With Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 set to release later in 2023, it is safe to assume that it will be the primary focus of Sony and Insomniac Games for the foreseeable future. However, the talented and fast-working studio also has a game centered on the Marvel hero Wolverine in the works, with the team behind Spider-Man: Miles Morales diving into a new story about Logan. As such, it is not impossible to think that fans may see the game sooner rather than later.
Though Summer Game Fest would be an opportunity for a surprise appearance from Marvel’s Wolverine, it would make more sense for the game to show up at the long-rumored PlayStation showcase. However, Insomniac Games could do something significantly more interesting than a typical gameplay demo at a big show. Instead, it can use the MCU’s trick of post credits scenes that tease future projects, with players seeing - or even controlling - the first slice of Marvel’s Wolverine.
Marvel’s Wolverine Gameplay as Marvel’s Spider-Man 2’s Post Credits Scene
When seeing a movie like Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, Marvel fans were not at all surprised to see a scene that sets up a moment in the Disney+ series Loki. It has become natural for Marvel movies to lay the groundwork for future entries, as it is a major part of what makes a connected universe work. Considering that Insomniac is set to release games about two Marvel heroes close together, many are expecting some kind of connection already.
While a scene that shows Peter or Miles meeting Logan would certainly be fun, an even better option would be a gameplay demo. Even in the most “boring” scenario, fans would be thrilled to watch a bit of Marvel’s Wolverine gameplay and see what they can expect from the game, especially if this is the first time they see it in action. A studio teasing its next game with actual gameplay immediately after its latest game has released is an incredibly rare opportunity, as few developers are fortunate enough to have another game deep into development that connects so perfectly with the most recent project.
However, though the gameplay footage would surely go viral as soon as the first person to roll credits on Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 posts a video of it, Insomniac Games could do something even better by making this brief demo playable. For a few minutes, players could take control of Logan, getting an idea of just how deadly the X-Men member will be in Insomniac’s potential video game universe. This gameplay snippet could come straight from Marvel’s Wolverine, showing fans exactly how the combat will function.
The biggest challenge with this approach is that Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 will undoubtedly have a T for Teen rating. With all signs pointing for an M rating for Marvel’s Wolverine, as this would be the best way to deliver an accurate take on the character, the gorey combat that will be on display would surely lead to issues with parents who do not want their kids seeing that level of violence. Perhaps a content warning could be delivered as well as the option to opt out of the bonus sequence, similar to how No Russian was handled in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2.
Regardless of the potential problem of an ESRB rating difference, this feels like an opportunity Insomniac Games should not waste. A playable demo being snuck into a typical post credits scene would be unforgettable, and it would take full advantage of the unique position Insomniac has found itself in. Though a gameplay demonstration at PlayStation’s supposedly-imminent event would be the safer option, loading into a small segment of Marvel’s Wolverine after the Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 credits roll would be far more jaw-dropping.
Marvel’s Wolverine is currently in development for PS5.
