Get ready to turbocharge your platforming skills with Astro Bot’s thrilling new speedrun DLC! Launching weekly from October 17 to November 14, 2024, this free expansion introduces five electrifying speedrun levels-Building Speed, Let It Slide, Spring-loaded Run, Helium Heights, and Rising Heat-each packed with online leaderboards and two unique special bots inspired by iconic PlayStation and third-party franchises to rescue. Sharpen your reflexes, race against cheeky birds, and expand your bot collection with cameos from heroes like Wesker and Cayde-6 in this ultimate test of speed and precision.
This page explains the Astro Bot speedrun DLC schedule, the speedrun DLC level requirements, and the speedrun bots which have unlocked so far.
Update (Nov 14): Added the bots for the final speedrun level, Rising Heat.
Astro Bot speedrun DLC release schedule
A free speedrun DLC for Astro Bot is scheduled to release over five weeks from October 17 to November 14, 2024. Each Thursday, a new speedrun level will launch at 6 a.m. PDT (9 a.m. EDT), featuring online leaderboards and introducing two unique special bots per level, adding a total of 10 new bots to the game. The release order of the levels is: Building Speed (Oct 17), Let it Slide (Oct 24), Spring-loaded Run (Oct 31), Helium Heights (Nov 7), and Rising Heat (Nov 14). This DLC enhances the speedrun experience with fresh challenges and new characters from various franchises.
The release schedule for each Astro Bot speedrun DLC level was as follows:
- Thursday, Oct. 17: Building Speed
- Thursday, Oct. 24: Let It Slide
- Thursday, Oct. 31: Spring-loaded Run
- Thursday, Nov. 7: Helium Heights
- Thursday, Nov. 14: Rising Heat
As mentioned, each level adds two additional special bots to your roster, all based on established PlayStation or third-party franchises.
If you want an additional few Special Bots found outside the main game, then here’s how to find special bots and them import from Astro’s Playroom.
How to access speedrun DLC levels in Astro Bot
To access the speedrun DLC levels in Astro Bot, you must first complete the main story of the game, including defeating the final boss and watching the credits. Once the story is finished, the new “Stellar Speedway” region will unlock on the universe map, where the speedrun levels are located. These DLC levels are released weekly every Thursday from October 17 to November 14, 2024, and require the latest game update to be installed. Each speedrun level features online leaderboards and two special VIP bots to rescue, adding to your collection. The DLC is free to download and play after meeting these requirements.
Developer Asobi has confirmed you need to complete the story of Astro Bot before access to the speedrun levels become available.
If you’re not quite there yet, our verdict on how long it takes to beat and 100% Astro Bot can help you work out how much is left to go. Don’t worry about the secret exits for now if you’re in a rush – they can come later.
Beyond that, each level is free to download – just make sure you have the latest version of the game up to date to access them. Then, you’ll find them in a dedicated “stopwatch” nebula, found near the final boss area and the Gorilla Nebula.
This is likely not the last update coming to Astro Bot, with VGC confirming 10 “challenge levels” on the way – something Asobi itself teased with the mention that “there may be even more surprises coming soon” following the speedrun DLC announcement.
Astro Bot speedrun bots list
The Astro Bot speedrun DLC introduces five new challenging speedrun levels released weekly from October 17 to November 14, 2024, each featuring two unique special VIP bots to rescue, adding up to a total of 10 new bots. These bots are inspired by popular PlayStation and third-party franchises, such as Eve from Stellar Blade and characters from Helldivers 2, Guilty Gear, Destiny, and Resident Evil. Players must complete the main Astro Bot game to access these levels, which also include online leaderboards for competitive speedrunning. Each level rewards one VIP bot for simply clearing the course and another for beating a target time marked by flying birds, enhancing the collectible roster and gameplay experience.
What follows are all speedrun bots released so far, which are unlocked by beating the two birds in each level. Note the below list features spoilers for those hoping to discover these first-hand.
- Building Speed: “One Way Shuttle” from Helldivers, “Ronin’s Glider” from Rise of the Ronin
- Let It Slide: “Ponytailed Protector” from Stellar Blade, “Galactic Peacekeeper” from Helldivers
- Spring-loaded Run: “Holy Knight” from Guilty Gear, “Super Earth Diplomat” from Helldivers
- Helium Heights: “Heavenly Warrior” from Heavenly Sword, “Super Earth Envoy” from Helldivers
- Rising Heat: “Exalted Exo” from Destiny, “Suave Traitor” from Resident Evil
Which secret strategies will help me master the Astro Bot speedrun DLC levels
Secret Strategies to Master Astro Bot Speedrun DLC Levels
To excel in Astro Bot’s speedrun DLC levels, mastering precise boosting, shortcuts, and platforming tricks is essential. Here are key strategies distilled from expert guides:
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Boost Little and Often: Use the R2 trigger to tap quick boosts rather than holding it down continuously. This maximizes speed bursts, especially on solid ground and across gaps, helping you shave valuable seconds off your time.
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Master the Hover Jump: Press the X button mid-air to hover and gain extra air time. This is crucial for clearing tricky jumps and reaching shortcuts that bypass slower sections.
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Use Smart Shortcuts: While many shortcuts actually slow you down, there is a critical shortcut after the automated car wash brushes in the “Building Speed” level. Timing your jump off the slope’s right side, followed by a hover and boost, lets you skip an electrified death trap, a bounce pad, and wooden boxes efficiently.
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Cut Corners and Skip Platforms: In levels like “Spring-loaded Run,” cutting corners by using bounce pads and swinging on poles strategically can save seconds. Hovering past certain obstacles instead of following the intended path also helps.
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Beeline the Beams: In “Building Speed,” the final challenge is crossing spinning metal beams. Boosting directly to the springboard rather than running and jumping is faster but requires precise timing and mid-air adjustment.
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Alternate Jumping and Boosting: Throughout stages, alternate jumping with boosting to maintain momentum and avoid losing speed on platforms.
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Use Midair Attacks as Extra Jumps: Attacking midair can extend your jump, helping you stay airborne longer and clear gaps more efficiently.
By combining these techniques-precise boost timing, effective use of hover jumps, selective shortcuts, and platforming finesse-you can improve your speedrun times dramatically and compete on online leaderboards.
What shortcuts in Building Speed actually save time and which slow me down
The only shortcut in the “Building Speed” level of Astro Bot speedrun DLC that actually saves time is the one after the automated car wash brushes. By jumping off the right side of the slope, then using a hover jump and boost, you can skip an electrified death trap, a bounce pad, and wooden boxes, significantly cutting your time. Other shortcuts in this level tend to slow you down rather than help, so it’s best to avoid them and stick to the main path or the effective shortcut mentioned. Precision timing and boosting through this key shortcut is the optimal strategy for shaving seconds off your run.
