After a relatively lackluster summer of gaming announcements, Sony Entertainment delivered on the hype surrounding their September PS5 Showcase Reveal Event, where they revealed several highly anticipated titles that included Insomniac's Spider-Man 2 and Wolverine and Santa Monica's God of War: Ragnarök.
While Sony's showcase suggests a promising future for Ps5 exclusivity, the trailers shown suggest several titles are still quite a ways out from release. Nevertheless, prior context from previous titles along with a tantalizing minute-and-a-half teaser are more than enough to give players some idea about what Insomniac's Spider-Man sequel will entail.
10 It's A Single-Player Game Despite Co-Op Potential
Following the reveal that confirmed Spider-Man 2 was officially in development, Ryan Schneider—Games Head of Franchise Strategy and Studio Relations at Insomniac—posted to the PlayStation Blog to clarify that the upcoming sequel would be a single-player adventure like 2018's Spider-Man and 2020's Spider-Man: Miles Morales.
This is certainly disappointing news for fans excited about Peter and Miles being prominently featured in equal measures throughout the trailer. And, given the effort the studio put into the 2020 spin-off that made fans fall in love with Miles' version of the web-slinger, it's somewhat surprising that Insomniac isn't looking to invest in the co-op potential the series holds.
9 The Game Is Being Marketed As A PS5 Exclusive
When the ninth generation of gaming consoles was announced in 2020, one of the titles featured as part of the PS5's launch line-up was Spider-Man: Miles Morales. Thankfully, for fans who were unable to afford or get their hands on the latest console, the spin-off was also simultaneously released on PS4.
However, Insomniac's sequel doesn't share the same conundrum as the 2018 spin-off of being positioned on the cusp of a new console generation. Consequently, early marketing suggests that the game will be coming to PS5 and only PS5, meaning fans will have to get their hands on the new console if they're planning to participate in the web slingers' next outing.
8 The Game Is Currently Set To Release In 2023
Fortunately, while Spider-Man stans will be required to grab a PS5 for the sequel, they'll have plenty of time to do so before its release. The end of the PS5 Showcase Reveal trailer discloses that the game isn't set to release until 2023. This, of course, is barring any delays that tend to be common among highly anticipated AAA games.
If the sequel does come out in 2023, it'll be released five years from the original 2018 game. While this has some fans questioning the lengthy development, one of the game's voice actors—Tony Todd—clarified that this is partially attributed to the game being massive, suggesting that this entry may be Insomniac's most ambitious title yet.
7 It Will Be Set After Spider-Man: Miles Morales
Although the game is set to be single-player as of now, what fans can take away from the brief glimpses of the game is that it chronologically occurs some time after the events of Spider-Man: Miles Morales. While it's not exactly clear how much time has passed, it's a pretty safe assumption based on the absence of snow that it's no longer winter in New York.
Furthermore, eagle-eyed viewers will notice that both Peter and Miles have made some slight aesthetic changes to their costumes (besides the obvious upgrade Peter has installed), with Peter sporting a sleeker, more integrated version of his Advanced Suit and Miles adjusting his arm pieces to extend and emphasize the red outlines.
6 Miles Showcases Some New Electric Venom Powers
One of the ways Insomniac really delivers on in the 2020 spin-off featuring Miles is in making his combat style feel distinctly different from Peter's. Miles' movement and actions feel less refined and more frantic than his fellow veteran web-slinger, showcasing how the biracial teen is still in the process of learning how to be Spider-Man.
However, two things that set Miles apart from Peter is his ability to camouflage himself and incapacitate others with his "Venom" powers, indicated by yellow electric-like energy. While the recent Spider-Man 2 trailer showcases Miles using his Venom powers, it also sees him follow up with a surge of bluish-white electricity, hinting at some new latent powers.
5 Peter's Advanced Suit Now Has Animatronic Legs
The most notable improvement to combat seen in the Spider-Man 2 trailer are the robotic limbs Peter's Advanced Suit now sports, likely inspired by the fight with his former mentor Otto Octavius during the Devil's Breath crisis. However, the feature isn't exactly new—Peter is able to use these spider-like limbs with his Iron Spider suits in the first game.
Likewise, Peter Parker's spider suit has a history of featuring animatronic extensions in both the comics and movies. In both continuities, however, Peter receives the Iron Spider suit from Tony Stark. The suit first debuted in the comics during Civil War storyline in 2006 before consequently appearing in the MCU during 2018's Avengers: Infinity War.
4 The Enemies From The Trailer May Be The Hand
Despite only title features thus far, Insomniac has created some rather memorable groups for Peter and Miles to contend with, whether it be Wilson Fisk's private armies, Martin Li's Inner Demons, Phin Mason's Underground gang, or Simon Krieger's Roxxon security. In continuing with this trend, it would seem that Spider-Man 2 is featuring a new unnamed organization.
However, this hasn't stopped fans from speculating who they might be. One particular shot shows a woman with two glowing scimitars launching herself at Miles suggests the mystery assailants might be the Hand, a clan of ninjas with ties to Fisk. And with Fisk imprisoned on the Raft, the organization might be set on breaking him out during the second game.
3 Peter And Miles Will Likely Be Dual Protagonists
The successful Spider-Man and Spider-Man: Miles Morales let fans walk in the shoes of Peter and Miles respectively, creating an expectation that the duo would be featured prominently in the follow-up sequel. And, if the footage from the trailer acts as any indication, then it would seem that both Spider-Men will be integral to the upcoming story.
However, given that Spider-Man 2 is set to be a single-player game, fans are left wondering how both characters will be featured. Will players only be able to play as one superhero at certain points in the story, or can they choose? Regardless, Ryan Schneider assures fans that Insomniac intends to craft a "compelling human story" for both Peter and Miles.
2 The Story Could Be Adapting Kraven's Last Hunt
While not confirmed, fans are convinced that the voiceover narrating the Spider-Man 2 trailer is none other than Sergei Kravinoff, perhaps better known as Kraven the Hunter. As Peter and Miles go about bringing down mysterious enemies with ease, the voice muses how he has long looked for an equal who can beat him, and asks if someone will give him what he desires.
The ominous dialogue suggests Insomniac may borrow elements from the wildly popular 1987 comic arc, "Kraven's Last Hunt." The series sees Kraven set out on one last mission in life: hunt down and best Spider-Man, which he does with disturbing ease. Given his history with Spider-Man, does this mean Kraven will finish off one of the heroes in the upcoming game?
1 Harry Osborn Will Officially Debut As Venom
Perhaps one of the biggest twists of Insomniac's first Spider-Man in 2018 was the reveal that Harry Osborn was fused with the Venom symbiote to try and slow a rare, degenerative disease that was gradually killing him. Spider-Man: Miles Morales follows up the twist with Norman Osborn releasing his son from containment, having run out of patience in waiting for a cure.
It would seem that Spider-Man 2 intends to follow up with this plot thread by featuring a face reveal of Venom at the trailer's end. While Venom has typically been Spider-Man's foe in the comics, it's not entirely clear from the trailer whether he'll play a villainous role. If he does wind up join forces with Peter and Miles though, it likely won't happen until after the super-powered individuals have fought a few skirmishes.