Sony’s PlayStation showcase 2021 was packed full of exciting projects gamers can expect to see over the coming years. Thereturn of classics such asKnights of the Old RepublicandGrand Theft Auto 5were announced, but it was some of the brand new games that stole the show. Among these new titles to be revealed wasSpider-Man 2, the mainline sequel to 2018’sSpider-Man. However, a new title from Insomniac Games inMarvel’s Wolverineproved to be the talk of the conference.
As was the case with theSpider-Manseries,Wolverineis set to be a PlayStation exclusive, which comes as bad news for Marvel fans on other systems. Following the success ofSpider-Manon PlayStation, it was always unlikely that future Insomniac Games IPs would be making their way to other platforms, but for fans, this marks the continuation of a noteworthy trend. Console exclusivity is becoming quite pervasive, with fans being sectioned off from their favorite IPs, or even developers. In the case ofWolverine, this could even mark the beginning of a much larger series exclusive to PlayStation.
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Marvel’s Wolverine is a PlayStation Exclusive
The short teasertrailer for Insomniac Games’Wolverinewas enough to get fans excited about the latest Marvel video game adaptation. However, this release was exciting only for Marvel fans that own a PlayStation. Unfortunately, fans on PC, Xbox, or any other gaming platform will have to watch on from the outside. For PlayStation fans though,Wolverinemay be what fans wanted in a brand new next-gen IP, though no gameplay has been revealed. No release date was provided either, so it’s unlikely that fans will be getting their hands onWolverineany time soon, but the PlayStation showcase last night gave fans plenty of reason to be excited about the future.
Wolverinewill not be the first game centering around everyone’s favorite melancholy anti-hero, but it may be the best yet. Past video game adaptations have received mixed reviews, and the last to center exclusively around Wolverine wasX-Men Origins: Wolverine, released in 2009. Insomniac Games has already proven capable of makingpopular superhero games,withSpider-ManandSpider-Man: Miles Moralesbecoming two well-loved PlayStation exclusives in recent years. While it will be disappointing to fans that yet another Marvel character will be exclusive to PlayStation, it will be exciting to see what Insomniac Games does with the character.
PlayStation’s Exclusive MCU
Insomniac Games’Spider-Manseries has been a big selling point for PlayStation since the first title debuted in 2018. Frustratingly, this is also a PlayStation exclusive, and unlike titles such asHorizon Zero Dawnwhich has since been released on PC, there are no signs thatSpider-ManorWolverinewill eventually go the same way. It now seems as thoughInsomniac Games is creating its own MCUof sorts, withSpider-Man 2set to feature Venom, andWolverineentering the fray in coming years. Whether Wolverine will feature inSpider-Man 2is yet to be seen, however,Spider-Man2018 was chock full of easter eggs, so some form of feature is likely.
With this in mind, it’s possible that PlayStation could have its very own Marvel universe in future years. While it would be interesting to see a video game MCU-style universe intertwine in the same way that the MCU has over the years, it’s a shame that this will be playable to fans on only one system.
However, PlayStation isn’t the only console with major exclusives this time around, as Xbox has since joined the party with its Zenimax Studios acquisition. Significantly,Starfieldis set to be an Xbox exclusive, and titles such asThe Elder Scrollsare in danger of going the same way. As time goes on, more and more titles and IPs are becoming blocked off from certain subsects of fans, with Insomniac Games’Wolverinebeing just the latest in a long line.
