It has been officially confirmed that the LEGO Astro Bot set is real and will be released as a Gift with Purchase (GWP) item in LEGO's somewhat controversial promotion. The set's design is as stunning as earlier leaks suggested, which makes the news that it won't be widely available even more disappointing.
Earlier today, the LEGO Store launched the product page for this Astro Bot set, allowing players to see the details of this little robot more clearly. This set, aimed at ages 18 and up, contains 276 pieces and can be assembled into an 8-inch-tall figure with multiple dynamic poses. Astro Bot's eyes are also interchangeable, making it easy to switch between different expressions.
Normally, a LEGO set of this size would retail for around $30 to $40, but getting your hands on this one will cost significantly more. Although the product page clearly states it's a GWP set, the specific rules for the promotion have not been announced. There are two rumors circulating: one says you need to purchase the $180 LEGO PlayStation console set to receive it as a gift; the other claims that any purchase of $150 or more at the LEGO Store will qualify.
Both the LEGO Astro Bot set and the PlayStation console set will be released on October 4 (LEGO Insider members, who join for free, can get them as early as October 1). Clearly, both are key components of PlayStation's nostalgia-themed campaign.
Astro Bot has practically become the mascot of PlayStation nostalgia. The 2024 release of Astro Bot is a tribute to all the classic games in the brand's history. To put it bluntly, you could even call it a "graveyard" for these older titles—after all, we're certainly not getting a new Ape Escape anytime soon. But this little robot is just too adorable, and the quality of its game is solid enough that it's hard to feel any real dissatisfaction.
The LEGO PlayStation console set itself is packed with clever Easter eggs, including interchangeable miniature scenes themed around Gran Turismo and Ape Escape, which can be placed under the disc drive cover.