Bend Studio Praises Days Gone’s Astro Bot Cameo After Criticism From Ex-Director

Astro Bot, developed by Team Asobi, is being widely praised and is emerging as a strong contender for the best game of 2024.

The game is filled with references to various other PlayStation titles, including Days Gone’s protagonist, Deacon St. John.

However, controversy arose when Days Gone’s ex-creative director, John Garvin, criticised the inclusion of Deacon in Astro Bot.

Taking to X/Twitter, Garvin expressed his discontent, describing it as “sad” and accusing Days Gone’s studio, Bend Studio, of failing to protect the character’s legacy.

Garvin further claimed that Deacon had been reduced to a “cartoon schill” for Astro Bot, which he referred to as a “small game.” His remarks quickly got backlash from fans, many of whom disagreed with his take.

Bend Studio responded indirectly, seemingly distancing themselves from Garvin’s statements.

The studio posted on Twitter (via The Gamer), sharing an image of the Deacon Bot from Astro Bot and stating that they were “having a blast playing through Astro Bot and meeting our fellow PlayStation Studios family along the journey.”

A Clear Rebuttal From Bend Studios

While Bend Studio’s post didn’t directly mention Garvin, the timing and context made it clear that the studio does not share his sentiments.

The studio made a point to show public support for Astro Bot, showing their approval of the game’s celebration of PlayStation’s legacy.

That wasn’t all. Co-director Jeff Ross also expressed his excitement about Deacon’s inclusion in Astro Bot, calling it “dope as hell,” as noted by The Gamer.

Even Sam Witwer, the voice actor behind Deacon, chimed in with positive feedback. He praised the character’s inclusion in the platformer and added that he would now be purchasing Astro Bot because of this.

Garvin’s comments have left many puzzled, as Astro Bot aims to celebrate PlayStation’s rich history. Deacon’s appearance in the game shows the importance of Days Gone within the PlayStation universe, a fact that Garvin’s criticism seems to overlook.