Breaking News: Marvel's Spider-Man 2 Sets Unprecedented Gaming Trend for the PS5

Highlights

Sony's decision to create limited edition faceplates for Marvel's Spider-Man 2 on the PS5 was a smart move.

Sony should continue offering limited edition faceplates as standalone products, enabling current PS5 owners to partake in the enjoyment without the necessity of purchasing an entirely new console. Nonetheless, it would be preferable for there to be a greater inventory to prevent the faceplate scalping problem currently affecting Marvel's Spider-Man 2.

Marvel's Spider-Man 2 is poised to achieve great success. The previous two games in the franchise sold exceptionally well, ensuring a dedicated fan base for the upcoming sequel. Recognizing the significance of the game, Sony has treated it as a major release. In addition to offering a collector's edition featuring an impressive statue depicting Venom and the two web-slingers in battle, they have also created a special console and controller. Interestingly, fans had the option to purchase the console's faceplates separately.

Similar to the PlayStation 4, Sony has embraced the concept of special limited edition designs for the PlayStation 5. However, the PS5 has an advantage over its predecessor in terms of its cosmetic appeal: the faceplates can be easily detached and replaced. This means that players can make their PS5 consoles resemble limited edition, game-specific versions without having to purchase an entirely new PS5, as long as Sony offers the option to buy the faceplates separately. This approach was successfully implemented with Marvel's Spider-Man 2, and the high demand for the faceplates highlights the effectiveness of this strategy for Sony.

Marvel’s Spider-Man 2’s Buyable Faceplates Are a Good Lesson For Sony

Marvel's Spider-Man 2's exclusive PS5 faceplates fully embrace the game's theme, matching the design of the DualSense controller and wider marketing campaign. The console displays a combination of red and the iconic white Spider insignia, but with a twist - the red is gradually being consumed by the menacing black Symbiote, resulting in one side being completely engulfed in darkness. The popularity of both the Symbiote suit and Venom among fans of the friendly neighborhood hero has made this design highly sought after.

However, fans of the game have faced disappointment in the past with limited edition consoles, as they were required to trade in their existing consoles to obtain the special design. This process proved to be time-consuming and many were unwilling to go through it. Fortunately, Sony had the existing owners of PlayStation 5 consoles in mind when creating the special hardware for Marvel's Spider-Man 2 - or at least they tried to. The faceplates for the game were made available for separate purchase, but unfortunately, they sold out quickly.

Sony underestimated the demand for the faceplates, leading to disappointment for those interested in acquiring the Marvel's Spider-Man 2 faceplates. Scalpers took advantage of the situation by reselling them at outrageous prices, further adding to the disappointment. Even those who planned to buy the faceplates as soon as they were available missed out, as they sold out immediately across all platforms. The scalpers wasted no time in posting the faceplates for sale shortly after. This situation should serve as a lesson for Sony.

The popularity of these special faceplates indicates that most limited edition designs have the potential to be sold separately. While not every game generates the same level of excitement as Marvel's Spider-Man 2, it is likely that limited edition plate designs can be profitable if offered individually alongside the controller. This approach not only benefits consumers by allowing PS5 owners to participate in the limited edition experience, but it also proves to be financially lucrative.

In the coming years, several PlayStation exclusives like Ghost of Tsushima 2, The Last of Us' multiplayer game, Bend Studio's upcoming project, and Marvel's Wolverine may potentially receive limited edition PS5 consoles. Taking inspiration from the hype surrounding Marvel's Spider-Man 2's faceplates, it would be beneficial for Sony to offer these faceplates separately and have a larger stock readily available to deter scalpers. It is worth noting that Marvel's Spider-Man 2 will be exclusively launching on October 20 for PS5.