This week is exciting for Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart fans, as a new trailer has dropped alongside confirmation that the game will be the focus of Thursday’s State of Play. Through all the hype, though, Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart fans noticed a potential reference to the MCU series WandaVision.
The reference in question sees the female Lombax from Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart, now confirmed to be named Rivet, winking directly at the camera. She also giggles to herself and throws her head back after the wink, giving off a mischievous vibe in the animation. While it would be easy to think nothing of the animation, MCU fans were quick to point out that it is the exact same thing Agatha Harkness does in WandaVision. Specifically, the moment is taken from the standout “It Was Agatha All Along” sequence, which revealed that Agatha was the villain of the show the entire time.
Catching on with the internet due to the catchy song that plays during the sequence, as well as the overwhelming popularity of WandaVision, Agatha’s wink has become a popular meme online. Whether it is in photo or gif form, the moment is instantly recognizable, and it seems like Insomniac was fond of the unique TV series. While fans just seeing the animation online may have just viewed it as a coincidence, Insomniac’s tweet confirmed the authenticity of the reference.
Alongside a gif of Rivet’s wink, Insomniac’s message is a clear giveaway of the intent behind the moment. Poking fun at how Rivet’s name was kept secret for several months, the text “her name was Rivet all along” is a great nod to the big reveal of the latest Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart trailer. It is also an obvious nod to Agatha’s song where her wink took place, with the music emoji that comes before the text making things even clearer. With the tweet amassing over 33,000 likes, it is safe to say that fans enjoyed the unexpected crossover.
While gamers have recreated the Agatha sequence in Animal Crossing: New Horizons, this may be the first time it has been officially referenced by a video game developer. While this is likely just a fun gag instead of a nod to Rivet being secretly evil, it will be interesting to see where her story goes. As for the animation itself, Lindsay Thompson is the one to thank, with the Insomniac animator saying that the reference is her greatest work yet.
For those interested in learning more about Rivet, the April 29 State of Play should provide some more insight into who she is and what she wants. While players will likely need to wait until release to see Rivet meet Ratchet, this fun animation is available to be enjoyed until then.
Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart arrives exclusively on PS5 on June 11.
