Spider-Man 2 has the potential to be the best superhero video game yet, and with a little over a month to go before it arrives in store, we couldn't be any more excited to get hands-on with the sequel.
Some outlets were recently able to do just that, and TheGamer (via GameFragger.com) has revealed a new type of collectable we'll encounter while exploring Manhattan, Queens, and Brooklyn. In place of backpacks, it's said gamers will be tasked with tracking down Spider-Bots.
Apparently, there's a scene in the game where Ganke tells Miles that the signal emanating from the bots is coming from "millions of miles away," with Spider-Man Noir, Spider-Man 2099, Peni Parker, and Spider-Gwen among the characters these robots reference.
This is obviously a nod to the wider Spider-Verse, no great shock seeing as Insomniac's Peter Parker has encountered his web-slinging Variants both in comic books and this past June's Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (which saw Yuri Lowenthal briefly reprise his role).
Needless to say, this has led to speculation about a big cameo but it doesn't sound like Gwen Stacy will be making her presence felt in the franchise. At least not yet.
Spider-Man 2's narrative director, Jan Paquette, talked to the site and said, "You know what, we entertain [the idea of] all the characters all the time. All of us at the studio are fans of Marvel."
"And so, one of the great things about Insomniac is that we love to get ideas from everybody on the team, so we're always getting ideas. But we also need to stay focused on what is the story that we're trying to tell and Gwen isn't part of the story that we're trying to tell unfortunately. But, who knows?"
We're expecting Green Goblin to be Spider-Man 3's big bad, so it would make sense for Gwen to appear there. However, rather than being Norman Osborn's victim, the franchise could give her powers and launch yet another spin-off, this time revolving around Ghost Spider. Time will tell whether that happens.
"Spider-Men Peter Parker and Miles Morales face the ultimate test of strength inside and outside the mask as they fight to save the city, each other, and the ones they love," reads the game's synopsis, "from the monstrous Venom and the dangerous new symbiote threat."
"Explore an expansive Marvel's New York with faster web-swinging and the all-new Web Wings, quickly switching between Peter and Miles to experience different stories, epic new abilities and high-tech gear."
"Wield Peter's symbiote abilities and Miles' explosive bio-electric powers in battle against new and iconic Marvel Super Villains," it continues, "including an original take on a symbiote-infused Venom, the ruthless Kraven the Hunter, the volatile Lizard, and more from the Marvel Rogues' Gallery."
Spider-Man 2 swings into stores on October 20.