*Astro Bot* has a Chogokin figure now! Is this collaboration worth it this time?

If you’ve played Astro Bot, you probably remember that wonderfully peculiar feeling: this wasn’t a grim, heavy journey to save the universe, but a light, bright space expedition filled with surprises at every turn. The protagonist, ASTRO, sets out from the wreckage of the PS5 mothership after its crash, traveling across the galaxy in search of scattered companions—like a tiny adventurer relighting a cold world of hardware into a fairy tale. Now, Bandai Spirits has packed that adventure into its “Chogokin” series, with a name that is just as straightforward: “ASTRO & Dual Speeder,” scheduled for release in June 2026.

What makes this collaboration especially interesting is not just that it turns a game character into a toy, but that it also brings Astro Bot’s core “PS5 feel” into the product. ASTRO itself uses transparent parts and high-saturation paintwork, with articulated limbs and a facial screen that shows different expressions through three-dimensional printing, clearly emphasizing the character’s liveliness and theatricality. On the other side, the Dual Speeder is based on the DualSense wireless controller, with its appearance recreated at full scale through 3D scanning. Some of its structure also uses alloy materials. The idea of turning a “controller” into a “vehicle” feels very much in line with the game’s signature blend of childlike charm and mechanical design.

What feels even more like RPG gear evolving is its original transformation mechanism. Press a button, and the wings and thrusters deploy; the thrusters also contain built-in LED lighting. This makes it more than just a static display piece, bringing it closer to a “space ride standing by for launch.” Bandai had already teased the product in the January 2026 issue of Hobby Japan, and its official reveal now basically confirms that this is not some spur-of-the-moment licensed merch, but a product seriously crafted for collectors.

Looking at the game’s own stature, this collaboration is hardly just riding the hype. Astro Bot, developed by Sony’s Japanese studio Team ASOBI and released in 2024, is a PS5-exclusive action-adventure game. Its level design draws inspiration from classics like Super Mario Bros., while also making distinctive use of the DualSense’s haptic feedback and built-in speaker. It ultimately won four awards at TGA2024, including Game of the Year and Best Action/Adventure Game—results strong enough to elevate it from a “platform showcase title” into a “new-generation mascot.”

Of course, the price is what brings people back to reality. Official information shows that this “Chogokin ASTRO & Dual Speeder” is priced at 29,700 yen, roughly equivalent to 1,270 RMB. For the average player, this is clearly not the kind of small toy you casually pick up; it is more like a mid-to-high-end finished collectible that calls for consideration of display space, collecting preferences, and emotional attachment. Some players have also complained that, much like Bandai’s earlier “Chogokin 50th Anniversary Transforming Robot,” this kind of product can be a little puzzling at first glance: is it a tribute to creative design, or just an overindulgence in gimmicks?

If I were to give advice, I’d put it in the category of merch that “people who truly get Astro Bot will want more.” If you just think ASTRO is cute, the 1,270 RMB price barrier is not low. But if you also happen to like Chogokin and are into this style of anthropomorphized PS hardware design, then its rarity and level of craftsmanship are genuinely appealing. In the end, what makes this collaboration most touching is not the transformation, nor the lighting effects, but the way it turns a space adventure about finding lost companions into a little spacecraft on a player’s shelf, always ready to set off once again.