After years of anticipation, Insomniac Games has finally offered its most substantial look yet at Marvel’s Wolverine — revealing a brutally violent action game that aims to capture every facet of Logan, from his razor-sharp claws and healing ability to his relentless determination.
QD caught up with Creative Director Marcus Smith and Game Director Mike Daly, to discuss game’s approach to violence, accessibility options, iconic Marvel villains, and why making players “feel like Wolverine” has been the goal from day one.
Interview with Insomniac Games
According to Smith, Aussie actor Liam McIntyre taking up the role of Wolverine wasn’t part of a deliberate pattern.
“It is funny that the best Canadian superheroes are apparently played by Australians, but that was pure happenstance,” Smith laughed.
“We put out the audition calls and Liam just bubbled up.”
“…the best Canadian superheroes are apparently played by Australians!
Marcus Smith, Insomniac Games
McIntyre’s casting sits alongside Insomniac‘s broader goal of bringing Wolverine to life in a more visceral, playable form — one that embraces the character’s violence rather than softening it.
“From day one we knew violence was going to be a big thing,” Daly told QD.
“We don’t want to go over the top, we want to get the grounded tone of our other games… it needed to be something that what you expect as a Wolverine fan is what happens,” he said.
Miles and Peter who? It’s all about Logan, Jean Grey and Sabretooth
New gameplay footage also highlighted several mutant allies, including Jean Grey and Sabretooth, who each bring a very different dynamic to Wolverine’s journey.
As highlighted in this week’s State of Play, Jean Grey’s telekinetic abilities can be used to create opportunities in combat, allowing Logan to take out enemies she has restrained.
Sabretooth, however, is a very different story.
In Insomniac’s interpretation of the Marvel universe, Logan and Sabretooth are working on the same side, though their partnership is far from harmonious.
“Really, it’s almost more like a competition where he’s trying to kill people more than you are,” Daly said. “You think you’re about to get a kill, he’ll rush in and steal it.”
Daly added that the relationship is defined by the pair’s constant banter, creating what he described as a “co-op competitive” dynamic as they fight alongside one another.
Sounds like there’s a few more team-up characters to be unveiled.
Can you tone down the blood in Marvel’s Wolverine?
Unlike Insomniac’s Marvel’s Spider-Man series, where enemies are typically incapacitated, Wolverine’s claws are designed to feel lethal, with combat built around fast, decisive kills.
“You need to feel like the claws are lethal in order to feel like you’re Wolverine,” Daly said.
However, the studio is also aware that Wolverine’s signature brutality won’t appeal to everyone.
Daly and Smith confirmed to QD that Marvel’s Wolverine will include a low-gore accessibility option.
“There are a tonne of people who can appreciate Wolverine as a character who don’t want to see you eviscerating people,” Daly said.
“It will prevent you from limbing characters or removing their limbs, and in places where it’s baked into the moves or the cinematics in an unavoidable way, we’ll blur it out.”
What about Wolverine’s regen ability?
Wolverine’s ability to regenerate has been documented across comics and films for decades. But gamers better watch out — if Logan’s heart stops, he’ll die.
“If he’s built up enough rage, that adrenaline kick-starts his healing factor back in… you get a second chance,” Daly said.
While Logan’s healing factor is a core gameplay mechanic, some viewers may have noticed that his suit appears to repair itself alongside his body in the gameplay footage.
Daly confirmed to QD there is an explanation players can uncover, but suggested fans shouldn’t look at it too closely… Subsequently confirming players will be able to explore Team X’s facility.
“We did put a little tidbit of lore around that as you sort of explore Team X’s facility and talk to the guy who does suits,” Daly said.
“It is one of those things where I wouldn’t delve too deeply into.”
Omega Red is the game’s big bad!
Beyond its combat, Insomniac is also pulling heavily from Marvel’s wider universe, bringing in iconic threats like Omega Red and Sentinels to push Wolverine beyond his limits.
“There’s Omega Red. This guy is a brute… it is an iconic face-off to see Wolverine go up against Omega Red,” Daly said.
“We’ve teased in bits and pieces that there are also Sentinels… something that you would look at and think that is not even going to be possible for Wolverine to face off against.”
Insomniac’s Mission: ‘Make you feel like Wolverine’
At its core, Insomniac says the goal remains simple: making players feel like Wolverine.
“From the beginning… the main mission here is to make you feel like Wolverine,” Daly said.
“The claw combat, the violent rage, the relentless determination, his heavy weight, his animalism, his enhanced senses — it’s all there.”
Smith added that the team is already confident in what they’ve built, even before release.
“It’s always one thing to watch videos and to hear us talk about it, but man, it’s a fun game,” he said.
“Even this morning… I spent five minutes just playing. It’s hard not to get swept in.”
Marvel’s Wolverine is currently in development for PlayStation 5 and is scheduled to release on September 21th.
