including 4Gamer, Dengeki and AV Watch shared their experiences with PS5 (in Japanese) this weekend, as well as over ten YouTubers who published PS5 gameplay for Astro’s Playroom, Godfall, Balan Wonderworld and Devil May Cry V Special Edition.