Riding a massive surge in Steam wishlists, the hyper-vibrant retro cute-em-up brings its “awesomely bonkers” arcade chaos to PC and Mac today.
AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS & LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM, April 27, 2026: Indie publisher Pixel Doors and London-based developer Beyond The Pixels® have officially launched Astro Burn into Early Access on Steam today. The fast-paced sidescroller invites players back to the golden era of arcade cute-em-ups, fueled by a delightfully bizarre, internet-era aesthetic.
The launch follows an incredibly successful week for Beyond The Pixels® at the London Games Festival 2026. Selected as an Official Selection for the New Game Plus showcase, Astro Burn drew massive in-person crowds and glowing feedback. The event triggered a glorious surge in Steam wishlists, driven heavily by players who don’t traditionally play the bullet-hell genre, proving the game’s unique blend of chaotic action and approachability.
In Astro Burn, players control Astro, a sassy space cat armed to the teeth. Aided by her robot companion, Astro blasts through waves of cute enemies across 10 diverse levels, from deep space and mechanical worlds to underwater realms and sprawling cities. By unleashing over-the-top, stackable anime-style power-ups, players must annihilate screen-filling waves of adorable enemies in a chaotic bid to find her way home.
Developed by film, tv and games industry veteran HaZ Dulull, the retro-inspired title features both solo and local couch co-op modes, designed to be deeply satisfying for hardcore shmup fans while remaining highly accessible for newcomers.
HaZ Dulull, Founder and Game Director at Beyond The Pixels®, said: “We are coming off an absolutely unreal high from the London Games Festival. Hearing players call the game ‘awesomely bonkers’ and ‘insanely original’ was amazing, but my absolute favorite moments were the hesitant players who said they were terrible at shmups, only to give it a try and realize how accessible and fun it actually is. Launching into Early Access today means taking that incredible in-person energy and expanding it globally. We want the community right here in the heart of the game with us, helping shape, tune, and push Astro Burn to its final, most meowtastic form.”
Jacek Pudlik, Co-Founder of Pixel Doors, said: “What HaZ and the team experienced at the London Games Festival is exactly why we do this. They proved that Astro Burn has that rare, universal appeal! It captures the addictive chaos of classic arcade shooters but welcomes everyone to the party. We are thrilled to see that momentum translate into a massive surge of wishlists, and even more excited to officially open the doors to Early Access today so players everywhere can finally get their hands on it.”
Astro Burn is available NOW in Early Access for PC and Mac via Steam.
