Astro Burn — patch notes and updates
Stored observation / content update:
Dated developer announcements recorded from Steam. Open the source for the complete update.
| Update | Date | Excerpt / source |
|---|---|---|
| What inspired Astro Burn to be a bizzarre Cute-em-up ? | 2026-10-22 | Parodius is a huge North Star for me when I was developing our indie cute-em-up Astro Burn at Beyond the pixels.Whilst on a 'research' visit yesterday to Arcade Club in Bury (Manchester), I saw this rare machine! An original Japanese imported cabinet of Parodius!!! - OMG!!!! 😱 For those of you who don't know, Parodius is a game made by Konami in the 1990s (actually first released on MSX in 1988!) and was one of the first cute'em-ups developed, where it takes the same mechanics of a shoot em up but replaces everything with absurd elements (bells, fruits, cute animals etc).But those games were often seen as "niche" back in the non-internet day |
| Astro Burn now on Mobile via Google Play Store | 2026-09-16 | Yay!!! Get your thumbs ready for some delightfully bonkers cute-em-up action on your Android phones & tablets! Astro Burn launched on the Google Play Store today! This one’s been in the works for a while at Beyond the Pixels making sure all the Meowtastic fun of the PC / Mac version feels right at home on mobile. That includes auto-fire as standard, so you can focus on slamming that B button to unleash those Catnip power moves! Fancy some space kitty cat fun while you’re queuing for coffee, on the bus or train home, or up in the air on a flight? Then go on… head to the Google Play Store, search ASTRO BURN and slam that install button! |
| Celebrating the Creatives who created original artwork in this cute-em-up | 2026-09-01 | Astro Burn is a heartfelt love letter to the golden age of 90s Cute-’Em-Ups, inspired by timeless classics such as Parodius and Pop’n TwinBee on the Super Famicom.From the very beginning, Game Director HaZ Dulull looked to that era of gaming as the project’s creative north star capturing the joy, charm, colour, and pick-up-and-play magic that defined arcade experiences of the time.To bring that vision to life, HaZ collaborated closely with Art Director Taq Yoneda, whose exceptional artistic talent and deep understanding of the Cute-’Em-Up aesthetic helped shape the game’s distinct visual identity and playful spirit.Additional artwork and crea |
| Everyone Needs a Cute Space Cat in Their Life! 🐾 | 2026-08-28 | Can you believe it’s almost been a whole month since Astro Burn blasted off? Time flies when you're dodging lasers and saving the universe!Let’s be honest for a second: life is tough, but it’s a whole lot better when you’ve got a brave, ridiculously cute space cat taking down cosmic menaces just to save the day. We all deserve a little hero who purrs in the face of danger. 🐈⬛A massive, heart-melting THANK YOU to everyone who has jumped into the cockpit, shared love on Steam, and hosted those absolutely meow-velous streams! Watching you all conquer giant bosses while vibing to the soundtrack has been nothing short of purr-fect. You guys are |
| Patch v1.1 update | 2026-08-03 | Some of you may have noticed a little button press bug which may cause screen to freeze during the hi score name entry, so we fixed that, so your paws can slam that A button easily now to confirm your high-score name.We’ve also removed the Discord integration, as it was causing issues on PCs and Macs when playing offline. Our priority is to give you the smoothest, most uninterrupted cute-’em-up experience possible. Removing the integration was a necessary trade-off, and part of our commitment to delivering the best gameplay experience we can.Other small bug we fixed for those who made it to the end of the game, is triggering the end roller cr |
| Astro Burn is OUT NOW! The Galactic Adventure Begins! | 2026-07-30 | The day is finally here! After months of hard work, incredible community feedback, and endless passion Astro Burn is OUT NOW! 🐾From day one, our mission was simple: build a dynamic, thrilling cosmic shooter that everyone can jump into, enjoy, and master - packed with pure arcade action, an absolute banger of a soundtrack, and lots of space kittens to save. 🐈⬛Here is a look at everything waiting for you in the galaxy today!What’s Waiting for You in Astro Burn?Classic Cosmic Action: Blast your way through intense stages, conquer giant bosses (yes, including that ultimate rubber duck menace!), and take down enemy waves.Purrismatic & Meowchrom |
| Astro Burn UPDATE: Competitive Co-op, Meowchromatic Edition & More! | 2026-07-14 | This update is packed with some of the biggest gameplay improvements we’ve made so far, all inspired by your feedback. Thank you to everyone who has been playing, streaming, sharing screenshots, and telling us what you’d love to see next. 🐾NEW: Competitive Co-op ModeThink you’re the better pilot? Our brand-new Competitive Co-op Mode is now live!Every match randomly spins through the game’s levels, so you’ll never know which battlefield is coming next. To keep things fair and balanced, we've stripped it down to the basics:No weapon pickupsNo health or shield pickupsPure skill, quick reflexes, and a little bit of luckThe last cat still flying |
| New Feature Preview: Making Shmups More Accessible with Mono High Contrast Mode! | 2026-07-08 | Shmups are known for being visually intense, fast-paced, and packed with flashing colors. But for many color-blind and visually impaired players, that beautiful cosmic chaos can make the action incredibly difficult to follow.We want Astro Burn to be an adventure everyone can enjoy, which is why I’ve been researching game accessibility for quite some time now.After receiving some fantastic, detailed analysis on an early build from accessibility advocate Ned Shoaei, spending months reading research papers, and drawing inspiration from industry advocates like Jarvs Tasker, we decided it was time to take action.Coming to our Early Access update t |
| Astro Burn Update: Cat TV, ASMR Mode, New Levels & Flying Snacks! 🐾 | 2026-06-26 | We have been working hard behind the scenes to bring you an absolute monster of an update. We have packed this release with brand-new features, quality-of-life improvements, and a few delightfully bonkers surprises.Here is everything new in the latest version of Astro Burn!📺 New Feature: Cat TV ModeA game starring a space cat simply had to include something for real-life cats too!Introducing Cat TV Mode! Now you can take a quick break from blasting through the galaxy and let your feline friend enjoy three dedicated channels designed specifically to keep them entertained. Sit back, relax, and watch your cat become the newest Astro Burn player |
| NEXT-WEEK HYPEMEOW: Astro Burn is Already STEAM MACHINE VERIFIED! | 2026-06-23 | Hold onto your whiskers, crew! The ultimate next-gen hardware is arriving in just one week, and we have some absolutely claw-some news to kick off the countdown: Astro Burn is already officially VERIFIED for the upcoming Steam Machine! When you get your hands on the console next week, our space-cat cute-’em-up will be fully optimized and ready to launch into maximum cosmic chaos from day one.The countdown is on! Stretch those paws, get your gaming setups ready, and prepare to show the universe what a fully powered space kitty can do on next-gen hardware. 🐈⬛A massive thank you to our incredible community for blasting off on this journey with |
| Meowtastic News: Astro Burn is Officially VERIFIED ON STEAM DECK! 🐾 | 2026-06-19 | Purr-fect timing, crew!We have some absolutely claw-some news to share. Astro Burn is now Steam Deck Verified! That means our cosmic cute-’em-up runs flawlessly on Valve's handheld, bringing full controller support, crisp readable text, and smooth space-cat performance directly to your paws.Sharpen Your Claws for Summer Whether you are lounging like a lazy cat in the sun, traveling, or just chilling in bed, the ultimate portable space adventure is now always by your side. You can now dodge bullet hell chaos, fight massive bosses, and rescue precious kittens anywhere in the universe (or, you know, just in your backyard).Could there be a more m |
| Major Milestone Unlocked: Astro Burn is Now Fully Localised! 🐾 | 2026-06-17 | One of the most important steps in making a game truly accessible is ensuring players around the world can enjoy it in their own language. That is why we are absolutely thrilled to announce that:Astro Burn is now fully localised! When you load up the game after this update, the first thing you will see is a brand-new Language Selection Screen (which you can also access anytime from the main game menu).New LanguagesWe are incredibly proud to welcome new space cats to the mission in all of these languages: 🇫🇷 French🇩🇪 German🇯🇵 Japanese🇰🇷 Korean🇵🇹 Portuguese🇪🇸 Spanish🇨🇳 Simplified Chinese🇨🇳 Traditional ChineseFont Updates & Steam |
| The Steam Bullet Fest is LIVE – Grab 20% Off! 🚀 | 2026-06-08 | The wait is over! The Steam Bullet festival has officially started, and Astro Burn is right in the middle of the action! 🐾To celebrate this awesome event dedicated to dodging, blasting, and bullet-filled chaos, we are running a 20% DISCOUNT on our Early Access version throughout the entire festival!Jump into the Cockpit Now There has never been a better time to jump into Early Access and join our space kitty on this intergalactic journey. Grab your copy at a discount, test your skills against waves of cosmic enemies, and help us continue shaping the game!The festival is officially live, so tell your friends, grab the deal, and let's spread t |
| From TwitchCon to IGN Live: What a Week! | 2026-06-02 | Still buzzing from an absolutely incredible weekend at TwitchCon, I woke up this morning to some mind-blowing news. Astro Burn has been featured on IGN Live! Not only is our space kitty part of the main IGN Live event on June 6th–7th, but we are also featured right on the official IGN Live Steam page!As an indie developer, this is a massive milestone for both Beyond The Pixels® and our awesome publisher Pixel Doors.From a Passion Project to the Big Leagues I am honestly overwhelmed by the response our little Cute-em-up has received. What started as a passion project inspired by the retro games I grew up loving has grown into something far big |
| 🐾 Astro Burn EA Update v1.9: Speed Zones, Weapon Upgrades & Co-op Fixes | 2026-05-22 | Hello, cosmic co-pilots! We are back with another packed update based straight on your feedback. The cute-’em-up chaos just got faster, slicker, and much more satisfying.Here is what’s new in v1.9:🏎️ Introducing: Speed Zones!The speedrunners asked for it… and we delivered! We have divided the screen into 3 distinct movement zones to give you ultimate control over your pacing and strategies:Left Zone = Normal Speed 🟢Middle Zone = Slight Speed Boost 🟡Far Right Zone = TURBO SPEED 🔴Perfect for those who want to blast through levels at high velocity - but beware! Those incoming cute projectiles become much harder to dodge when you're flying at |
| 🚀 THE ASTRO BURN KICKSTARTER IS OFFICIALLY LIVE! 🐾 | 2026-05-19 | 🚀 THE ASTRO BURN KICKSTARTER IS OFFICIALLY LIVE! 🐾This is it - the moment where we take this feline odyssey to the next level. I have poured my heart into the Early Access, but now I need your help to make Astro Burn the ultimate tribute to retro gaming and cosmic chaos. Why back us? 💿 Physical Editions: Yes, the rumors are true! Grab a physical copy for your collection. 🐈 Immortalize your cat: Special tiers to get your feline friend featured in the game forever.The galaxy is vast, but with your support, we can conquer it. Let’s show the world what the cat crew is made of!Back the mission here:ASTRO BURN KICKSTARTERReady? Steady? MEOWTAST |
| 🐾 Astro Burn Update v.18: New Stage, Better Hitboxes & Pop-tastic Sounds! | 2026-05-14 | It is a dream come true to see so many of you piloting through the galaxy! Based on mountains of your fantastic feedback, the red laser pointer has directed us to our most important update yet.Here is what’s new in v.18:🛠️ Improvements & RefinementsNew Scoring System: We want you to feel rewarded! Now, it’s crystal clear when you’ve achieved a Perfect Score Run or a new Hi-Score. Each level completion now clearly communicates your greatness! 🏆 Audio Overhaul: Many of you mentioned the "pew-pew" noise was a bit too much. We’ve leaned harder into the Cute-em-up genre! We replaced the noisy sounds with SFX that feel "nice" to the ears - think |
| Physical Retro Cartridge Edition | 2026-05-02 | Love for the 90s golden age of gaming inspired Beyond the Pixels founder / Game Dev HaZ Dulull and set him on course to create the upcoming Cute ‘Em Up title, Astro Burn. But the Super Famicom era wasn’t only about the games, it was the whole experience. From holding the box in your hands and delighting in an instruction manual packed with artwork, to blowing the dust off the cartridge, slotting it in and pressing start. The passion with which Beyond The Pixels cherishes retro gaming burns bright and expands to the physical form factor too. Beyond The Pixels believes in preservation and ownership, and it’s starting with Astro Burn by teaming |
| Patch update v.17 | 2026-04-30 | Notable known Issues:Achievements not working properly.Audio of weapons shooting was so repetitive and annoying.Full patch notes:We now have updated the achievements with brand new ones and you unlock them after completing stages 0, 1, 2,3,4 and 5.there will be more achievements added soon for other levels + for defeating bosses and other things like fastest level time and more!Audio of weapons has now been updated, we removed sound linked to each projectile, and now only trigger Sound effects on destruction of objects, this already has changed the feeling of the game to be more relaxing and less annoying and “noisy”. We will be adding more s |
| Astro Burn - Patch v1.6 | 2026-04-28 | 🐾 The First Pawsome Patch is Live!A huge thank you to everyone who jumped into Astro Burn on day one! Your energy has been incredible. I have been watching the streams and reading your reports, and it is time for our first round of polish to make this journey even smoother.Here is what was changed in today's update:Updates and Fixes to Score Leaderboard and Analytics.Hotfix Unlocking Levels Screens and UI Button Position on some Menu ElementsUpdated the Attract mode autoplay video .Stage 2 floating piggys now react as destructibles.🐈 Keep That Feedback Coming!This is just the start. Please keep reporting bugs and sharing your feedback in th |
| 🐾 Astro Burn Early Access Roadmap: The Meow-p to Glory! | 2026-04-27 | The wait is over! Astro Burn has officially landed in Early Access. But this is just the beginning of our feline space odyssey. Early Access is all about sharpening our claws and shaping the galaxy together. I am working hard to turn this into the most delightfully bonkers cute-em-up in the universe!Here is the pawsome plan for what is coming next: Gameplay & Content: Expanding the TerritoryNew Levels Incoming (The Grand Finale) Levels 7, 8, and 9 are currently in the lab. Expect fresh worlds, weirder enemies, and over-the-top boss encounters that will bring our story to a tail-twitching conclusion.Refined Couch Co-op & Party Modes Multiplaye |
| Two Days at London Games Festival: Why Real-World Play Still Matters | 2026-04-20 | Wow—what an incredible two days at the London Games Festival / New Game Plus showcase, where Beyond The Pixels® had the chance to present Astro Burn as an Official Selection. The Energy of Indie Games, LiveThe atmosphere was electric. Indie developers supporting each other, players jumping in with curiosity, and creators capturing and sharing their experiences in real time. It’s one thing to release a game into the digital world—but seeing it played live, hearing reactions in the moment, and watching people connect with it face-to-face is something else entirely.We had artists, developers, and content creators all showing genuine love for the |
| Level checkpoints | 2026-04-14 | We’ve added checkpoints to levels so you can track your progress as you play. This gives you a clearer sense of how far you’ve come, and how close you are to completing each stage, while keeping the flow of the action smooth and focused.This is now updated in the latest build of the demo. |
| New Game Plus at London Games Festival | 2026-04-11 | We’re excited to be showcasing Astro Burn at New Game Plus as part of the London Games Festival on April 16th–17th!Come down, jump in, and play the latest build—and I’ll be there in person at the booth. I’d love to meet you, chat all things shmups, and share more about the journey behind the game.See you there 😸 |
| Arcade Mode now added for the SHMUP players. | 2026-04-04 | Listening to your community is everything in indie game development.Today, I’m really excited to share a new mode in Astro Burn, you can now choose your play-style right from the start with Story Mode or Arcade Mode.While Astro Burn is proudly a cute-’em-up, it’s still rooted in the SHMUP genre, and therefore it's important for us to make sure both narrative-driven players and hardcore SHMUP fans feel right at home.Story Mode is for players who want the full journey - following Astro and AL, following their Wizard of Oz style narrative as the story unfolds.Arcade Mode, on the other hand, strips it back to pure gameplay, no interruptions, just |
| Kitty Cat Music in Astro Burn - How Did We Create It? 🐱 | 2026-03-31 | We all know a proper intergalactic feline doesn’t head out on a mission without the right beat. That’s why today, we’re taking a look under the hood (or rather, under the fur) at the sound design of Astro Burn. Fair warning: this bass will make your whiskers vibrate!Mission: Paris UndergroundTo make the in-game music sound like a fluffy DJ's dream, the Beyond The Pixels crew headed straight to Paris, to the studio of the artist known as Venice Bleach. The goal was simple: blend 90s nostalgia with a modern energy that makes your speakers purr with delight.Synthwave, Neons, and... a Smoke Machine?There was no "soft play" in the studio. Purple n |
| Demo now available on Mac OS | 2026-03-25 | 🚀 Great news! our Astro Burn Demo is now live on Steam for Apple Mac!A huge thank you to everyone who jumped in to install & test across MacBook Airs and Pros, your feedback helped ensure it’s running beautifully. 🙌It is recommended to plug in a gaming controller for the full arcade feel 🎮but we also have love for the keyboard gamers too:WASD – MoveSpace Bar – FireF – Slam it, as soon as Catnip Power bar is full, to unleash Feline Fury! 🔥 If you enjoy it, a wishlist and quick review goes a long way in supporting indie dev.Let’s show some love for modern-retro on Mac. |
| Loading Screens reveal backstory vignette moments | 2026-01-05 | I’ve always disliked loading screens that are just static images. With Astro Burn I wanted to use that loading time more intentionally—turning it into a space to share small pieces of character backstory, rather than relying solely on in-game story or text-heavy moments.After all, this is a bullet-hell cute-em-up, players want to stay in the thick of the action. Loading screens felt like the perfect place to slip in short, meaningful character vignettes that add depth without slowing the pace.It’s a small touch, but one that helps the world and its characters feel more alive between the chaos.( The above art is from the Co-Op mode loading scr |
| Think you’ve got the fastest paws in the galaxy? | 2025-12-10 | Think you’ve got the fastest paws in the galaxy?Jump into the Astro Burn Leaderboard Challenge and battle your friends for the top score! Dodge, blast, and claw your way through waves of cosmic chaos — only the sharpest reflexes and wildest weapon combos will earn you the #1 spot.Ready to prove you’re the ultimate space cat? |
| Pivoting & embracing CUTE-EM UP! | 2025-11-26 | As an indie developer, I’ve learned that sometimes you have to trust both your gut and your community - and after so many great conversations, playtests, and bits of feedback, it became clear that Astro Burn shines brightest when it leans into the fun, chaotic, cat-powered energy everyone loves.So I made a deliberate pivot: rather than pushing toward a traditional hardcore shoot-’em-up, I’ve steered the game fully into its own lane — a cute-em-up that embraces personality, colour, and charm in a way that truly sets it apart from other shmups out there.This direction feels right at home with the cute-em-up classics I grew up playing on the SNE |