Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 quickly gained attention not just for its mesmerizing gameplay and relatively short length ,but also for a distinct oversight: the misrepresentation of Miles Morales’ heritage. This slight problem was brought to light by keen-eyed fans who noticed the Cuban flag inside Miles Morales’ apartment, despite both him and his mother, Rio, being of Puerto Rican heritage.
While such mistakes might seem minor to some, the cultural significance attached to symbols like national flags makes them critical to get right. The error is particularly glaring, given that Miles Morales is a Brooklyn-born individual with a Puerto Rican mother, and his apartment is a conduit through which the developers shed light on his personal life and identity.
Several gamers and Spider-Man aficionados were quick to point out the blunder on various platforms, including Reddit and Twitter. One Reddit user, TheHouselessTurtle, even posted a screenshot from the game, highlighting the misplaced Cuban flag inside Miles’ residence, seeking an explanation for this deviation from the established canon where Morales proudly identifies with his Puerto Rican roots.
Fix is coming for that
— James Stevenson (@JamesStevenson) October 20, 2023
On close inspection, the flags of Cuba and Puerto Rico do bear a resemblance, which likely contributed to the mistake. Both flags feature five horizontal stripes and a triangle on the left-hand side with a central star. The main difference is in the color scheme. The Cuban flag showcases a red triangle juxtaposed with blue stripes, whereas the Puerto Rican flag is the exact opposite with a blue triangle accompanied by red stripes.
Given the rich history and pride associated with national flags, it’s easy to understand the fans’ disappointment in the oversight, as they symbolize far more than mere geometric designs and colors.
Despite the mishap, it’s worth noting that the game does recognize Miles’ Puerto Rican lineage in other segments. An unlockable Boricua costume in the game accurately depicts the Puerto Rican flag, which means that the oversight was not due to a lack of knowledge, but perhaps a lapse in the meticulous attention to detail during the game’s development phase.
Fortunately, the developers, Insomniac Games, were swift to acknowledge the error. James Stevenson, the Director of Community and Marketing at Insomniac Games, responded to the flag issue on Twitter, assuring fans that a corrective patch is underway. The speed and transparency with which Insomniac Games has addressed this oversight underscore their commitment to the integrity of the gaming experience and the importance of accurate cultural representation.
Of course, some are still hoping that a similar statement will finally come following reports of users having difficulties installing Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 from their physical disc.
Outside of this controversy, Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 has performed remarkably well, both critically and commercially. Within 24 hours of its release, the game clocked an impressive sale of 2.5 million units, becoming a frontrunner in the PS5 game launches for the year. The game, currently sitting at a commendable 91 on Metacritic, is on track to end the year as one of the best-selling games, especially if it’s true that it will be bundled alongside the PS5 Slim in November.
As Insomniac Games gears up to rectify the oversight, the incident will likely be remembered as proof of how important engaged fandoms and responsive developers are, working in tandem to enhance the overall gaming experience.
