The upcoming release of Marvel's Spider-Man 2 promises a substantial extension to Peter Parker's story. After foiling the plans of Mr. Negative and finding an adversary in his old boss Dr. Otto Octavius, Peter departs the 2018 game a more seasoned hero. Conversely, 2020's Spider-Man: Miles Morales does well to provide a youthful, naive, but genuinely heartfelt character, building wonderfully from his arc in the first game. Together, they're set to take on a new threat as Venom and Kraven the Hunter both appear to be in the 2023 sequel. While two heroes will headline the story, there is room for a couple more surprises, like Wolverine.
Despite a busy end to last decade, Insomniac also has a full plate in the 2020s, as two Spider-Man games and a Ratchet and Clank project will have launched on the PlayStation 5 by the end of this year. Marvel's Spider-Man 2 is the next to release, but it may not be the most anticipated from the company, as it has confirmed work on a Wolverine title. Given both fall under the Marvel banner and the comic company's track record with cameos and crossovers, it wouldn't be a stretch to think that Logan may make an appearance in the next Spidey story, and there are some compelling ways he could be included.
Wolverine Needs No Introduction, But Should Have One Anyway
Spider-Man 2 already has enough on its plate trying to juggle two different wall-crawlers and the potential threat of Venom. It's got huge shoes to fill after the success of the first game and the Miles Morales-centric story. While there is always a chance that a product feels crowded when more characters are introduced, making sure they are implemented the right way can ensure that the narrative doesn't suffer. Kingpin only being in 2018's Spider-Man for a few scenes was enough to make him feel like a part of its world, but he never became a contributing factor to making it feel overcrowded. The same could be true of Wolverine if he's in Spider-Man 2 in a small, fleeting, and easily-digested way.
An after credits scene may be the obvious choice, but with Marvel's Wolverine already public knowledge, it wouldn't have the same impact as some of the post-credits moments in the MCU. It'd be far more exciting to see Logan feature in the story by providing context to the villain, peeking into his potential past in New York City, or acting as another begrudging obstacle Spider-Man has to deal with. Wolverine isn't a character that necessarily needs more exposure, as he's a film star thanks to Hugh Jackman's fantastic portrayal, but his presence in Spider-Man 2 could be a great way to link Insomniac's next game, and its next, next game.
Fans Have Been Kraven Logan For Years
Wolverine constantly finds himself skirting the line between villainous deeds and heroic intent. It's one of the most compelling things about him. If Insomniac's take on Spider-Man has yet to come into contact with Logan, there's every chance that Peter would be hesitant to make friends with him during their first meeting, given how prickly Wolverine can be. Bringing Wolverine into the fold as a quasi-villain would be a natural way to develop him in time for his own outing. Like Miles Morales before him, learning a little about how he operates could provide vital context, but seeing as Logan isn't as friendly as Miles, making him an adversary would be wise.
Venom and Kraven the Hunter could take up a lot of space in Spider-Man 2, but since Wolverine and Kraven faced off in the comics in 2022's X-Force #30, they now have a history. They're similar in some ways, so using Kraven as the vessel to show a glimpse of the character could work. There isn't necessarily any reason to expect Spider-Man 2 to show anything of Wolverine, but as Insomniac is developing stories about both, it's not out of the realm of possibility. If handled well, it could be one of the best gaming story beats of 2023.
Marvel's Spider-Man 2 releases in 2023 exclusively on PS5.