Marvel's Avengers' decision to make Spider-Man a PlayStation exclusive character triggered outrage from potential buyers across social media. Several people, namely players who have opted to remain exclusive to Xbox and PC, have accused Sony and Crystal Dynamics — Marvel's Avengers' developer — of practicing anti-consumerism.
Crystal Dynamics Studio Head Scott Amos recently spoke on behalf of the developer and addressed the Spider-Man controversy. In a recent interview with IGN Japan, Amos explained how Spider-Man ended up as a PlayStation exclusive character and answered questions about future exclusive characters and features.
According to Amos, Crystal Dynamic's ability to include Spider-Man in Marvel's Avengers was a unique opportunity for the studio because of the relationship that PlayStation and Marvel have. He says that Spider-Man was made exclusive to PlayStation to celebrate the console's relationship with the character.
"(The inclusion of) Spider-Man is a unique opportunity for us because of the relationship that PlayStation and Marvel have."
With this statement, Amos is likely referring to the hype generated by Spider-Man PS4 and Spider-Man Miles Morales. Both are PlayStation exclusive titles, with the former being widely considered the best Spider-Man game of all time, while the latter is one of the most anticipated exclusives coming to PlayStation 5.
Amos then clarifies that Spider-Man is currently the only character Crystal Dynamics plans to make console exclusive. So as it stands right now, Xbox and PC won't be getting their own exclusive characters to counter Spider-Man. Plans change, though, so the two gaming platforms may get their own characters later on down the line.
"That is the only character that we are doing that way."
In response to Marvel's Avengers' cross-play concerns, Amos says that Crystal Dynamics doesn't have any announcements for that yet. They will be adding onto the game for years to come, however, so that could change, especially since Crystal would like to implement that feature. Amos doesn't address Spider-Man in the question.
“For cross-play, we have no announcements at the moment. But the beauty of this game is that we're going to be adding on to it for years, so it’s one of those things that we have our eye on for what the future could be."
When asked about how he thinks Xbox and PC players should handle the Spider-Man situation, Amos said the studio just announced Hawkeye in Marvel's Avengers, and there are plenty more characters on the way, so he wouldn't look at Spider-Man's exclusivity as a reason not to embrace the game. He goes on to say that anyone who absolutely wants to play as Spider-Man, however, can do so on the PlayStation.
"I would say that Marvel’s Avengers has a lot of heroes, and with the scope and the breadth of this game and this universe, players are going to have their hands full with a lot to play with. And as we have just announced with Hawkeye, there are more heroes to come. So this is an opportunity to celebrate (Spider-Man’s addition) uniquely for those players (on PlayStation) because of that relationship, but I think there’s so much of a world for people to explore, I wouldn’t look as that as a reason not to embrace it (the opportunity to add Spider-Man on PS4 and PS5). I would say, look at all this stuff you get to play with. And for those players who absolutely want to play as Spider-Man, you have the option to do so on PlayStation."
Amos' personal suggestion for people to play on PlayStation if they want to play as Spider-Man is certainly not what angry fans want to hear. The console exclusivity is what's got them so mad in the first place. His answers to the situation are overall a little lackluster. Still, the Spider-Man controversy only seems to have boosted Marvel's Avengers' sales, so it hasn't caused anything detrimental to Sony and Crystal Dynamics.
Marvel's Avengers releases for PC, PS4, Stadia, and Xbox One on September 4. PS5 and Xbox Series X versions are in development.
Source: IGN