Insomniac Games released Wolverine exclusively on PlayStation 5 this September. The release arrives during a period of corporate turbulence for Sony. Review scores remain divided across gaming outlets. Meanwhile, the publisher faces ongoing industry fallout. Sony recently saw a major partner project depart to a rival platform, while navigating broader software troubles and an upcoming shift away from physical media.
Critical Reception for Insomniac's Wolverine
Reviews for Wolverine show clear division across the industry. GamesRadar awarded the game a score of 3/5. IGN assigned the title a 6/10. More favorable assessments came from Shacknews with an 8/10 rating. DualShockers gave the project an 8.5/10. GameInformer also scored it an 8.5/10.
Individual reviewers focused on distinct elements of the game. Donovan Erskine, Reviewer, wrote that the title "does an excellent job adapting the iconic mutant". Christian Bognar, Reviewer, called the release "a success". Christian Bognar, Reviewer, also highlighted the narrative as a "deeply personal story that explores what it means to live with trauma, loss, and regret."
Simon Cardy, Reviewer, praised the performance of the lead character: "Liam McIntyre’s performance grants Logan a personality to match his trademark blades – a sharp, surprising hidden depth, housed in a bulky, blunt instrument of a body. He delicately balances the shadows of his past with the future of mutantkind, all while managing his Jekyll and Hyde nature, as animal instincts sometimes break through the compassion he strives to show."
Other critics pointed to structural flaws in the game design. Leon Hurley, Reviewer, praised specific environments: "It's lively, layered, and just a fun place to be." However, Leon Hurley, Reviewer, also noted that "the rest of the game feels thin, and largely consists of boxy corridors that top and tail Tokyo with shallow combat luges broken up by cutscene checkpoints and little else."
Kojima Shifts Physint to Xbox
Beyond the mixed arrival of Wolverine, Sony lost a high-profile game from Hideo Kojima. The creator shifted publishers for his upcoming title Physint from PlayStation to Xbox. The project had originally been planned under Sony's umbrella.
According to Bloomberg, Sony dropped Physint after the production missed internal deadlines. Bloomberg reported that budget concerns also contributed to the decision. Financial returns on earlier partnerships added to the tension. According to Bloomberg, Sony saw lower-than-hoped revenues from Death Stranding and Death Stranding 2. Sony also raised issues over exclusivity. According to Bloomberg, the game was not slated to remain a permanent PlayStation exclusive.
The change in publisher alters the trajectory of the game. Xbox will now handle publishing duties for Physint. This transition increases the likelihood of a future PC port for the title.
Live Services and Physical Discs
The loss of Physint comes alongside wider live service struggles across Sony's portfolio. The publisher continues to manage internal fallout from these multiplayer initiatives. At the same time, Sony is preparing for fundamental changes to its distribution model.
Sony plans to end physical disc production in 2028. That shift will move the entire PlayStation ecosystem toward all-digital delivery. PlayStation 5 owners can purchase Wolverine today, but the release lands amid a changing business strategy for the console maker.
