Alleged leaks suggest Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 may feature a third playable character. This is only a rumor as of this writing, but with the confirmation of Venom in Marvel’s Spider-Man 2, fans would not be foolish to assume they will at least see iterations of Spider-Man’s iconic black-suit, whether it is pertinent to the narrative or simply used for optional cosmetics.
Because Norman, Harry, and the symbiote have been teased in both Marvel’s Spider-Man and Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales, it is expected that Venom will now be Marvel’s Spider-Man 2’s main antagonist. If the rumored leak is correct, the third playable character will not even be able to roam freely, making a potential experience as Venom limiting and restrictive. This is why if Insomniac Games does want Venom to be a playable character, it should not do that until the character is given a solo, standalone title comparable to Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales.
Insomniac Can Explore Venom Further in Its Own Game
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Marvel’s Spider-Man players learn about Harry Osborn through optional, remote research stations positioned throughout the city, as well as a diary and other environmental storytelling in the Osborn’s penthouse suite. Marvel’s Spider-Man offers insight into Harry’s life from arm’s length, making him one of the most enigmatic and interesting characters without being seen in the flesh until a post-credit scene.
Encased in a green fluid chamber, a catatonic Harry is seen in contact with the symbiote that his father, Norman, and Doctor Curtis Connors must believe possesses restorative properties. Because the symbiote is already being used for such purposes, the plausible explanation may be that the alien organism has been on Earth long enough for Norman to have run tests on it.
Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales makes a fairly elaborate point of touring players through the Oscorp Science Center exhibit, with many shuttles and means of travel in outer space, as well as an inclination to explore and create infrastructure underwater. It is possible that this could be a direct nod to Norman funding the research for means underwater or outside of Earth for his son’s regeneration, which could have led to the discovery of the symbiote.
Otherwise, it is just as likely Norman could have created the symbiote at Oscorp. This is a more outlandish theory, but it would not be unfounded due to the fact that Oscorp was capable of manufacturing the genetically engineered spiders responsible for Miles’ bio-electrokinesis and optic camouflage. Either way, there is a lot for Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 to explain when it comes to the symbiote, if it does choose to give it any originating context at all, and more information could be shared in a Venom spin-off.
Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 is Already Balancing Peter and Miles
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In gameplay, Insomniac’s symbiote could have all-new abilities and perhaps alter its hosts physiologically as well as behaviorally. The idea of “organic or artificial tentacles” points toward the symbiote and Venom directly. However, the rumor's description that a third player character “straight up kills people” seems to suggest the character is indeed Venom, as otherwise Insomniac would be taking a dramatically dark turn with Peter. “Smoke” is perhaps the most intriguing term used to describe the character’s abilities, and the only descriptor that seems to move away from Venom.
In the game's narrative, playing as Venom would have multiple repercussions. First, Venom is positioned as an antagonist in Marvel’s Spider-Man 2. It makes less sense for players to be able to play as one of the game’s main antagonists unless there is a misunderstanding or perspective context to learn from akin to The Last of Us 2’s Abby Anderson.
Ultimate Spider-Man achieves this dynamic well, and has mechanics where players consume civilians and enemies to replenish health. It even features villains that are shared between each respective protagonist. No matter which human host the symbiote ends up being parasitically bonded to in Marvel’s Spider-Man 2, it is likely they may be empathized with, especially if one of them is Harry.
Playing as Venom in the sequel as a villain would make for a strange addition to the back-and-forth dynamic that will already exist between players’ control of Peter and Miles. The more likely theory that Peter’s gameplay will change as he wears the symbiote would not attempt to add too many mechanical ingredients to the mix, potentially muddling the experience. Peter could even become an antagonist as he gradually falls prey to the symbiote, which would serve well as a final boss fight in Marvel's Spider-Man 2.
Insomniac Should Make More Spin-Offs Like Miles Morales
The leak makes some interesting claims about how control of Peter Parker and Miles Morales will be handled. Because Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 shares at least two protagonists, it needs to balance them while making each feel individually unique, cohesively inseparable, and interchangeable. If Venom received a standalone spin-off title like Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales, the character could be given its own limelight without having to saturate an established gameplay dynamic.
Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales set the precedent for spin-offs in Insomniac’s Spider-Man universe that tell important, yet standalone stories. It is only assumed that Harry will become bonded to the symbiote because he is suspended in a chamber with it. That could be an intentional misdirect with any number of potential hosts Insomniac has kept secret, such as Eddie Brock Jr.
Another theory that is perhaps inevitable at this point is that Peter will become bonded to the symbiote, introducing a black-and-white Spider-Man suit in Marvel's Spider-Man 2, and the potential for associable gameplay mechanics with the symbiote. The symbiote could be passed around to different hosts, and Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 could conclude with a post-credits teaser that shows the symbiote latching onto its latest victim.
If Harry does become the famished alien antagonist, a standalone Venom title could redeem his character, but it will depend entirely on what happens at the end of Marvel’s Spider-Man 2. If Venom is to become playable at some point, it would be best reserved for a standalone experience that would not impact the narrative of Marvel’s Spider-Man’s mainline entries featuring Peter.
Marvel's Spider-Man 2 is currently scheduled to release in 2023 for PS5.