Beyond The Pixels is a new London game development studio which is trying to revive retro gaming. It has revealed its debut project Astro Burn, today, along with a demo on Steam. A high-energy, fur-filled shooter, the game is set to hit mobile, PC, Mac, and consoles in early 2026.
The studio is led by HaZ Dulull, a director whose work spans film, TV, and games, with credits across Netflix productions, Disney+ series, Fortnite, Evil Genius 2, and Dune: Awakening. His new venture is built around creating original and licensed IP that can exist across games, film, TV, and user-generated content.
It’s not just going to be a game, really!
Astro Burn is a retro-inspired shoot-’em-up. And true to Dulull’s vision, it won’t just be confined to being a game. His plan is to create stories that move across multiple formats. So, an animated TV series based on the title is already in development.
Coming back to the game, you play the role of Astro, a feline pilot. She’s returning home from a space mission alongside her robot partner AL. But instead of a hero’s welcome, she discovers Earth trapped under the grip of massive AI war machines with no humans around.
With fast-paced battles, Astro’s nine lives will be tested against waves of enemies in a bullet-hell setting. The game will span ten distinct levels, while locations will range from deep space and mechanical arenas to underwater areas, Earth’s skies, and cityscapes.
Check out the Astro Burn demo
While the mobile store pages haven’t been created yet, Beyond The Pixels has launched a demo of Astro Burn on Steam. You can give it a try if you are interested in 16-bit pixel art games with a sci-fi backdrop.
They also launched a trailer giving us a glimpse of the game. Take a look at it here.
Astro Burn will feature a two-player co-op arcade mode. It will let you share weapons, team up to take down enemies, or go head-to-head in competitive play. There’s also a roguelite feature for players who want extra challenge, alongside leaderboards.
That wraps up our scoop on this upcoming game. Also, read our next scoop on Ninja Arashi 2: Shadow’s Return.
