Xbox “passed” on Marvel video games, so we obtained Spider-Man solely on PlayStation
On: May 23, 2022
Image through Marvel
It’s simple to imagine that Insomniac’s Spider-Man video games are PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4 exclusives as a result of Sony has the film rights to the character, however apparently that’s not the explanation. A brand new guide reveals that it’s often because Xbox turned down a cope with Marvel.
The story is present in History of Video Games Vol. 2, and ResetEra kind consumer Nightengale introduced it to gentle by posting an excerpt on the favored gaming discussion board. Jay Ong was employed as Marvel’s vice chairman of video games in 2014, the identical 12 months that Activision (who then held the licensing rights) launched the online game adaptation of the Andrew Garfield-led Amazing Spider-Man 2. As Ong explains it, Marvel wished a associate who didn’t have “the ‘crappy licensed games’ mentality.”
Of the massive three, Ong handed on asking Nintendo, for the reason that firm is thought for focusing by itself properties. Ong then reached out to each Microsoft and Sony, however the former was truly in the identical boat as Nintendo. “Microsoft’s strategy was to focus on their own IP,” Ong defined. “They passed.” We can see how this mentality continues at Microsoft and Xbox at this time, as the corporate continues to broaden its first-party choices with studio acquisitions like Bethesda and former Marvel license-holder Activision Blizzard.
Sony does the identical factor these days after all, however it was nonetheless extra receptive to the deal on the time. Ong says that the corporate “offered to make a triple-A PlayStation-exclusive Spider-Man game.” A couple of years later, the end result was Spider-Man on PlayStation 4 in 2018. Two years later, we obtained the standalone Spider-Man: Miles Morales as PlayStation 5 launch title.
Next up for the franchise is Spider-Man 2, which is able to pit Peter Parker and Miles Morales in opposition to Venom when it releases someday in 2023. We don’t know a lot in regards to the game’s options or story at this level, however it’s been in comparison with The Empire Strikes Back. Marvel novel author Brittany M. Morris is engaged on the undertaking.
