Recently, it was revealed that Xbox had passed on makingMarvel games, with the brand instead going to Sony. The release ofMarvel’s Spider-Manshows how big this deal actually was, but of course, hindsight is 20/20. What matters now is how Sony uses this agreement. While Marvel-Square Enix games likeMarvel’s Avengershas faced heavy backlash andMarvel’s Guardians of the Galaxydid not get the attention at launch it deserved, Sony is building an impressive array of games.
This is thanks toSpider-Mandeveloper Insomniac Games. Not only was the first game a huge console-selling hit, butMarvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Moralespaired well with the launch of the PS5. The two games, as well as Insomniac’s pedigree, mean there’s a ton of hype for the upcomingMarvel’s Spider-Man 2. But that hype is infectious, and many are as equally excited forMarvel’s Wolverinefrom Insomniac, which is saying something.
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An Insomniac Games-Marvel Universe Has One Big Catch
Of course, not much is known besides the one teaser trailer, and withMarvel’s Spider-Man 2releasing in 2023,Marvel’s Wolverineis still some years away. That means exactly what it entails will likely remain under wraps for a while longer, but one idea has been floated around by several fans now: an Insomniac Games-led Marvel Universe. This would mean establishing a canon related to all the games Insomniac produces, if not all Marvel games that ever come out of Sony.
On the one hand, this makes sense. It’s pretty clear from the announcement thatMarvel’s Wolverineis not following any set comic or movie canon, or at the very least, it seems that way. While a Wolverine game connected to something like Logan would be nice, this is not a movie adaptation. It’s a bonafideWolverinegame. That doesn’t mean something as epic as a Deadpool orIncredible Hulk fight is impossible, but that the cameos and references would be self-contained, not influential.
The idea of an Insomniac Games Marvel universe is tantalizing. After all, with the greater MCU, it’s proven how much fans love the idea of multiple projects coming together and culminating in a large-scale fight.MCU Phase 1is enough proof of this, as Iron Man, Captain America, The Incredible Hulk, and Thor all got a solo outing or two before coming together inThe Avengers. But that would require some inner connectivity between all Marvel Insomniac titles. This could theoretically work.
On the other hand, it would be a gargantuan and painstaking task, and it’s not really Insomniac Games’ MO. It should not be squared away as Sony’s Marvel game developer. Insomniac Games is always going at full blast it seems, but if it were to focus almost fully on Marvel games, fans would miss out on a lot more.Insomniac Games ownsSunset Overdrive, meaning a sequel isn’t impossible (if it would oddly become a PlayStation Exclusive).Ratchet and Clankshouldn’t get pushed out for Marvel heroes either.
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At the end of the day, anInsomniac Games Marvel Universesounds amazing, but the cost would be too high. Insomniac Games’ forte isn’t to be locked down to one game, style of game, or brand. While that works for some developers like Rockstar Games (Grand Theft Auto, Red Dead), it shouldn’t happen here.
Wolverine Canon Can Stand Alone
Thus, Insomniac’s take onWolverinemay not rely on comic or movie canon, and it probably won’t rely on other Insomniac Games’ canon. That’s okay. Perhaps the best part ofMarvel’s Spider-Manis seeing a brand new take on Peter Parker and Miles Morales hitting its stride, while the MCU does what it does in the background.Marvel’s Wolverinecan operate the same way.
Insomniac has, more or less, anestablished canon within theSpider-Mangames, andMarvel’s Wolverinecan do the same. Wolverine’s powers will likely be the same. His character attitude is likely to be the same. His villains and allies might even be the same, but there’s so much room for story potential within all of that. Tying it to something else, even another Insomniac Game, could potentially do a disservice to Wolverine.
His allies and villains, his powers, his character, and just him are all Insomniac Games needs to make aWolverinegame. An awesomeWolverinegame, alongside awesomeSpider-Mangames, alongside awesomeRatchet and Clankgames, are all that Insomniac needs. Tying strings between the new Marvel games would just be too much.Marvel’s Wolverinecanoncan and should be stand alone, and as a self-contained story,Wolverine’s potential is only limited by the imagination of Insomniac, not by arbitrary connections between it and other Marvel games. Wolverine is more than enough on his own.
Marvel’s Wolverineis in development for PS5.
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