There were a lot of huge moments at the most recent State of Play showcase, and Marvel’s Wolverine immediately kicked the event off with a bang. Marvel’s Wolverine is one of the most anticipated game releases of the year, but it’s also a big change for developer Insomniac Games after being with Spider-Man for so long. Marvel’s Wolverine already feels distinct from its web-slinging predecessors, though there is bound to be a little overlap.
One way that Marvel’s Wolverine is already taking notes from the Spider-Man games is through the expansive cast of characters. Marvel’s Spider-Man and its sequel featured one main villain and several side enemies, with the confirmation of Marvel’s Wolverine‘s Sabretooth and Omega Red proving that this will be the case again. When it comes to Sabretooth specifically, though, he needs to feel more like Doc Ock did in the first Spider-Man, compared to Venom in the second game.
Wolverine PS5 Game Will Let You Censor It
Marvel’s Wolverine developer Insomniac Games confirms the upcoming PS5 title will offer players an option to censor one noticeable aspect of it.
Marvel’s Wolverine Needs to Make Sabretooth a Constant Presence Throughout the Story
Throughout many Marvel Comics storylines, Wolverine and Sabretooth are consistently mortal enemies. The two mutants are apex predators with incredibly similar powers, but their differences in moral code have caused them to be complete opposites where it counts. Logan is constantly fighting with his rage, while Sabretooth embraces his animalistic instincts. It’s not impossible to create a compelling Wolverine story without making Sabretooth a central focus. The Logan movie proved that. However, that doesn’t mean it isn’t really difficult.
Who’s That Character?
Identify the silhouettes before time runs out.
Identify the silhouettes before time runs out.
Easy (7.5s)Medium (5.0s)Hard (2.5s)Permadeath (2.5s)
Marvel’s Wolverine not making Sabretooth a constant presence could easily feel like a missed opportunity. That’s why taking inspiration from Spider-Man‘s Doc Ock instead of Spider-Man 2‘s Venom is the stronger move. Both serve as the ultimate main antagonist in each chapter, but Doc Ock simply had a larger presence throughout the first game’s story.
Doc Ock is Part of Peter Parker’s Life From the Very Beginning of the Story
Granted, Spider-Man 2 teases Venom early on in the game, as Harry Osborn is a major part of Peter Parker’s story. Getting to the actual Venom reveal is a pretty slow burn, though. Doc Ock may not be the main antagonist at the start of the first Spider-Man chapter, but he’s introduced within the first hour of gameplay. What makes him such a compelling villain is getting to watch his descent into villainy after he takes Mister Negative’s place as the core big bad guy.
Wolverine and Sabretooth’s Rivalry Needs to Be Fully Felt in Order to Hit the Mark
One of the best ways to make Wolverine and Sabretooth’s rivalry really feel real is to force the two into multiple encounters throughout the story. Multiple fights that eventually lead to one major boss encounter would really drive home their conflict. All the characters that have been confirmed for Marvel’s Wolverine so far have proven that there are going to be a lot of interesting run-ins, but they shouldn’t just be one-off cameos. Sabretooth isn’t the only character that needs to be a larger part of the story. Marvel Wolverine‘s Jean Grey has tons of potential to be a compelling supporting character, and Mystique is almost always an interesting character to dive into. Sabretooth is a special case, though, since his personality is an important mirror to Logan.
Sabretooth reminds Logan of what he can become if he doesn’t keep his anger in check. The villain helps add deeper layers to Wolverine’s gruff exterior, making him a more three-dimensional character. Wolverine lore is expansive, and Sabretooth has continued to be an essential part of that history.
Wolverine and Sabretooth’s History Opens the Door to Fascinating Story Possibilities
If Marvel’s Wolverine‘s story sticks closely to the character’s lore in Marvel’s Earth-616 timeline, then it could experiment with the fact that Logan and Sabretooth’s rivalry has been going on for over a century. Both were born in the late 19th century, so their hatred runs deep. Through the decades, Sabretooth has constantly tortured Logan and toyed with him for his own amusement. He’s a violent pest, and Marvel’s Wolverine can hopefully succeed at making the character truly feel like that. Moments where Sabretooth shows up randomly to fight would be the best way to do this. It might also prove to be a great way to keep players on edge and aware of their surroundings, which would also be pretty immersive.
What’s That Weapon?
Identify the silhouettes before time runs out.
Identify the silhouettes before time runs out.
Easy (7.5s)Medium (5.0s)Hard (2.5s)Permadeath (2.5s)
Marvel’s Wolverine Could Have Even More Character Cameos Waiting in the Wings
Having characters like Jean Grey, Sabretooth, Mystique, and Omega Red lined up for the cast is already thrilling. That’s a solid roster, but there are potentially going to be even more revealed once Marvel Wolverine‘s release date gets here and players jump into the game. Characters like Charles Xavier, Magneto, Cyclops, and Gambit could make it feel even more like a full-blown X-Men game. Insomniac Games needs to be careful when it comes to cameos, though. Throwing so many mutants into one story could quickly become overkill. So, even if the cast just consists of the confirmed characters, that would still be a stacked cast.
Marvel’s Wolverine pre-orders are now live. The Standard Edition costs $70 and includes one suit and one claw set, while the Deluxe Edition is $80 and features five exclusive and five exclusive claw sets.
Also, now that it’s been confirmed that Marvel’s Wolverine and Spider-Man share timelines, there’s always the chance that Peter Parker or Miles Morales could have small cameos. Even if it isn’t Peter or Miles, there is the potential for overlap with side characters. That remains to be seen, but it wouldn’t be too surprising if Insomniac Games wanted to create a shared universe. Standalone titles are likely for the best, though, because they allow each game to explore specific lore further. As of now, it’s at least known that Sabretooth is going to play some kind of role in the story. Only time will tell how big his role is, but it hopefully turns out to be a more significant part than just a one-off boss encounter.
- Released
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September 15, 2026
- ESRB
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Mature 17+ / Blood and Gore, Drug Reference, Intense Violence, Partial Nudity, Strong Language, In-Game Purchases
- Publisher(s)
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Sony Interactive Entertainment
