Insomniac's Massive Roadmap Could Define PlayStation

Wolverine, Venom, Spider-Man 3, Ratchet & Clank, and more could shape PlayStation's biggest studio over the next several years.

Insomniac Games has long been one of PlayStation's most prolific first-party developers, often creating critical darlings at a rate few teams can keep up with. Insomniac has frequently proven itself capable of juggling many large-scale productions concurrently, unlike many developers that spend years focused on a single project, making its long-term strategy particularly intriguing.

Since joining PlayStation Studios, the studio has only cemented its reputation, with blockbuster titles like Marvel's Spider-Man becoming some of Sony's platform's flagship exclusives. With speculation rife on what comes next, attention has increasingly turned to the developer's upcoming slate and how it expects to juggle Marvel properties with its own legacy franchises.

Much of the talk we're seeing right now is thanks to the large internal Insomniac leak released earlier.

The leaked development roadmap offered a peek into the studio’s aims, but industry watchers have long observed that game development is a fluid process. Release windows shift, projects change, and organizational objectives often shift as development progresses. While many of the names have yet to be confirmed, recent reports indicate that the basic trajectory is largely in place, even if the timelines are not.

Delays are far more likely than outright cancellations, so fans are hoping that many of the anticipated projects are still in active development. The next big release from Insomniac is likely to be Marvel's Wolverine, the highlight of the studio’s 2017 lineup. The title sets high expectations, especially for those looking forward to seeing Insomniac take on a more linear, grown-up action experience following the success of its Spider-Man series.

Outside of Wolverine, Venom has been the subject of much speculation, with rumors of the project circulating for quite some time. At one point, rumors briefly suggested the game had been scrapped, but insiders promptly dismissed them. Ironically, such claims only helped bolster the belief that the project is still in development, with many fans believing that a standalone Venom title remains on Insomniac’s docket.

If the project does happen, many believe it will be a shorter, standalone experience like Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales, building on the Spider-Man series while adding new mechanics and story options surrounding Venom.

Looking further ahead, the roadmap still appears to contain Marvel’s Spider-Man 3, another Ratchet & Clank installment, and an X-Men project.

All told, these titles would position Insomniac among the most formidable first-party pipelines in the business, covering both well-known PlayStation brands and Marvel’s growing gaming universe. It’s been fun for Marvel, but the studio's long-term creative orientation remains to be seen. With much of Insomniac’s output expected to be based on Marvel concepts for the foreseeable future, some fans are wondering if the developer will continue to go into unique ideas in addition to licensed properties.

Fans say Marvel itself has sufficient variety. Spider-Man, Wolverine, Venom, Guardians of the Galaxy, and Midnight Suns have all proven that superhero games can offer wildly distinct gameplay experiences, while still existing in the same comic-book universe. But many veteran fans are hoping Insomniac would continue to resurrect popular franchises like Ratchet & Clank, Resistance, or even Sunset Overdrive. 

The studio’s reputation has been established on its wide-ranging portfolio, and that balance may become vital as Marvel projects continue to develop. Financial factors are also a consideration. Licensed Marvel games tend to have much higher production expenses and sales expectations than domestically owned intellectual assets. Even less-successful franchises can find a home in Ratchet & Clank and contribute to PlayStation’s total offering.

Aside from Wolverine and Venom, Spider-Man 3 is projected to be Insomniac's next flagship game.

Many fans are hoping the sequel capitalizes on what worked so well in Spider-Man 2 while also addressing some of the issues people had with the pace and gameplay. Meanwhile, another Ratchet & Clank entry is among the studio's most anticipated titles. Even years after its release, Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart continues to be praised, with many players seeing it as one of PlayStation 5’s defining exclusives and a demonstration of the console’s hardware potential.

Another interesting opportunity is the reported X-Project. If it turns out to be a full-blown co-op game, a Wolverine game, or a game centered around a certain mutant, it might go a long way toward expanding Insomniac's interwoven Marvel universe. The studio also faces some tough choices about sequels. If Wolverine works, it may be a long-running franchise like Spider-Man. Similarly, a separate Venom game could offer more character-driven stories, and Insomniac could work on multiple series simultaneously.

Managing so many franchises at once will be a challenge. And that would take a lot of development power and some serious project management to keep Spider-Man, Wolverine, Ratchet & Clank, and maybe X-Men running all at once. If additional intellectual properties were added to the existing brands, the balancing act would become much harder.

Still, Insomniac has proven repeatedly that it can churn out quality at a pace few studios can keep up with. Most developers require five or more years between major games, but Insomniac has consistently delivered well-received titles in significantly shorter development cycles without compromising overall quality.

It is that constancy that, in the end, makes the studio stand out. Individual games may be debatable amongst fans, but Insomniac keeps cranking out critical successes at an almost amazing rate. That reliable output could be one of Sony’s best investments for PlayStation, keeping the studio a key element of its first-party strategy for years to come.