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In a shocking revelation following the Insomniac data breach, it has come to light that Sony and Marvel have inked a monumental deal that ensures exclusive X-Men games will be a PlayStation and PC exclusive until the close of 2035.
Leaked slides from the breach meticulously outline the terms of the X-Men license agreement, emphasizing a strict exclusivity clause. Until December 31, 2035, Marvel is prohibited from releasing or announcing any X-Men games on console, PC, or streaming platforms. Notably, utilizing an X-Men character as a "competitive advantage" in a game, as exemplified by playing as Wolverine exclusively on Xbox in Ultimate Alliance, is strictly forbidden.
While X-Men characters are allowed in multi-family Marvel games, the agreement makes it clear that Sony holds the reins when it comes to standalone X-Men titles for the next 12 years. Exceptions include Marvel retaining rights to children's games and select X-Men titles from the '90s.
The leaked documents further unveil the financial intricacies of the deal, including development and marketing budgets for each X-Men game, Marvel's royalty structure based on sales nature (physical, digital, bundle), and termination terms. Unsurprisingly, the designated platforms for these exclusive games are PlayStation and PC.
According to one of the slides, Marvel's Wolverine is slated for a 2026 release, with the first X-Men game hitting the scene in 2030. A potentially outdated extended roadmap hints at a third X-Men game in 2033, suggesting that the Wolverine game is the inaugural entry in Insomniac's X-Men lineup. There are also mentions of Wolverine Online (2026) and X-Men Online (2028), with a tentative fourth X-Men game in the pipeline.
This exclusivity deal adds to the growing trend of video game developers securing licenses for Marvel IPs. Electronic Arts, for instance, recently announced a long-term deal with Marvel to produce action-adventure games, including an Iron Man game. Meanwhile, Skydance Media is crafting a Marvel World War 2 narrative-driven adventure, and Arkane Lyon is working on Marvel's Blade, as revealed at The Game Awards 2023.
As the gaming industry continues to invest in Marvel's rich universe, Sony's strategic move aligns with Marvel's broader plans for the X-Men in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. With Deadpool 3 on the horizon, featuring mutants Deadpool and Wolverine, 2024 promises to be a pivotal year for Disney's MCU.
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