Except for the information unveiled as part of last year’s devastating Insomniac Games leak, very little is known about the highly anticipated Marvel’s Wolverine. It’s hard to determine the extent of the leak’s damage to the project and Insomniac’s broader marketing plans, but it very well could have pushed back an official gameplay reveal, and such a delay may now be ratcheting up expectations from gaming audiences.
Marvel’s Wolverine is something of an interesting prospect. On the one hand, no one should be surprised by AAA studios pushing forward with superhero adaptations, as these IP have built-in fanbases and brand recognition that simply can’t be matched by brand-new fictional worlds. At the same time, though, Wolverine is coming from Insomniac Games, and is set in the same universe as its Marvel’s Spider-Man franchise. Regardless of how one feels about the Spider-Man games, it can’t be denied that Wolverine presents a markedly different narrative tone and gameplay premise, so it will be intriguing to see how Insomniac handles this pivot. This facet of Marvel’s Wolverine, alongside others, is why it needs to wow audiences upon its official unveiling.
One of the biggest question marks surrounding
Marvel’s Wolverine
is how Insomniac will handle its mature tone, as the studio’s previous games have been notably PG.
Related
Deadpool and Wolverine Showed that Marvel’s Wolverine Has its Work Cut Out in One Area
Deadpool and Wolverine was filled with memorable moments, but there’s one sequence in particular that sets a high bar for Marvel’s Wolverine.
The Marvel’s Wolverine Reveal Will Be Pivotal
There Has Been a Drought of Information Since Marvel’s Wolverine Was First Announced
Marvel’s Wolverine was officially revealed during a 2021 PlayStation showcase via a brief cinematic that seems to show the aftermath of a battle between Wolverine and a group of thugs, ending with him gearing up for another bout. There is no gameplay featured, nor is any story information unveiled, but the reveal was nevertheless effective as a means of establishing the darker, more violent tone of the upcoming game. Moreover, it served to confirm the game’s existence.
But that was almost four years ago, and there’s been nary a peep from Insomniac nor Sony since. Speculation has run rampant about the game, especially in the wake of the very early gameplay footage revealed during the 2023 leaks, but there’s been little real substance to analyze or get excited about. While it may not have been as egregious as something like the Elder Scrolls 6 logo reveal, which felt like generating hype for the sake of hype with little to back it up, the 2021 Marvel’s Wolverine teaser needs some follow-through, especially as it gets further in the rearview.
What the Next Marvel’s Wolverine Reveal Ought To Include
With nearly four years passing since the game’s reveal, the next Wolverine trailer needs to be substantive. Some cinematics would be fine, and even welcome, as they could shed light on the game’s narrative, but gameplay should be the main focus. Marvel’s Wolverine is expected to be more visceral, brutal, and violent than Marvel’s Spider-Man, with a greater focus on combat than traversal, so a good glimpse into what its gameplay will entail will be essential for setting expectations, and perhaps even easing certain concerns from those unconfident in Insomniac’s ability to pivot from the Spider-Man games.
It’s not exactly fair, but many gamers have been judging Marvel’s Wolverine based on the in-development gameplay footage uncovered during last year’s leaks. Naturally, this footage is incredibly rudimentary, painting an unpolished picture of the game, but this is to be expected given its stage of development. The footage wasn’t meant to be seen by the public, after all. Nevertheless, this rougher-looking Wolverine is what has defined the game’s legacy thus far, so a stunning, slick, and well-presented trailer could wash away these previous negative connotations, regardless of how reasonable they may or may not be.
Marvel’s Wolverine is a third-person action game from Insomniac Games that is set in the same universe as the studio’s Spider-Man titles.
- Franchise
- Marvel
- Released
- October 1, 2024