Sony has revealed that its latest installment, Spider-Man 2, is now the fastest-selling video game created by PlayStation, with over 2.5 million copies sold within the first 24 hours of its release. The game, developed by PlayStation-owned Insomniac Games, has received widespread acclaim following its launch on the PS5. However, it has faced some criticism for its relatively short main story, which takes approximately 15 hours to complete, though this is typical for video games. The total playtime, including side content, extends to around 40 hours.
Spider-Man 2 has earned praise for its portrayal of Puerto Rican culture, but it encountered criticism when the flag was mistakenly associated with Cuba in the main character’s house. The developers have committed to rectifying this error.
Despite its title, Spider-Man 2 is the third entry in the series, following releases in 2018 and 2020. Like its predecessors, the game unfolds in a virtual rendition of New York City, with a unique feature: players can assume the roles of both Peter Parker and Miles Morales, who are popular superhero alter-egos.
Last week, Spider-Man 2 was among several high-profile game launches, coinciding with new releases from gaming icons Mario and Sonic. It notably outperformed both in boxed sales, making it the largest physical video game launch in the UK. The game has earned high ratings on gaming aggregator Metacritic and is now one of the top-rated titles for the PlayStation 5.
While Spider-Man 2 boasts the most significant physical launch on PS5 this year, it has yet to reach the astounding sales of The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, which sold over 10 million copies in just three days upon its May release, retaining its position as the most substantial physical video game launch in the UK for 2023.
It’s important to note that the majority of the 2.5 million copies sold were likely digital downloads, as digital game sales have grown significantly in recent years, exceeding physical sales. According to Christopher Dring, the head of the gaming news site GamesIndustry.biz, over 70% of games are now downloaded, marking a significant shift in the gaming market.
