Throughout the years, many different superhero video games have been released to varying degrees of success. During the early 2000s, most of them were little more than rushed movie tie-ins that failed to impress critics and audiences alike. However, there were rare instances when some titles climbed their way to the top and became cult-classics that we wish had a remake in the modern day. Ultimate Spider-Man (2005) is, by all means, among those hidden gems.
It's not an exaggeration to say Ultimate Spider-Man (2005) was very ambitious for its date. It featured two playable characters in the form of the friendly neighborhood hero and Venom (who was able to free roam the city), had a jaw-dropping art style that perfectly encapsulated the comic book series it was based on, and featured characters from the extended Marvel Universe, such as the Human Torch and Wolverine.
Ultimate Spider-Man (2005) instantly made its way to our hearts, which has made us all wondering why a sequel was never made. Now, not only do we know why such an anticipated game was cancelled, but we have also learned that yet another ambitious Marvel title was nearly developed, even if it was ultimately axed.
Treyarch considered developing an Ultimate Spider-Man 2 and a Marvel Secret Wars-like video game
Spider-Man News recently had the opportunity to interview former concept artist at Treyarch, Ian Hosfeld, and discuss his career and work on different video games. Hosfeld first started creating environmental textures for Sam Raimi's Spider-Man 2 tie-in video game, moved on to work on Ultimate Spider-Man (2005), and was part of a small group that was laying the groundwork for an Ultimate Spider-Man sequel.
Despite not getting past the early stages of development, we know a lot about what Ultimate Spider-Man 2 would have been like thanks to storyboards and concept art. Aside from Spidey, the game was set to feature another playable character in the form of an iconic villain, much like its predecessor. But instead of wreaking havoc in New York City as Venom, players would've stepped into the shoes of the Green Goblin (the Ultimate version, of course, who is a big green giant monster).
Ultimate Spider-Man 2's narrative would've explored the family dynamic between Norman Osborn and his son Harry Osborn, who would've turned into the Hobgoblin. The story would've concluded with Norman being shot by Nick Fury, but not before taking his own son's life after an explosive battle on top of the Helicarrier. The game's map would've been bigger with Coney Island and Brooklyn being explorable areas, and Spidey would've faced the Sinister Five. Unfortunately, Activision ultimately cancelled the project in early stages of development due to low (even if not completely disappointing) sales.
Hosfeld revealed that Ultimate Spider-Man (2005) performed "adequately", but Activision had higher expectations given the volume of sales generated by the Spider-Man movie tie-in games. After the sequel was officially scrapped, Treyarch considered developing a multiplayer Marvel game "along the lines of the original Secret Wars", which would've been an ambitious and massive undertaking. After all, the only other Marvel title that had an online multiplayer mode during that time was X-Men Legends II: Rise of Apocalypse, and it wasn't until 2011 that DC launched a proper MMO.
This "Secret Wars" video game never made it far into development, as it was during that time that Activision gained the rights to the James Bond franchise, and Treyarch was instead tasked with developing 007: Quantum of Solace. While it's disappointing to know that this multiplayer title and Ultimate Spider-Man 2 never saw the light of day, Marvel has seen a resurgence in the video game department lately.
2025 will still see the release of Deadpool VR and Marvel Cosmic Invasion. Furthermore, 2026 will be home to heavy hitters such as Marvel's Wolverine and Marvel 1943: Rise of Hydra. With that in mind, it wouldn't be surprising to learn if there are plans behind the scenes to develop a Secret Wars title, especially now that the movie adaptation is on its way. It never hurts to dream.