Spider-Man's exclusivity on PlayStation consoles has stirred up a lot of controversy surrounding the upcoming Marvel's Avengers title. While some fans feel the exclusive nature of the character is uncalled for, others are wondering how the superhero's presence could relate to another popular Spider-Man game on the platform, Marvel's Spider-Man from 2018. Since Insomniac's game featured a lot of call backs to the Avengers, it's only natural to assume some amount of overlap between the two versions of the character will occur.
Marvel's Avengers puts players in control of Earth's Mightiest Heroes as they embark on a mission to protect mankind against powerful foes. The game has recently opened up for beta testing with 4 available characters for players to test out. Crystal Dynamics has stated that the title will be releasing with quite a few more well-known characters with plans to introduce others as the game evolves, including Spider-Man. Now seen as a staple to PlayStation consoles, some weren't surprised to hear about the Wall Crawler's exclusivity. However, Crystal Dynamic's Spider-Man will not have any relation to Insomniac's Spider-Man which was an exclusive on the PS4.
While the two upcoming titles focus on the most well known of Marvel's characters, including some of the newer faces introduced to the MCU, there will be no correlation between the games. Both games are set to be entirely independent from one another and while Marvel's Avengers may throw in a reference to Insomniac's Spider-Man, the timelines these games exist in are entirely different. In a discussion about Marvel's Avengers with Screen Rant, the developers at Crystal Dynamics confirmed that their Spider-Man is not Insomniac's version of the character. Both Spider-Men are different entities and will be existing in separate universes. While Sony retains exclusive rights to Spidey's film presence, Marvel Entertainment ultimately decided what games Spider-Man will be featured in. So while a collaboration between Insomniac and Crystal Dynamics sounds like a riveting project, Marvel's Avengers is not a team project between the studios.
Marvel's Avengers Features An All-New Take On Spider-Man
What this means going forward is that the gaming industry is getting another rendition of the popular red and blue spandex-clad Wall Crawler. Crystal Dynamics will present their own version of Spider-Man, one who is set to be a bit more spry and young in comparison to the veteran Spider-Man Insomniac created. In this regard, the Marvel's Avengers Spider-Man will behave a lot like the Spidey seen in the MCU. The developer is very much trying to distinguish their character from Insomniac's, harking back on the childish Spider-Man depicted in the comics and his latest cinematic rendition.
With Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales on the horizon, Insomniac may be able to introduce their own version of the Avengers. While the game is set to focus on Miles Morales and his role as Spider-Man, it's possible the Avengers may make an appearance. If Insomniac's rendition of the character is not attached to the version of Crystal Dynamics, players may be able to get a different look at Earth's Mightiest Heroes. Since Insomniac's NYC is already populated with the Avengers Tower and other notable Marvel locations, the scene is set for this to occur. Plus, Peter Parker has made note that the Avengers have simply stepped away from the city for a bit. The lack of relation between Crystal Dynamics' and Insomniac's renditions could open up the door for a new Avengers team.
Not much is really know about how Spider-Man will be integrated into the Marvel's Avengers storyline. While the character is set to progress the game's narrative through an exclusive DLC, little else has been garnered so far. The distinction between Crystal Dynamics' and Insomniac's renditions of the Wall Crawler is important for understanding the direction Marvel's Avengers is taking. While the game will feature the spandex clad hero, this Spider-Man is his own variant and is getting built from the ground up by the team at Crystal Dynamics. Insomniac, for better or for worse, has no involvement in the upcoming project.