Astroneer Is An Out Of This World Planetary Sandbox Game Coming To PlayStation
Players can preorder the game now through the PlayStation Store for $29.99 USD. Preorders also include the Astroneer soundtrack, which typically costs an additional $5. The game requires a 5GB minimum save size and players will need a PlayStation Plus membership to access online multiplayer. It is unclear at the moment if crossplay will be an option.
![astroneer multiplayer](https://hothardware.com/ContentImages/NewsItem/49157/content/astroneer-multiplayer.jpg)
Astroneer is a space sandbox adventure game. Players are dropped onto a procedurally generated planet and are able to gather resources, craft items, and explore the frontiers of space. One of the most unique aspects of the game is its terraforming feature. Players are literally able to shape the environment of planets. Gamers are also able to team up with up to three friends to create custom bases.
The game was in early access for over two years before a 1.0 version was released for the PC and Xbox One this past February. Astroneer is the first game developed and published by System Era Softworks. It was developed in Unreal Engine 4 and has received several updates since its early access release in December 2016. The game was won five Webby Awards this past year, including “Best Game Design”.
The game’s PlayStation 4 announcement also included interesting information about the space suit design.The game is played from a third-person point of view and therefore the space suit design is very important for the game’s overall aesthetic. The space suits were designed by Heather Penn, a concept and 3D artist. She designed the space suits to match the game's various environments. The game’s animator Gene Blakefield then animated a variety of movements to match the suits’ personalities. It will be interesting to see whether Astroneer will eventually make it to the Nintendo Switch. Nintendo has added quite a few indie games to their line-up over the past few months. They most recently added popular games such as Superhot and Ori And The Blind Forest: Definitive Edition. Astroneer may be the next indie game to make the crossover.