Summary
While the Marvel Cinematic Universe may be stagnating,Marvelfans still have plenty to look forward to in the gaming space. Despite the infamously disappointingMarvel’s Avengers,Marvelhas had a pretty good run in the video game industry over the last few years, withMarvel’s Spider-Man,Marvel’s Midnight Suns,Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy, and the most recent release,Marvel’s Spider-Man 2, all being critical successes. It’s seemingly only the beginning of what could easily be Marvel’s video game golden age.
Right now, there are at least six big-budget Marvel games that are definitely in development. While Insomniac has its hands full withMarvel’s Wolverine, Skydance is developing aWW2 Black Panther and Captain America gameand Arkane has recently announced it has a Blade game in the works. But coming in with the lion’s share, EA has a total of three Marvel games currently in development, including an Iron Man game from Motive, a Black Panther game from Cliffhanger, and a third unknown project. While EA’s plate is precariously full, its approach could pave the way for its own Marvel universe to beat Insomniac’s to the punch.
EA’s Marvel Games Could Cement a Shared Universe Before Insomniac
It’s Unclear Just How Connected Insomniac’s Spider-Man and Wolverine Are
WhenMarvel’s Wolverinewas first announced alongsideMarvel’s Spider-Man 2in September 2021 it was debated whether the two Marvel projects would be connected. At the time, Insomniac refused to comment, but at the end of last year fans finally got their answer—sort of. In an interview with Kinda Funny back in October 2023,Insomniac’s Bryan Intiharmade it explicitly clear for the first time thatMarvel’s Spider-ManandMarvel’s Wolverineare set in the same universe, designated as Universe-1048 in the wider Marvel continuity.
Still, that hasn’t stopped Insomniac from being pretty coy about its shared universe. It’s unclear just how connectedMarvel’s Wolverinewill be toInsomniac’sSpider-Manserieswith no official details aboutWolverine’s setting, plot, or included characters being announced yet.
That said, while it would be great to see Insomniac’s Spider-Men team up with Wolverine, that probably isn’t something that should happen right away. Insomniac already has a lot of pressure on its shoulders to deliver a great Wolverine game and it should ensure that it focuses on that game’s world and characters long before trying to throw in anySpider-Mancameos.
EA’s Marvel Games Could Boast a Clearer Connected Universe
It’s incredibly important to note that EA has not confirmed or denied if its Marvel games will be set in the same universe, but there’s definitely a lot of potential there, and it could give EA’s games a nice leg-up over Insomniac’s universe.
WithEA’sIron ManandBlack Panthergamesboth being in development at the same time, it would be fun to see them connect to one another in a fairly significant way. For instance, ifIron Manreleases first, it could be fun to see a mission take players to Wakanda, where they get to meet Cliffhanger’s Black Panther, acting as a tease for the upcoming game.
Of course, EA’s Marvel games don’t need to connect to each other in order to be quality products, and in many ways, it’d be much better to focus on really nailing the story and characters of each game first before trying to tie them together. But this would be a good way to immediately set EA’s Marvel universe apart from Insomniac’s in a way that would impact the future of EA Marvel titles.
Marvel’s Spider-Man 2
WHERE TO PLAY
Spider-Men Peter Parker and Miles Morales face the ultimate test of strength inside and outside the mask as they fight to save the city, each other and the ones they love, from the monstrous Venom and the dangerous new symbiote threat.Explore an expansive Marvel’s New York with faster web-swinging and the all-new Web Wings, quickly switching between Peter and Miles to experience different stories, epic new abilities and high-tech gear.Wield Peter’s symbiote abilities and Miles’ explosive bio-electric powers in battle against new and iconic Marvel Super Villains – including an original take on a symbiote-infused Venom, the ruthless Kraven the Hunter, the volatile Lizard, and more from the Marvel Rogues’ Gallery.
