Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart doesn't just feature the titular Ratchet and Clank on a new adventure. The game also introduces a new Lombax to the mix in the form of Rivet, an alternate universe version of Ratchet, along with her Clank-equivalent, Kit. Rivet and Kit have proven to be quite popular new additions to the franchise's lore, with many Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart fans praising their story arcs and characterization. However, it seems that there was once a time when Rivet would have had a very different and very confusing name.
Speaking at GDC (as reported by IGN), Insomniac developer Mark Stuart revealed that Rivet originally had a very different name. When Rivet was first conceived, she was known was Ratchette, though that was eventually shortened to just "Ratchet." The logic was that since Rivet is an alternate universe version of Ratchet, it would make sense for them to have the same name. However, this made writing the game's story confusing for the developers.
The next name that the team came up with for Rivet was "Gadget," but then they finally landed on "Rivet." It's easy to see how Rivet having the name "Ratchet" would've hurt the character's ability to break out in the fanbase, as it would've been difficult to discuss her in any context outside of being a female version of Ratchet, so it was likely the right call for Insomniac to go with "Rivet" instead.
With Rivet and Kit proving so popular, it will be interesting to see if they will ever get their own spin-off game down the line. As it stands, Insomniac hasn't announced any plans to expand Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart with DLC or expansions, so it seems fans have to be content with the base game story for now. But considering Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart's high review scores and strong sales, one would hope that Rivet and Kit would make another appearance eventually.
As it stands, it may be quite some time before fans see another Ratchet & Clank game, as Insomniac is busy with other projects. Right now, Insomniac is busy developing Marvel's Spider-Man 2, which will feature Peter Parker, Miles Morales, and Venom, as well as the Wolverine video game. Spider-Man 2 is expected to release at some point in 2023, though it's unclear when the Wolverine game will be out.
Insomniac releases new games on a near-annual basis and always has multiple projects in the works, so it's certainly possible that a new Ratchet & Clank game or maybe even just Rift Apart DLC could release at some point, but fans shouldn't hold their breath until Spider-Man 2 and Wolverine are out.
Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart is out now, exclusively for PlayStation 5.
Source: IGN
