Though the character was originally met with some controversy from long-time Spidey fans, Miles Morales was brought into a more successful light with his role in Into the Spider-Verse, which was successful enough to beat out Disney's typical winning spot for Best Animated Feature at the Academy Awards.
Spider-Man proved itself as a successful AAA video game title two years back, once again rebooting the familiar Peter Parker into another version of the familiar friendly neighborhood Spider-Man. Spider-Man: Miles Morales followed up on its success by keeping the same formula, but enhancing the game for the newest generation of consoles and implementing Miles' similarly tragic backstory. Players have come to love the Harlem-based teen, but thanks to the success of both Spider-Man PlayStation titles, a possibility for a Spider-Verse game has gained momentum.
The Spider-Verse Comic & Movie
Into the Spider-Verse was a beloved comic book series before it became the blockbuster hit film. Falling under The Amazing Spider-Man series, the "Spider-Verse" storyline sees the inception of Spider-Men and Women (and even a Spider-Wolf) across several different universes. Though Peter Parker is still the main protagonist and could be kept this way in an Insomniac game, countless other spider-infected heroes assist him against familiar foes like Doctor Octopus and Venom.
The introduction of Miles Morales doesn't necessarily imply the inclusion of the "Spider-Verse" plotline such as with the Into the Spider-Verse film, and the plot from the "Spider-Verse" comics is very different. However, with inspiration taken from the comic series, this means there's a lot of content for the developers and writers to work with to create a story unique from the film.
Spider-Verse Gameplay
In terms of gameplay, there are also several routes Insomniac could work with. Peter Parker and Miles Morales have been very well-received by players, but there is a slew of other spider-people who could exist in this story, between Spider-Ham, Spider-Girl, Silk, Spider-Punk, and so many more. Insomniac could go the safe route of a singular protagonist, Peter Parker, a familiar and beloved character, but this also leaves potential for something like Watch Dogs: Legion's take on the gameplay, where the player could recruit several Spidey allies over the course of the story.
This would add a lot of variety to the recycled gameplay seen in Spider-Man: Miles Morales. Miles has his own set of abilities such as his venom strike and invisibility, but so does every other version of Spider-Man. This would add a fun spin to the tried-and-true formula Insomniac has already implemented while keeping it fresh and interesting for veteran players, allowing them to use different tactics and characters to finish missions and quests in varying ways.
Spidey DLC Packs
With so many allies in the Spider-Man universes, this means lots of potential for post-launch content as well. Each differing character means an opportunity for their own dedicated DLC packs that explore their backstories, some of which are serious and dark, and others that are inherently silly. But the more ridiculous Spideys, like Spider-Ham, could be a fun chance for silly DLC content.
For those spider-heroes that may not make the final cut within the main game itself, perhaps the more unique ones such as the anime-universe Peni Parker, downloadable content is the perfect opportunity to give them spotlight while also offering a fun experience for players. DLC is also a great chance to introduce and tease versions of Spider-Man for their own, dedicated, upcoming games, such as a dedicated Spider-Gwen game, where Gwen Stacy takes the stage as the main protagonist.
Whatever the case, Insomniac has proven its success in this franchise, and the potential for a Spider-Verse game is a huge opportunity for the series to pass up after its success between Spider-Man and Miles Morales.
Spider-Man: Miles Morales is out now for PS4 and PS5.