Retro-Inspired, Side-Scrolling Bullet Hell Shoot-’Em-Up Astro Burn Launches a Demo

Beyond The Pixels is a fresh London-based game studio on a mission to bring retro gaming back to life. Today, they unveiled their first project, Astro Burn, along with a playable demo on Steam. This high-octane, fur-filled shooter is set to launch on mobile, PC, Mac, and consoles in early 2026.

The studio is helmed by HaZ Dulull, a director with a diverse background in film, TV, and games—credited on Netflix productions, Disney+ series, Fortnite, Evil Genius 2, and Dune: Awakening. His new endeavor focuses on crafting original and licensed IP designed to thrive across games, film, TV, and user-generated content.

It’s more than just a game, really!

Astro Burn is a retro-inspired shoot-’em-up that stays true to Dulull’s vision: it won’t be limited to gameplay alone. He’s building a universe meant to span multiple media. An animated TV series based on the title is already in the works.

Back to the game—you’ll step into the shoes of Astro, a feline pilot returning home from a deep-space mission with her robot companion, AL. But instead of a hero’s welcome, she finds Earth under the control of colossal AI war machines, with no humans in sight.

With blistering fast-paced action, Astro’s nine lives will face relentless waves of enemies in a bullet-hell arena. The game features ten unique levels, taking you from deep space and mechanical arenas to underwater zones, Earth’s skies, and bustling cityscapes.

Check out the Astro Burn demo

Though mobile store pages aren’t live yet, Beyond The Pixels has released a demo of Astro Burn on Steam. If you’re drawn to 16-bit pixel art with a sci-fi twist, give it a shot.

They’ve also dropped a trailer offering a first look at the game. Watch it here.

Astro Burn will include a two-player co-op arcade mode, letting you share weapons, team up to crush enemies, or battle head-to-head in competitive matches. A roguelite mode adds extra challenge for seasoned players, alongside global leaderboards.

That’s our latest update on this upcoming title. For more, check out our next feature on Ninja Arashi 2: Shadow’s Return.