I never thought my Astro Bot PS5 controller needed a case, until I knew it'd come packaged with a plushie

Image of the PowerA and Youtooz case and plush bundle sitting on a blurred Astro Bot screenshot.

(Image credit: PowerA/Youtooz/TeamASOBI)

The first limited edition Astro Bot DualSense is my go-to PS5 controller, but the thought never occurred to me that it needed a case. As my most-used pad, it's typically always out in the open for easy access, but while perusing PS Direct for any deals and bargains, I stumbled upon the Astro Bot DualSense Wireless Controller Case & Red Panda Plushie bundle, and I'm second-guessing my Sony setup.

The $56.99 case is set to release in April 2026 and can store your Astro Bot gamepad or any DualSense controller you happen to have at hand. Officially licensed by PowerA and toy manufacturer Youtooz, the case also features cable pass-through, so you can charge your controller even when it's zipped up. But it's the fact that it also comes with a matching plushie that's got me re-thinking how I play the PS5.

I was completely surprised by the lack of a ceremonious announcement for this DualSense case and plushie bundle. Through a little bit of sleuthing, all I could find was the initial reveal on PowerA's official social media X (Twitter) profile way back on September 25, 2025, which was paired with posts on the brand's official Facebook and Instagram profiles, and that was that. For something so cute, especially of the Astro Bot variety, I'd have expected a bigger deal to be made about it.

I mean, it's not every day you find a plushie on the official US PS Direct online store. The red panda design is based on the bot creatures found in the game, which is also available as an official costume you can don as Astro himself. I'd have maybe preferred to see a plush based on one of Astro's PlayStation character outfits, like PaRappa the Rapper, but the 9-inch Red Panda looks cute enough.

The plushie comes packaged alongside the DualSense case, which has a design that pairs perfectly with the officially licenced Astro Bot controllers. Its outer shell pays homage to Astro's big, blue, pixelated eyes, and even the small wrist strap, which is designed for carrying around the case, looks much like Astro's antenna.

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Image of the inside of the PowerA Astro Bot DualSense case on a blue GamesRadar+ background. — (Image credit: Future/PowerA/Sony/Youtooz)

The interior is also very much on theme, featuring a blue PCB-type pattern with the PS5's controller iconic button icons throughout. The inside of the case has been moulded to fit the pad, and there are two indents for the sticks to avoid any damage while on the go. There's also a pocket for storing any additional accessories, like thumb grips or a USB-C charging cable, if that's what you fancy.

I'm not entirely convinced my DualSense needs a case, as it's never left my home in the years since I pre-ordered it. However, I can't lie that the adorable accompanying plushie has got me questioning my setup. If the cuddly Red Panda is convincing you to do the same, do be warned that I can only find this on the official US PS Direct store for now. There's also no launch date given besides "April 2026" at the time of writing.

Much like the official Seagate Astro Bot Game Drive, I'm hoping we learn more about its UK availability and overall release date closer to launch.

View all Astro Bot PS5 accessories at PS Direct
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Our guides for the best PS5 headsets, the best SSDs for PS5, and the best external PS5 hard drives are full of accessories you can add to your Sony setup.

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Ever since I first held a NES controller in my hand I've been obsessed with gaming, and the hardware it runs on. I could hook up a NES and SNES to a telly, without instructions, before I could walk. Even now, nothing is more exciting then taking a console, or handheld, out the box for the first time and setting it up. This obsession transformed into a love of games and game music, which lead to my music degree and dream of becoming the Scottish Nobuo Uematsu. After sharing my love of games through music, I began to share my love through words on sites like TechRadar and iMore. This lead to becoming a Hardware staff writer for PCGamesN, and later the Senior Tech Writer for Dexerto, covering all things Steam Deck, PlayStation and Nintendo. With that experience, I was able to level up as Hardware Editor for GamesRadar+, where I'm still just as Nintendo, PlayStation and gaming tech obsessed as ever.

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