Ratchet & Clank being abandoned by PlayStation would be a huge disappointment

Sony and Insomniac Games shared slow 2024s, but the same could be said for the entire industry's AAA studios that year. Despite this, both have been busy preparing for upcoming releases behind the scenes, with Yotei's ghost and Marvel's Wolverine both of which have fans excited for the upcoming PlayStation 5. Insomniac helped found the PS5 in its first year with the release of its well-received Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales and Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apartwith another Spiderman rate that comes later. Marvel games take priority Ratchet & Clank right now, but both are still strong contributions to the PlayStation lineup.

At least, it should be both. Insomniac Games became PlayStation's licensed Marvel game studio, and while it's done a stellar job, that's all it feels like it's done. For now, that feeling has more to do with the perception that Insomniac makes mostly Marvel titles than actually eclipsing the rest of Insomniac's output, but there's reason to worry that it could become the status quo. Ratchet & Clank used to be Insomniac's claim to fame and a cherished PlayStation franchise, and it would be tragic if that wasn't the case anymore.

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Ratchet & Clank used to be Insomniac's PlayStation Star franchise

Insomniac Games may have become a full Sony Interactive Entertainment studio in 2019, but the two have shared a long and fruitful partnership for most of Insomniac's life. The Spyro the Dragon trilogy gave the PS1 one of its unofficial mascots in the late 90s and 2002. Ratchet & Clank repeated the feat for PS2. For the next decade, Insomniac was diligent Ratchet & Clank games as well Resistance trilogy, establishing its place as an acclaimed Sony studio with a strong core franchise. Experimenting with smaller projects and other publishers throughout the 2010s felt earned after all of Insomniac's work.

Insomniac's relationship with R&C changed after Marvel's Spider-Man

The studio released a few more Ratchet & Clank titles at the time, but things changed when it was used to make Marvel's Spider-Man for Sony. Its 2018 release exceeded all expectations for quality and sales performance, likely hastening Sony's decision to finally acquire Insomniac the following year.

As with most AAA studios, Insomniac has so far spent the 2020s releasing fewer games than before, and is currently taking a long hiatus from Ratchet & Clank but it kept the bar high for quality by splitting its focus between two valuable IPs. The only problem is that there doesn't seem to be any land between said IPs, and that could get worse in the future.

Marvel Games risks replacing Ratchet & Clank entirely

As seen in Insomniac's December 2023 leak, there's a lot of Marvel coming down the pipe. Inclusive Marvel's Wolverinejust one of Insomniac's six known and rumored upcoming titles Ratchet & Clankand it's not expected to launch until at least fiscal 2029. This is a distant second game, even before a supposed 2030. X-Men game, and it's unknown what new developments such as the leak itself, the changing financial climate for AAA games, and the cancellation of a multiplayer game Spiderman title next to it Spider-Man 2means DLC for any of Insomniac's ongoing plans.

Ratchet & Clank currently playing second fiddle to the Marvel licensed games with no spin-off in sight. If this keeps up, especially if Insomniac is hit with the layoffs that are plaguing the industry, Ratchet & Clank risk total abandonment. As a well-received Sony franchise that is important to the history of the platform, it would be a shame to lose Ratchet & Clank now. He still has more adventures left in him and Rift ApartThe new duo of Rivet and Kit cannot be left behind in one game. PlayStation and Insomniac need to make sure that no matter how much time and effort their Marvel games require, Ratchet & Clank he's still getting his time in the spotlight.

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