The Epic Collision: How Deadpool 3 Could Shake Up Insomniac's Wolverine Game
Sony's potential decision to prioritize the release of Deadpool 3 over Insomniac's Wolverine game could lead to disappointing delays for fans eager to experience Logan's world
After the success of 2018's well-received Marvel's Spider-Man, fans were thrilled to learn that Insomniac Games would be turning their attention to Wolverine for their next Marvel project following Spider-Man 2. However, nearly two years have passed since the announcement of Marvel's Wolverine at the 2021 PlayStation Showcase, and some fans are growing impatient for its release. The uncertainty surrounding Deadpool 3, which heavily features Wolverine, and the current delays in the gaming industry could mean an even longer wait for Marvel's Wolverine. It has been common in the past for movies and games set in the same universe to be developed simultaneously, but as seen with Ubisoft's Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora, delays in one can often affect the other. With the ongoing SAG-AFTRA strike causing a halt in production for Deadpool 3, it is likely that Marvel's Wolverine will also face delays before its eventual release.
Deadpool 3’s Delays Could Be Bad News for Wolverine Fans
Contrary to Wolverine's previous major video game, X-Men Origins: Wolverine in 2009, Marvel's Wolverine by Insomniac Games has no ties to a Wolverine film. Although the delays of Deadpool 3 may not directly impact the release of Wolverine without a movie connection, the history suggests that film delays can still affect game launches. It has become uncommon in recent years for films and games within the same franchise to be released simultaneously, possibly due to marketing decisions or coincidence.
An example of this trend is Ubisoft's Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora, which was initially intended to launch before the second film but is not the only case. Mad Max by Avalanche Studios, much like Marvel's Wolverine, presents a separate story for the title character from its film counterpart. However, the game arrived on consoles and PC several months after the release of Mad Max: Fury Road. Even if Marvel's Wolverine is prepared for launch well in advance of Deadpool 3, Sony might still choose to delay the game for purely financial reasons.
Sony Could Hold Back Wolverine to Cash in on Deadpool 3
If development on Marvel's Wolverine wraps up prior to the release of Deadpool 3, Sony might still choose to delay the game to capitalize on the excitement surrounding the movie. While Sony owns the film rights for Spider-Man, giving them the ability to profit from both his big screen appearances and video game outings, the rights to Wolverine belong to Fox. Since Sony cannot directly benefit from Wolverine's appearance in Deadpool 3, the most financially sound decision could be to postpone the release of Marvel's Wolverine until after the film's debut, taking advantage of the character's popularity.
Although this choice may disappoint some gamers, it would also provide Insomniac Games with more time to complete the game, avoiding unnecessary pressure on the developers. Following the absence of Marvel's Wolverine at PlayStation Showcase 2023, many gamers assumed that the studio was focusing on Marvel's Spider-Man 2. By pushing back the release of Wolverine, Insomniac Games would have the opportunity to fully concentrate on their current project. This additional development time could result in both superhero titles being released in a more polished state than they otherwise would have been.
Fans of Marvel’s Wolverine will have to wait for Insomniac Games to provide more information on the future of the game. Although any potential delays in the release of Deadpool 3 may not impact the launch of Marvel's Wolverine, fans hope that the upcoming film will serve as inspiration for Insomniac to include Wolverine's iconic costume in the game. Marvel's Wolverine is currently being developed for the PS5.
