Earlier this week, a handful of very lucky reporters and influencers were able to get hands-on with Spider-Man 2, and everything we've seen so far from them suggests this sequel is going to be nothing short of astonishing.
We were hoping for a new trailer, but Insomniac Games has instead shared a gallery of amazing screenshots focusing on the two Spider-Men, Peter Parker's sinister new alien costume, and the monstrous Lizard.
Venom was kept under wraps during these previews but in an interview with IGN, Doug Sheen, the Senior Programming Director at Insomniac, shed new light on the decision to put the spotlight on that formidable baddie in this follow-up to Spider-Man and Spider-Man: Miles Morales.
"I don't want to get too much into where we end up going with Venom for the most part, but I will say that it was really important for us to tell the right story for how the symbiote impacts Peter's life," he explains. "And when we look at what that is, we obviously show early or at the end of the first game and hear that there's some connection with the symbiote and Harry and how they're trying to heal his sickness."
"And so what we really wanted to focus on was making sure that it felt like how the symbiote was interacting with Peter and what that took him on and the journey that he had to go through, and how that symbiote brings something out in him that maybe he hadn't exposed or hadn't really thought about much."
"And so for us, what we let that drive our choices, and part of Eddie Brock is a fantastic character and everything," Sheen added, "but for us it was really about figuring out how the symbiote and Peter interacted and how that impacted his life, and making sure to keep focused on that element."
Honestly, this feels like all the confirmation we need that it's going to be Harry Osborn in the suit instead of Eddie. That's a bold reimagining, sure, but it's one we're excited to see play out given Insomniac's stellar track record.
Check out those new Spider-Man 2 screenshots below.
"Spider-Men Peter Parker and Miles Morales face the ultimate test of strength inside and outside the mask as they fight to save the city, each other, and the ones they love," reads the game's synopsis, "from the monstrous Venom and the dangerous new symbiote threat."
"Explore an expansive Marvel's New York with faster web-swinging and the all-new Web Wings, quickly switching between Peter and Miles to experience different stories, epic new abilities and high-tech gear."
"Wield Peter's symbiote abilities and Miles' explosive bio-electric powers in battle against new and iconic Marvel Super Villains," it continues, "including an original take on a symbiote-infused Venom, the ruthless Kraven the Hunter, the volatile Lizard, and more from the Marvel Rogues' Gallery."
Spider-Man 2 swings into stores on October 20.