Summary
Over the last couple of years,Insomniac Gameshas gained a reputation for being Sony’s “superhero” studio. Ever since the company launched the critically acclaimedMarvel’s Spider-Manin 2018, it’s been focusing primarily on adapting Marvel franchises to the video game medium. In 2020, for instance, the company released theSpider-Man(2018) spin-off,Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales,as a launch title for the PlayStation 5. Only three years later,Insomniac GamesreleasedMarvel’s Spider-Man 2on the PS5 in 2023. On top of all this, the studio has been working onMarvel’s Wolverine, which will be the first standalone video game starring the titular superhero since 2009’sX-Men Origins: Wolverine.
So far, Insomniac’s superhero games have been some of the company’s most successful titles ever, with total sales for theSpider-Mantrilogy exceeding over 50 million units, as of February 2024. Given that none of the company’s other franchises have ever achieved this impressive sales record, it’s no wonder that Insomniac and Sony have decided to prioritize the development of Marvel games. However, in the wake of these titles' success, Insomniac shouldn’t forget to give its original properties some love as well, especially theRatchet and Clankseries. After all, with the near-universalacclaim thatRatchet and Clank: Rift Apartreceivedwhen it came out in 2021, it would be unfortunate if Insomniac didn’t make another installment in the long-running franchise.
Insomniac Shouldn’t Forget to Give the Ratchet and Clank Franchise Some Love
Ratchet and Clank is a Big Part of PlayStation History
With the exception of the PS1,theRatchet and Clankfranchisehas had a major presence on nearly every Sony console since 2002. The series of 3D platformers has not only been Insomniac’s largest property in terms of the number of games it’s spanned, but it’s also been a flagship brand for PlayStation for over 20 years. In fact, out of all the beloved mascot platforming franchises Sony had in the early 2000s, such as Naughty Dog’sJak and Daxterand Sucker Punch’sSly Cooper,Ratchet and Clankis the only one from that era that is still receiving new installments to this day.
That being said, theRatchet and Clankproperty hasn’t been nearly as active as it once was. During the PS2 and PS3 generations, new installments in the series were released on a near-annual basis. In fact, in some years, like 2007 and 2008, the franchise received two new games instead of just one in the span of 12 months. However, things started to come to a halt in the PS4 era, as Insomniac started to shift its attention towards other games likeSunset OverdriveandMarvel’s Spider-Man, in addition to smaller-scale releases such asSong of the DeepandEdge of Nowhere. As a result, the eighth generation of consoles only saw one new entry in the franchise, which wasthe 2016Ratchet and Clankremake.
A New Ratchet and Clank Game May Not Release Anytime Soon
SinceRatchet and Clank: Rift Apartis the only title in the series to release on the PS5 so far, it seems like this trend will sadly continue into the current console generation. The leaked documents fromthe December 2023 Insomniac hackall but confirm this as, according to them, there won’t be a new installment in the franchise until 2029 at the earliest. At that point, the nextRatchet and Clanktitle will probably be a PS6 exclusive. Given how turbulent game development is, however, it’s possible it could be pushed back even further.
Insomniac Should Try to Get the Next Ratchet and Clank Game Out Sooner If It Can
According to the aforementioned hack,Insomniac has a multitude of new games in development, almost all of which are Marvel titles. In addition toMarvel’s WolverineandSpider-Man 3, the company is reportedly planning to release aVenomgame, anX-Mentitle, and a new IP over the next 10–15 years. Given how stacked its roadmap apparently is, it seems like the company won’t release a newRatchet and Clankgame anytime soon. However, plans can always change, so if Insomniac is ever able to make more room in its busy schedule, it should use that time to develop a new entry in its beloved 3D platformer series sooner rather than later.
Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart
WHERE TO PLAY
The intergalactic adventurers are back with a bang in Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart!Go dimension-hopping with Ratchet and Clank as they venture onto a PC near you for the very first time. Help them take on an evil emperor from another reality as you jump between action-packed worlds and beyond.With their own universe next in the firing line, dust off the dynamic pair’s outrageous weaponry and stop a dimensional collapse in its tracks!Unite the double team supreme with a cast of familiar allies and new faces, including newcomer Rivet. She’s a Lombax resistance fighter from another dimension, who is just as determined to take out the robotic scourge.
