Gameplay and images for the canceled ‘Nolanverse’ Batman game that was once in development at Monolith Productions have emerged online.
18.03.2024 - 16:23 / gamerant.com / Peter Parker / Miles Morales / J Brodie Shirey
Concept art for Insomniac’s canceled Spider-Man multiplayer game has just been leaked online, including a possible look at the title’s character creation screen. Insomniac infamously fell victim to a massive ransomware attack just a few months after Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 swung onto the PlayStation 5, exposing much of the developer’s plans for future Marvel video games. Among already confirmed titles like Marvel’s Wolverine and long-suspected projects centered around Venom and the X-Men was a game that Insomniac had reportedly already canceled long before the data breach: an online multiplayer title called Spider-Man: The Great Web.
Spider-Man: The Great Web would have featured a premise similar to the recent Spider-Man animated films, with Spider-heroes from all across the multiverse coming together to battle the Sinister Six in the open world of New York City. Earlier this month, a concept trailer for Spider-Man: The Great Webwas leaked online, giving curious players a better look at what the game could have been like had it not been shelved. In addition to the expected Peter Parker and Miles Morales, The Great Web would have included the Scarlet Witch in a major role, alongside already popular Spider-heroes that aren’t yet playable in an Insomniac game like Silk and Spider-Gwen.
Players would have been able to create their own spider-themed hero and join forces with these legendary crime fighters in Spider-Man: The Great Web, as revealed by a collection of leaked concept art shared by Reddit user danoka29 on r/insomniacleaks. One of these images features what looks like a character customization screen that lets players alter the face, hair, body type, Spider-emblem, and voice of their avatar before selecting a moveset inspired by existing Spider-Man characters like Peter, Miles, or Gwen.
Other images in the leaked collection of Spider-Man: The Great Web concept art depict some of these custom Spider-heroes in action, complete with different spider-themed costumes inspired by classic looks from the comics and games. Prototype versions of Miles and Gwen can also be seen, and some of the artwork shows an alternate Miles with a backstory more in line with Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse. Armies of Spider-heroes can also be seen battling a Symbiote-infected Sandman and other enemies from the previous Spider-Man titles, and there is even a glimpse of what appears to be Madame Web at the core of the multiverse.
The recent leaks have drummed up interest in Spider-Man: The Great Web, with fans even starting petitions to convince Insomniac to resume work on the ambitious project. These might not lead to anything, but The Great Web seems to have had some intriguing ideas if these newly-revealed concept images
Gameplay and images for the canceled ‘Nolanverse’ Batman game that was once in development at Monolith Productions have emerged online.
The Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 version of Venom is crawling into the comics in this year’s Venomverse Reborn event, just a few months after menacing gamers on the PlayStation 5. Even before Spider-Man 2 launched back in October, Venom’s presence in the Insomniac universe was strongly felt and hinted at. In the Marvel’s Spider-Man post-credits scene, it is revealed that Norman Osborn has been keeping his terminally ill son Harry suspended in a tank in his penthouse, with an all-too-familiar-looking black substance floating alongside him. Come Spider-Man: Miles Morales, Norman orders Harry to be released, despite the protests of Dr. Curtis Conners.
A new theory surrounding one of 's suits could predict an upcoming story in Insomniac's Universe. Throughout all three of Insomniac's titles, both Peter Parker and Miles Morales have had collectible suits inspired by their appearances in comics, movies, and TV, alongside Insomniac's own designs.
Fast traveling, one of the most impressive features of both the PlayStation 5 and Marvel's Spider-Man 2, was also a point of much discussion in development and almost cut as a result. While the PlayStation 5's processing speed allows for quicker gameplay, developers of Marvel's Spider-Man 2 worried that this might lead to less player engagement. The game's design director commented on this.
Following their big moment at the end of Amazing Spider-Man #45, the Sinister Six are officially returning with their classic line-up of Doctor Octopus, Sandman, Vulture, Electro, Kraven, and Mysterio in Amazing Spider-Man #51.
Funko’s newly announced line of Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 Pops includes Miles Morales’s infamous Evolved Suit from the end of the game. Just like Insomniac’s previous Marvel offerings, Spider-Man 2 gives fans a collection of alternate attires for its two web-slinging protagonists, many of which were pulled directly from the various Spider-Man comics, cartoons, and films. Others were created exclusively for the game, such as the “Evolved” costume that Miles dons during Spider-Man 2’s Symbiote-centric third act.
Despite releasing in late October 2023, there still haven't been any Funko Pops to accompany the game. In comparison, a Funko Pop of Peter's Advanced suit was released months before the first, with the wave of figures following the games adding an unmasked Peter Parker, Mary Jane, Miles Morales, and Mr. Negative. This could be due to change soon, however, as the first wave of Funko Pops from Insomniac's sequel has been leaked.
Spider-Man: The Great Web has been a big talk lately, especially after its cancellation. However, fans, everyone keeps hyping up what this game could have been in hopes maybe Sony will pick it back up, but it seems iffy. This game would have been the first Spider-Man to be multiplayer recently, allowing you and a friend to both play as a Spidey, whether that be Peter Parker himself or another from the Spider-Verse.
The developers of Marvel's Spider-Man 2 revealed that they struggled to get the Sandman boss fight right due to how fast Spider-Man is. During this year's Game Developers Conference (GDC), associate animation director for Insomniac Stephen Camardella revealed that it was incredibly hard to get the pacing of the fight against Sandman in Marvel's Spider-Man 2 just right. Camardella states that due to Spider-Man's speed, it was a challenge to make sure the fight was fair and fun.
Marvel's Spider-Man 2 developers have taken to the stage at GDC, shedding some light on their work. This includes an interesting tidbit about the development of the Sandman boss, and how challenging it was to balance the fight in the villain's favour.
Between the release of 's New Game Plus update accidentally granting players access to the game's developer menu, and the hacker group Rhysida sharing over a terabyte of files, players have got a better idea of what features were removed from Insomniac's superhero sequel. These leaks have also revealed other games in the works at Insomniac, such as a canceled, type multiplayer title, and a potential spin-off.
Concept art for Spider-Man: The Great Web has revealed that it would have let players create their own unique Spider-persona instead of just customising Peter, Miles, and Gwen.