In the space of around 16 months, Insomniac Games has not only impressively announced 4 separate games, it’s also managed to ship two of them to wide-spread critical and commercial success. With the most recent of the pair being its excellent dimension-hopping PS5 exclusive adventureRatchet and Clank: Rift Apart, it’s little surprise that many viewSony’s acquisition of the studio back in 2019as one of its most shrewd business decisions.
Having taken its iconic duo back to their original timeline and roots earlier this year, fans are now understandably eager to see where Insomniac Games' nextRatchet and Clankadventure goes. Between a packed confirmed schedule for the studio, and rumblings that Sony might have other similar projects in the pipeline, it’s starting to look like there’s going to be an extended amount of time before those wishes are granted.
RELATED:Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart and Other Game of the Year Contenders So Far
Insomniac’s Upcoming Schedule
What’s likely going to be the biggest speed-bump preventing a potential follow-up toRift Apartcoming out anytime soon is the simple fact that Insomniac Games' release schedule is still currently filled with blockbuster Marvel adventures.During September’s PlayStation Showcase, the studio once again took to the virtual stage for the second year running to announce two separate games,Marvel’s Spider-Man 2, and the unexpectedMarvel’s Wolverine. From a logistical standpoint, the collective scope of both titles will undoubtedly occupy a majority of its total development bandwidth and resources for a significant amount of time to come.
As it stands right now,Spider-Man 2is tentatively penciled in for a 2023 release, whileWolverine’s debut PS5 outingwas ominously announced with no date attached. Considering the team that shipped 2020’sMarvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Moralesis spearheading that particular adventure, it stands to reason that the game will launch after the one starring the wall-crawler. WithRatchet and Clank: Rift Aparthaving only hit store shelves in June, the next game from that specific group of developers is also likely still in the early stages of pre-production. Despite Insomniac employing over 400 developers across two locales, it’s a safe bet to assume then that even if aRatchet and Clank-themed project is in the works, its release date will be further down the metaphorical road than the titles already announced.
Insomniac’s Multiplayer Project
What could also end up contributing to the wait, is that after being an annualized franchise for lengthy stretches of its existence, Insomniac Games has seemingly decided to space out itsRatchet and Clankreleasesmore in recent times. During the twilight years of the PS3’s lifecycle, successive formula-redefining entries in the series resulted in a slight dip in overall quality and sales figures, before 2013’sInto the Nexussteadied the ship. This chain of events could partially explain why there was a 5 year gap between the PS4’s franchise soft-reboot, and the PS5’s eventual timeline-restoring antics. While there’s no doubt that the studio is one of Sony’s powerhouses, it would be understandable if all parties involved were still reluctant to risk bombarding fans with rapid releases.
Having endedRift Apartwhilst teasing answers to questions fans have been asking for over a decade, it’s not a bold claim to state that the series will continue at some point. What could be worth keeping in mind, though, is that while it seems likely there will be a gap before the next single-player installment, Insomniac might already be part way into developing a spin-off to tide fans over.
Through job listings, it appears that the studio is actively working on a third unannounced multiplayer centric title. ConsideringSpider-Man 2has been confirmed to be a single-player only adventure, andLogan appears to be keen on drinking alone, that does admittedly leave the door open for an unlikely multiplayerRatchet and Clankadventure. Technically, the franchise is no stranger to the concept either, with 2004’sUp Your Arsenalhaving featured a competitive mode, whileAll 4 Onewas famously built around a co-op focus.
Sony’s Other Returning Heroes
Over the last few months, rumors have consistently cropped up that suggest Sony is actively trying to get some form ofSly Cooperrevival off the ground for the PS5. Even though the reports naturally have to be prescribed with a dose of salt until something concrete is announced, the idea itself wouldn’t be all that surprising. With Sony as a wider entity now utilizing its PlayStation IPs more broadly, there’s a decent chance that PlayStation Productions will attempt to resurrect its animated Cooper Gang cartoon. If that scenario comes true, the release of aSlyreboot or 5th entry in the seriesto coincide with the show would make a world of sense.
Even though Sony’s iconic PS2 era mascots annually co-existed with each other back in the day, alongsideNaughty Dog’sJak and Daxtrer, the modern video game environment has changed dramatically since then. With PlayStation first party games being more expensive than ever around the globe, there’s a chance that Sony could theoretically be reluctant to release two fully-priced platforming titles in close proximity to each other. Which, if that turns out to be the case, could result inRatchet and Clankfans having to wait an uncomfortable amount of time for the duo’s next intergalactic adventure.
A newRatchet and Clankgame has not been announced to be in development.
