The eagerly awaited Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 game might be swinging into PlayStation consoles this October, but ahead of its release, fans are left slack-jawed as scalpers snap up the game’s limited-edition accessories within minutes of launching, reselling them for jaw-dropping prices.
PlayStation Studios and Insomniac Games, wanting to pump up the excitement even more, recently unveiled the Spider-Man 2 Limited Edition Bundle. This tantalizing package included a custom PS5 console cover design, a matching DualSense wireless controller, and not to forget, those Spidey-themed cover plates which have become the talk of the town. The PS5 console bundle and the Spider-Man-themed DualSense controller have fans ready to pounce, but it’s those PS5 faceplates that are causing quite the stir in the resale market.
Originally, the Spider-Man 2 PS5 Console Covers retailed for $64.99. But, scalpers now list the same plates for $200 if not more. What’s worse is that people are buying them at these prices.
It’s not just the console covers. The Spider-Man 2 DualSense controller, retailing for $79.99, is now selling for over $160 on eBay. But hold onto your web-shooters, the most shocking resale is for the Spider-Man 2 Limited Edition PS5 console. Initially, it was resold for $599.99. Now, listing prices have swung up to over $1,000.
Curiously enough, Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 Collector’s Edition didn’t suffer a similar fate, although we couldn’t say the same for the Final Fantasy 16 Collector’s Edition.
This scalping spree is reminiscent of the early days of the PS5’s life cycle when scalpers wreaked havoc, capitalizing on the console’s stock shortages and selling them at massive profits. Thankfully, as of earlier this year, Sony announced the end of the PS5 shortage – in fact, Sony has sold a whopping 40 million units of the PS5 worldwide.
Given the products’ limited-edition label, once they’re sold out, chances of restocks, especially on PlayStation Direct, aren’t high. This exclusivity and the die-hard love for Spider-Man has perhaps driven the market into this frenzied state.
While the resale of these Spider-Man 2-themed items is sure to benefit some lucky scalpers, it has, undoubtedly, left a sour taste in the mouths of true Marvel fans. As with any limited edition offering, the demand was expected to be high, but it’s a lot clearer now that a more robust strategy is needed to ensure that the right people – the fans – are able to enjoy these products without paying inflated prices.
Marvel’s Spider-Man 2, featuring a tug-of-war between Peter Parker and Miles Morales against the lethal symbiote and its host, Venom, releases on October 20 exclusively for PS5. The special accessory items and the console are set to release a month earlier, on September 1. However, without any indication of restocking from Sony, the only certainty, for now, is the scramble to get these coveted items amidst the scalpers’ invasion.
This is a kick to the gut to those who couldn’t get their hands on the limited-edition bundle after Sony confirmed delays to Kraven the Hunter and Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse. Thankfully, Venom 3, is releasing much earlier than expected.
As we await the Spider-Man 2 release, fans are struggling against the scalpers for their share of the Spidey universe.
