Spider-Man PS4's Earth-1048 Explained, and How It Could Impact Spider-Man 2 on PS5
One of the most prevalent features in much of Marvel's storytelling in recent years has dealt with the concept of a multiverse. Whether it's versions of Earth that are dramatically different from the mainline comics, or timelines where one small decision changed the course of history, Marvel has used the concept in a number of ways. As confusing as it can sometimes get, the Marvel multiverse has seen increased popularity thanks to how it's been adapted in other media. These alternate Earths serve as a great opportunity to tell new stories with time-honored characters, and Marvel's Spider-Man is a prime example of this.
The version of Earth that is presented in Marvel's Spider-Man is known as Earth-1048, separating it from the Earth-616 universe that serves as the main Marvel comic continuity. This decision to make the game's Spider-Man different from the comic's Spider-Man allowed developer Insomniac to take some narrative risks with the webhead and the assortment of characters around him. By extension, the risks that Spider-Man took could impact a potential sequel in a few key ways. With how the first game set up certain characters by the time the credits rolled, it's worth taking a look at Earth-1048 and what it could mean for Spider-Man 2.
One of the key aspects of Spider-Man's character in Earth-1048 is that he has much more time under his belt as the wall-crawler than other stories. Most Spider-Man stories highlight how Peter Parker learns to live with his powers while also going through high school or college, but this reality takes him out of that situation and has him dealing with adulthood. This Spider-Man knows what he's doing a little bit more, and most importantly he has good connections with the NYPD so they don't always think of him as a menace. His job as Spider-Man certainly isn't easy, but this Peter is much more well-rounded as a hero than the MCU's Peter for example.
When it comes to Spider-Man's villains, some of them that appear in Earth-1048 are very similar to other realities. Some core members of the Sinister Six are present, such as Electro and Scorpion, but Marvel's Spider-Man made some interesting narrative decisions with other iconic villains. The game's main antagonist, Otto Octavius, was given a much more emotional role in Peter's life as he transitioned into Doc Ock, and Norman Osborn was more of a politician than the iconic Green Goblin. On the subject of Norman however, there was one aspect of his character, and his son Harry, that will likely play a major role in Spider-Man 2.
One of the big reveals at the end of Marvel's Spider-Man was that Peter's lifelong friend Harry Osborn had not been traveling through Europe but was in fact being kept in a tank that contained a substance similar to the Venom symbiote. This reveal was left on an intentional cliffhanger, but it left heavy implications for what's going to happen in the sequel. It's not a far stretch to think that Venom could play a central role in Spider-Man 2. Not only would he serve as the usual villain type, but the fact that it would be Harry in the symbiote would provide an added layer of emotional conflict just as most of Spider-Man's best villains do.
Marvel's Spider-Man and Spider-Man: Miles Morales show that creating original stories in the Marvel multiverse can be successful and marketable. The first game took a risk by giving players a version of Peter Parker that isn't often seen in comics or films, and it ended up paying off in a big way. The risks the game took with Spider-Man's villains also managed to be successful, and now it's set up one of the most highly anticipated superhero game sequels in a long time. Spider-Man 2 has yet to be officially announced, and it's likely years away, but there's no doubting that many players will want to return to Earth-1048 real soon.
Marvel's Spider-Man and Spider-Man: Miles Morales are available now on PS4 and PS5. A sequel has not been officially announced.
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