PS5 & Xbox Series X: 7 Bold Predictions For The Next Generation

3. Sony Continue Making Spider-Man A "PlayStation Character"

What we're seeing unfold with Spider-Man's Avengers exclusivity is a plan Sony have had since the PS3 days.

Though they'd redesign the PS3 and change its boot-up animation over time, that console launched with the exact same font as Sam Raimi's Spider-Man movies. Such is the reality of Sony's deal with Marvel where they get final say over how the character is used in cinema, and assumedly connecting everything to gaming was just the price tag for a font away.

Sony acquired this unique position back in 1998 when a struggling Marvel sold various portions of their IPs to stay afloat. They've since recouped all their major characters aside from Spider-Man, who Sony clung onto during the major MCU fallout of 2019 like that scene where Thanos snatches his Infinity Gauntlet back at the last second.

Since then it's been all systems go with Spider-Man-branded PlayStation everything. We had the exclusive game from 2018, Spidey is in all the new "PlayStation Studios" sizzle reels, spin-off Miles Morales is a PS5 launch game, and Sony have paid Square Enix a hefty sum to retain Spider-Man for their consoles.

2018's Spider-Man being the best-selling PS4 game so far in the US speaks volumes, and clearly Sony are willing to give money to whoever they need to, to keep the Web-Head on PlayStation.

Don't be surprised if going forward, Sony continue to step in.