Highlights
- Insomniac confirms that the New Game+ update for Marvel's Spider-Man 2 will not be ready at launch, disappointing some players.
- The inclusion of New Game+ in the original Spider-Man game gave players hope, but it was added after the game's launch.
- Insomniac plans to release the New Game+ update for Spider-Man 2 before the end of 2023, following a similar timeline as the original game.
Insomniac has provided an update on the status of Marvel's Spider-Man 2's New Game+ update, confirming that it will not be ready for the game's launch. The confirmation was delivered alongside details regarding Marvel's Spider-Man 2's launch patch, which Insomniac is telling players is highly recommended. Some prospective Spider-Man 2 players were hopeful that this patch might include the previously promised New Game+ content, but that's unfortunately not the case.
Speculation that New Game+ would be missing from Spider-Man 2 started earlier in October after a content creator with early access to the game shared it wouldn't be available at launch. Spider-Man 2 preorderers noticed a small update and were hopeful it could be the addition of New Game+, but that was quickly shot down. Still, the inclusion of New Game+ in the original Marvel's Spider-Man kept players' hopes alive, even though New Game+ was only added to the original game well after launch.
Spider-Man 2 Dev Clarifies Fast Travel Controversy
One of Spider-Man 2's developers is clarifying confusion about the game's lauded fast-travel system, which is much quicker than its predecessors.
Insomniac director of community and marketing James Stevenson posted on social media on Tuesday encouraging players to download the Spider-Man 2 launch update. Spider-Man fans were quick to question Stevenson regarding the patch's content, including asking if, "new game plus and mission replay" would be ready for launch. Stevenson responded, confirming that neither New Game+ nor mission replay functionality will be available when Marvel'sSpider-Man 2 arrives.
The good news, at least, is that while confirming that these Spider-Man 2 features won't be available at launch, they will be added eventually. That wasn't necessarily a certainty before, though few would have expected it not to eventually be delivered. Stevenson didn't have to share that information, particularly in such an informal way. Insomniac's transparency is part of what contributes to its games being so highly anticipated.
As for when the New Game+ update will be delivered for Spider-Man 2, Stevenson says that it "should be" released before the end of 2023. That's in line with when the original Spider-Man's New Game+ update was released. Marvel's Spider-Man launched in September 2018 and New Game+ was delivered before the end of October that year. Spider-Man 2 arrives on October 20, so Insomniac will hopefully be able to drop its New Game+ update in November.
It may be disappointing to some looking forward to Spider-Man 2 that New Game+ won't be available on launch day. But it's important to keep in mind that only a very small minority of players will be able to beat Spider-Man 2 quickly and would want to start a new game immediately. Insomniac's priorities for launch are to ensure a polished experience for as many players as possible. New Game+ will then be available at a time when more players will have finished the game, sometime before the end of the year.
Marvel's Spider-Man 2 releases October 20 on PS5.
