Marvel's Spider-Man 2 faces Physical Disc Dilemma in Europe

With reports of this installation bug emerging mainly from physical copies, many fear this is a manufacturing flaw. If true, this could result in possibly hundreds of thousands of problematic batches. Fixing it might prove challenging. The developer might need to provide new copies, a logistical challenge that could incur substantial unnecessary costs and dent the game's reputation further.

Further compounding the situation is the lack of official communication. This has left many buyers in the dark, unsure whether to seek refunds or wait for a potential fix. Bol.com, for instance, has already started processing refunds for affected users, signifying the gravity of the situation.

Away from the installation woes, the game has a mix of accolades and critiques. While the storyline offers an average of 15 hours of gameplay for the main story missions and 40 hours for a comprehensive playthrough when including side missions and collectables, some feel the gameplay duration doesn't justify its price point. Especially when compared to games like Baldur's Gate 3, which offers significantly more hours of gameplay. Nonetheless, the game continues to receive praise from critics, solidifying its position as one of Insomniac's highest-rated games to date.

While Marvel's Spider-Man 2 promises a rich gameplay experience, the current installation issues with physical discs is a serious problem. It might not be enough to overshadow its launch, especially with Sony throwing money behind its marketing but it could leave a sour taste and leave fans feeling disappointed.

Interestingly enough, the issues with Marvel's Spider-Man 2's physical launch comes just as the larger gaming industry undergoes a massive digital shift. Many games, including Baldur's Gate 3, this year's GOTY frontrunner, and Alan Wake 2, have decided to skip physical releases to cut costs and, likely, to prevent similar problems.

Marvel's Spider-Man 2 is currently available on the PlayStation 5. Given its ending and a small part of the game where a certain Symbiote becomes playable, Marvel's Spider-Man 2 is likely to get a full-on sequel and at least one standalone spin-off.