Does The New Spider-Man PS4 Gameplay Tease Doc Ock?

Update: Doctor Octopus is now confirmed for Spider-Man PS4.

Sony ended their PlayStation E3 2018 press conference with an extended preview of their upcoming exclusive Spider-Man game from developer Insomniac Games. If you've not seen it yet, watch it here now. It's great! The gameplay showcase offered the best and most in-depth look yet at the game yet. It promised that the final product would feature massive battles with multiple villains where players are in full control of Spidey's movements and combat, and not a long quick-time event like some feared. Spider-Man for PS4 seems like it'll stand up with the best of console's very well-received exclusives.

The most buzzed about moment of the trailer doesn't have anything to do with the gameplay though. Instead it's about the story and characters, specifically the very last moment of the presentation which teases the arrival of a big and previously unconfirmed character. The video cuts off before the new arrival can be shown but it's safe to bet that the character is Doctor Octopus himself, Otto Octavius.

Although Spider-Man was announced E3 2016, relatively little is known about the game. That's fair enough since Spider-Man getting his own title from Insomniac Games, the makers of Ratchet and Clank, is enough of a reason to be excited. Yet the E3 2018 showcase did reveal more than ever before about the main story, namely that Peter Parker will be going up against the Sinister Six.

In the preview Spider-Man gets handily defeated by five villains: Scorpion, Electro, Rhino, Vulture and Mr. Negative. This leaves only one spot to round out the Sinister Six roster. The Sinister Five just doesn't have as good a ring to it. It's already known that Wilson Fisk A.K.A. Kingpin will be in the game but he's unlikely he's the mystery villain. Kingpin never gets his hands that dirty, and certainly doesn't fly and glow... but more on that in a moment.

The only real hints for the unknown villain's identity are that they make a slight robotic sound, they shine bright light on Spidey and the very sight of them angers and/or surprises Peter Parker. Taking these clues together (and with the implication that Spider-Man is shaping up to be every wall-crawler fan's dream) all of it points to Doc Ock.

Alfred Molina as Doctor Octopus in Spiderman 2

Any one of Otto's tentacles could make the sound or emit that light. In addition, while the line-up of the Sinister Six has changed a lot through the years in the comics, Doc Ock is an almost constant inclusion. Otto was even involved in the failed Sinister Six spinoff movie that Sony wanted to produce before the deal was worked out to share Spider-Man with Marvel Studios. To have the Sinister Six be in Spider-Man and Doc Ock not be involved wouldn't be unheard of, but it would be strange.

Peter and Otto also have a long-standing and complicated relationship that would facilitate Spider-Man's reaction at the end of the trailer. The two have a long history, going back and forth in being allies and bitter enemies. While most fans probably wouldn't be surprised to see Doc Ock as a member of the Sinister Six, the Spider-Man of the game definitely could be shocked.

There are some other possibilities for the mystery character too though. The sound that accompanies their arrival does sound robotic but it also has a similarity to the noises that Venom makes in the trailer for his stand alone movie. Venom could be the final Sinister Six member but that wouldn't quite fit what we see though we love the idea of Venom and Carnage being in this game (or its hopeful future sequel). There's also a possibility that the character is not a member of the Sinister Six or a villain at all. It could be someone whose arriving to save Spider-Man. The other baddies do back away, slightly.

Yet anyone who wants to lay odds on it, should put money down on Doctor Octopus completing the Sinister Six and being the latest villain to join the highly-anticipated game.