Following the release of previews for Marvel's Wolverine, portals and content creators shared their first impressions of the game. However, the reactions were largely negative, especially on the X platform (formerly Twitter), generating questions and issues regarding the reception of this exclusive PlayStation 5 title.
The controversy began with gameplay videos that provoked great indignation. A clip showing combat against a Sentinel, a traditional enemy of the X-Men, was compared to a fight against the boss in Ben 10: Protector of Earth (2007) and went viral on X, being published in English, Spanish, and Portuguese. Only the Portuguese publication exceeded 50 thousand likes and reached 5.1 million views. All videos contained the same criticism: labeling the new game as outdated and having obsolete mechanics.
Other videos reinforced this perception: one showed Wolverine running for about 15 seconds just pressing the analog stick forward, without any other actions on the controller. A third similar post displayed combat with several adversaries, where the player could progress only by continuously pressing the R2 button. These videos also accumulated thousands of likes and millions of views, aiming to demonstrate the mechanical and scripted nature of the game.
Even while acknowledging the validity of some presented criticisms, especially considering the cost of an AAA launch at R$ 450, these critiques transcended mere gameplay. A wave of discontent also arose regarding character design, particularly the female characters, who were considered less glamorous than their previous models. Additionally, conspiracy theories resurfaced about Sweet Baby Inc, a consultancy focused on diversity and inclusion in narrative development.
However, this type of massive 'criticism' that goes beyond the reality of games is not new to Insomniac. Conspiracy theories about inclusivity have accompanied the developer's work since the first Marvel's Spider-Man. Actress Stephanie Tyler Jones, who played Mary Jane, had her privacy violated with calls and voice messages at her workplace, motivated by online criticism of the character's appearance. There was also intense hatred directed at the second title, Marvel's Spider-Man Miles Morales, due to the main character, who is of Afro-Latino descent and a constant target of criticism in his comics.
The repercussions even affected Insomniac's own employees, forcing the company's community and marketing director, James Stevenson, to speak out. He expressed great apprehension about the current situation, especially how the X algorithm intensifies this wave of negativity.