Delving into the Marvel universe, Insomniac has crafted a beloved rendition over the past six years through three games. Known as Earth-1048, Insomniac's Marvel's Spider-Man universe teems with creativity, featuring Spider-People protagonists and the vibrant New York City. However, this serves as just the inception of Insomniac's Marvel universe.
While not all officially confirmed, leaks from last year suggest Insomniac Games is actively developing various Marvel projects. These include DLC for Marvel's Spider-Man 2, a potential third installment, the confirmed Marvel's Wolverine, and possibly, a full-scale X-Men game. Regardless of these projects' outcomes, it's evident that Insomniac plans to expand its Marvel universe extensively, allowing for experimentation with diverse concepts and themes beyond Spider-Man.
Insomniac's X-Men: Exploring Uncharted Territory
Marvel's Spider-Man 3: Embracing a Bold Narrative Move
Introducing a significant character demise isn't always the ideal strategy to escalate tension, especially in the superhero realm where hero deaths have been seen as a mere marketing ploy. Nevertheless, Insomniac's Spider-Man series could greatly benefit from a pivotal character loss.
The impactful death of Aunt May in 2018's Marvel's Spider-Man delivered a poignant moment, revealing her awareness of Peter's secret identity. While fans anticipated a similar emotional depth in Marvel's Spider-Man 2, the game, focusing on Kraven the Hunter and Venom, lacked such intense moments, missing a chance for profound emotional resonance. To maintain the Marvel universe's vibrancy, Marvel's Spider-Man 3 should consider a major character death, possibly involving Peter Parker, to sustain emotional depth and align with the franchise's evolution.
Insomniac's X-Men: Elevating Narrative Stakes
While Insomniac may prefer a lighter tone for Spider-Man, the potential X-Men game could explore the darker aspects suppressed in the former. Rooted in themes of violence, discrimination, and tragedy since their inception, the X-Men franchise offers a canvas for profound storytelling. Despite their colorful costumes and adventurous quests, the X-Men face grim realities, including character deaths and mass genocides, presenting Insomniac with an opportunity to infuse its Marvel universe with heightened stakes.