Summary
Insomniac Gamescertainly seems deserving of the title “PlayStation’s busiest studio.” Not only did the developer releaseSpider-Man: Miles MoralesandRatchet and Clank: Riftback-to-back at the start of the PS5 generation, but it also has three more games in development.Marvel’s Spider-Man 2is right around the corner,Marvel’s Wolverineis set to keep the superhero love going, and a third, unannounced game is in the works.
Based on previous job listings forInsomniac Gamesand recent rumors, this mysterious third game is poised to be a multiplayer title. Beyond that, nothing is known about the project, and there is always a chance that it could be a new IP. Assuming that Insomniac does not deliver a fully original multiplayer game, though, fans could find themselves enjoying a multiplayer-focused entry in one of Insomniac’s established franchises.
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Existing Insomniac Properties That Can Serve As The Studio’s Multiplayer Game
With Sony set to have proper competitive multiplayer matches covered with Bungie’sMarathonand Haven’sFairgames, more co-op focused titles could be a good area to invest in.Horizon’s leaked multiplayer project will likely end up dabbling in this area, as couldThe Last of Us’ delayed multiplayer spin-off, but two of Insomniac’s biggest properties could fit the co-op mold as well.
The first is Insomniac’s hottest commodity at the moment,Marvel’s Spider-Man. WhileBatman: Arkham Originshas shown that adding multiplayer elements to a successful superhero franchise is not always a recipe for success, the allure of swinging around New York City with a friend is hard to deny. Insomniac has established two active Spider-Men already, opening the door for a canon story where one player controls Peter and the other plays as Miles. Side activities could see players competing for higher scores in challenge missions and enemy hideouts, too. If Insomniac wanted to add more players to the mix, then the Spider-Verse could be opened up to bring in characters like Spider-Gwen and Spider-Man 2099.
Though aMarvel’s Spider-Man 2actor mistakenly suggested that co-op was comingto the game, making the idea fresh in many fans’ minds,Ratchet and Clankalso works as a co-operative game and deserves consideration. The ending ofRatchet and Clank: Rift Apartseemingly teased another adventure with Ratchet, Rivet, Clank, and Kit, and with each character being fully fleshed out, a co-op game feels possible. One player could control Ratchet and Clank while the other controls Rivet and Kit, letting gamers explore the galaxy with a friend. WhileRatchet and Clankhas had mixed success when dabbling with co-op in the past, having another Lombax in the mix can make a big difference.
The best option of all might just beResistance, though. A strong-but-forgotten FPS series from the PlayStation 3 era,Resistancedelivered singleplayer campaigns with memorable storiesalongside some fun arena multiplayer. WithResistance 2also providing a co-op campaign, a new, live serviceResistancetitle could fire on all cylinders. Not only could it deliver a polished singleplayer mode like PlayStation fans have come to expect, but separate co-op and multiplayer modes could be supported long after release.
The final option to consider isSunset Overdrive. Though the original game was an Xbox exclusive, Insomniac still owns the rights to the franchise, meaning it could develop a new entry for the PlayStation 5. The stylish, over-the-top setting ofSunset City deserves to be explored again, and its eight-player co-op could be taken to the next level. Instead of being a separate mode, co-op could allow a big group of players explore a massive open world together. Clearly, though a new IP is on the table,Insomniac Gameshas a lot of existing properties that can support a multiplayer spin-off.
