Since its release in 2021, Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart has played an important role in the PlayStation ecosystem. Not only has the duo’s latest outing become a critical hit, but it’s also done a great job showcasing the power of the PS5. Between its debut and Marvel’s Spider-Man Miles Morales, Insomniac Games’ reputation within Sony’s first-party family has been solidified over that time period as well.
Despite all of these accolades, it looks like fans will have to wait before they can get their hands on a new Ratchet and Clank game, though. As it stands right now, several factors are pulling Insomniac Games’ attention in other directions. All of which means it’s likely going to be several years before the Lombax and his robotic partner return with a brand-new adventure.
Insomniac Games’ Schedule
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One of the biggest features of the PS5 era so far has been Insomniac Games' ability to quickly develop and release acclaimed titles. Since the debut of Sony's latest console, players have already been treated to the aforementioned Miles Morales and Rift Apart. The publisher's PlayStation Showcase event in 2021 made it clear that this trend will continue for some time to come as well. Beyond Marvel's Spider-Man 2‘s 2023 release date, Marvel's Wolverine is also already in production.
The existence of Insomniac's upcoming Marvel projects means it's unlikely that Ratchet and Clank will feature in its plans for some time. Despite building a reputation for efficiency and quality, it's hard to imagine the studio having the bandwidth to quickly create another entry in its long-running franchise as well. Even though Wolverine is an established hero, it's important to remember that Insomniac's game will still be a new IP. Getting the narrative and mechanical parts of that process right is likely going to be an almost all-hands-on-deck task that lasts for years.
Insomniac Games’ Rumored Titles
While all rumors and insider leaks should be taken with a pinch of salt, there’s evidence that suggests Insomniac Games is exploring other titles beyond its announced Marvel projects. The idea of a multiplayer experience, for example, has popped up online multiple times since the release of Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart. Even though Insomniac’s multi-team structure makes it easy to imagine it exploring other ideas right now, it’s unclear what franchise the leak relates to.
Even if the game in question turns out to be real, and tied to Ratchet and Clank’s multiplayer past in some way, it’s unlikely that players will even hear about it for years. Beyond focusing its marketing output on its upcoming Marvel project, Insomniac will also likely spend significant time making sure the game is sound conceptually and mechanically. Players only have to look at Naughty Dog and The Last of Us multiplayer spin-off for an example of how time-consuming it can be to work on a game like the one that’s been rumored.
Ratchet and Clank’s Future
Although all signs point to Insomniac Games' attention being dominated by its announced and rumored projects for the next few years, that doesn't mean Ratchet and Clank fans should lose all hope. Between the critical success of Rift Apart and the franchise's wider importance to Sony, it's a fairly safe bet that a new game will happen at some point in the future. Considering the studio has remained devoted to the duo since the PS2 era, it's hard to see that changing either.
While Rift Apart ended on a wholesome note, Insomniac also planted several seeds that were clearly geared toward the franchise's long-term future. Beyond the introduction and storytelling potential of Rivet and Kit, multiple questions were notably left unanswered on the topic of Ratchet's own past as well. Both of these factors suggest that a new Ratchet and Clank game will happen eventually, several years down the line from now.
Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart is available now on PS5.