Following the success of the MCU, Insomniac has set up the possibility of a Marvel Gaming Universe with its Spider-Man and Wolverine games.
With Marvel’s Spider-Man and Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales, Insomniac Games has proven that it is more than capable of creating exciting superhero games that stay true to the hero being portrayed. This is a problem that every major superhero game has faced, with only a few ever getting it right. Now, Insomniac is gearing up to introduce Wolverine into its gaming catalog, which has fans wondering if the game will be set in the same universe as Marvel's Spider-Man.
Wolverine and Spider-Man have crossed paths many times in the comics, most notably as two Avengers members. However, even outside this team, the two heroes have worked together and have created some of the most memorable moments in comics. After the reveal of Marvel’s Wolverine and the confirmation of Marvel’s Spider-Man 2, it seems likely that Insomniac could try and create a Marvel Gaming Universe that could be as successful as the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Marvel’s Wolverine trailer dropped a big easter egg that could have revealed that the game is set in the same universe as Marvel’s Spider-Man. This would not be the first time the pair have appeared in the same game, the most notable being the Ultimate Spider-Man game that was released back in 2005 where Wolverine was one of the boss fights for Venom. One of the easter eggs in the trailer revealed the number “1048,” which could mean a shared universe between the two heroes since Marvel’s Spider-Man is set in Earth-1048.
With Venom now confirmed as one of the new characters in Marvel’s Spider-Man 2, Insomniac has an opportunity to pay homage to the beloved 2005 Spider-Man game by having Wolverine appear for a few scenes. The pair also share many enemies, the most notable being Deadpool, so the choice to create a Wolverine game could pave the path for a future Deadpool title as well – or a recurring role for the “Merc with a Mouth” in both games.
If Insomniac were to make a Marvel Gaming Universe, it would have plenty of heroes and tons of source material to pick from when connecting both Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 and Marvel’s Wolverine. Introducing the X-Men seems a logical step since Wolverine’s involvement with the mutant team has been one of the core aspects of his character. In the comics, Spider-Man has helped the X-Men on multiple occasions and first met Wolverine in Marvel Team-Up Annual Vol. 1, issue 1, when he teamed up with the X-Men for the first time.
Another avenue for Insomniac to explore would be to introduce The Fantastic Four, who reside in New York City just like Spider-Man. The team is most notable for having Mr. Fantastic, who has formed teams with Charles Xavier of the X-Men and could be a great tie-in for the Wolverine games. Moreover, by including The Fantastic Four, Insomniac could focus more on the comics and the storylines from these comics, which would help differentiate its Marvel Gaming Universe from the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
While taking on such an ambitious project would be noteworthy and would undoubtedly draw the attention of many Marvel fans, the Marvel Gaming Universe would not be an easy thing to create. Creating a Marvel Gaming Universe would require having the same level of insight that Kevin Feige had when creating the Marvel Cinematic Universe, which is not impossible but is extremely difficult. Creating a Universe would also limit the scope of what Insomniac could do with each hero, as it would be forced to steer toward an ending that incorporates other popular Marvel characters.
On the other hand, having a Marvel Gaming Universe is a sure-fire way to ensure that the games have a good story and great characters. Marvel Comics has many legendary storylines featuring Spider-Man, Wolverine, and a plethora of other heroes, so Insomniac has a seemingly endless supply of storylines to pick from. The Marvel Gaming Universe could become one of the best series in gaming if done right, and it could potentially rival the DC Comics games being put out by WB.
Marvel’s Wolverine and Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 have the potential to usher in a new Marvel Universe that could follow many of Marvel's most popular characters. Marvel fans are undoubtedly rejoicing over the fact that Wolverine will be the main character of an Insomniac game, and some easter eggs in the trailer do point to a Marvel Gaming Universe and the inclusion of a few other heroes from Marvel Comics. With both games currently in development, fans are eager for more gameplay footage and news about Insomniac's upcoming games, with some likely hoping that a connected universe will be confirmed.
Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 is set to release in 2023 for PS5.
