Everything you need to know about Spider-Man: Miles Morales

Marvel’s Spider-Man reminded gamers that Batman isn't the only superhero that can carry a video game franchise. The next generation of PlayStation will launch with another testament to Spider-Man's viability in gaming as Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales debuts with the console. But what is Spider-Man: Miles Morales? Is it a sequel? DLC? Spider-Man: Miles Morales doesn't make it easy to parse where it stands with the previous Spider-Man PS4 game.

This follow-up to critically acclaimed Marvel's Spider-Man will be Insomniac's first major undertaking since being acquired by SIE back in February 2020. Currently, it is the PS5's biggest launch title and is clearly meant to entice gamers who can't wait to start web-swinging and parkouring through New York City with the next-gen graphics and vastly improved load times.

Here's everything we know about the PS5 launch title from its appearance at both major PS5 game presentations and its Game Informer cover story.

When is the Spider-Man: Miles Morales release date?

Spider-Man: Miles Morales will launch with the PS5 on November 12, 2020. This will be just over 2 years and two months after the release of Insomniac's first Spider-Man game.

How much will Spider-Man: Miles Morales cost?

Despite ongoing conversations about a next-gen price increase, Spider-Man: Miles Morales will only cost $49.99. PS4 players can also upgrade to PS5 with no additional charge. That said, an Ultimate Edition that also includes Marvel's Spider-Man: Remastered on PS5 will be available for $69.99, which is the standard price for PS5 games.

Is there a trailer for Spider-Man: Miles Morales?

Yes! Multiple trailers have been released for this game. The one below is an extended gameplay demo from September's PS5 showcase.

In the seven-minute gameplay demo, we get a closer look at the wintertime setting. It also confirms that Miles' close friend Ganke Lee will make an appearance in-game. He remains Miles' confidant, seeming to even know Miles' secret identity.

If you're a fan of the MCU, Ganke is the main inspiration for Peter Parker's pal, Ned Leeds. There's a Spider-Man character named Ned Leeds in the source material, but the MCU's Ned apes aspects of Ganke moreso than Ned.

We also get a look at combat. It seems the HUD has shifted a bit, changing to be more specific to Miles. There's now a gauge for camouflage, limiting how long Miles can turn invisible Continuing in that fashion, the music has changed from the orchestral tracks found in Marvel's Spider-Man to hip-hop bops.

Is Spider-Man: Miles Morales a sequel to Marvel’s Spider-Man?

Following the announcement of Spider-Man: Miles Morales, there was a lot of confusion about the actual scale and scope of the game. Is it a direct sequel or an expansion of Marvel’s Spider-Man?

All of this uncertainty stemmed from a statement by SIE Europe head Simon Rutter, who told the U.K.’s Daily Telegraph, “I guess you could call it an expansion and an enhancement to the previous game.”

Hours later, Bloomberg’s Jason Schreier reported that Spider-Man: Miles Morales was actually a “brand-new, standalone game” and compared to the scope of Naughty Dog’s Uncharted: Lost Legacy.

These two contradictory statements have made the future of Spider-Man: Miles Morales a bit foggy. Not to worry, Spider-Man: Miles Morales will be a full game. In an Entertainment Weekly interview, the game's creative director Brian Horton said "We really are completing this hero's coming of age in our game. It is a complete story."

This is the completion of Miles' arc to becoming a hero. This is Miles' story and needs to be told. The $70 version of the game does come with a Marvel's Spider-Man remaster though, so the Ultimate Edition of Miles Morales will serve as both a remaster and follow-up

Will Spider-Man: Miles Morales be released for the PS4?

Although Spider-Man: Miles Morales is a next-gen game and designed for next-gen, it will release on PS4 and PS5 simultaneously. This is also the case with PS5 launch titles Sackboy: A Big Adventure and Bugsnax.

Will Spider-Man: Miles Morales be transferable from PS4 to PS5?

If you can't purchase the PS5 at launch, but don't want to waste your money, don't worry! Any purchase of Spider-Man: Miles Morales on PS4 will also secure you a free copy of the game on PS5.

What is the Spider-Man: Miles Morales story?

The exact plot of Spider-Man: Miles Morales remains a mystery, but Insomniac has revealed a few story details to set the scene.

Spider-Man: Miles Morales will take place a year after the original game and it will open up during the wintertime. Game Informer's cover story also sheds more light on the early portions of the game. Peter Parker and Miles Morales are still dealing with the fallout of the first game, and oversee the transport of Rhino to a more secure prison.

Miles Morales messes up when trying to stabilize Rhino's containment unit, which is being carried by a helicopter, and Rhino frees himself. This starts the game's first boss fight, which destroys a Roxxon Corporation factory. After this, Peter tells Miles he is leaving New York, and Miles has to start taking responsibility as New York's only Spider-Man.

At the same time, a war has also begun between the Roxxon corporation and a criminal enterprise called the Underground. You might know the Roxxon Corporation from the MCU as primarily a namedrop. They're mentioned in multiple Netflix MCU shows either as a part of a hero's origin such as being the company that gave Daredevil his abilities.

The Underground is an unknown quantity, but their leader, the Tinkerer is a big-time Spider-Man villain. In the comics, Tinkerer is a genius inventor who bolsters the arsenals of nearly every villain in the web-slinger's rogue's gallery. He's worked with marquee villains like Mysterio, Vulture, and Black Cat. Tinkerer's inventions are second to none.

Their appearance in Miles Morales seems to come with some changes. Namely, the Tinkerer seems to be a female character now and much younger. That being said, the character we see in the trailer is wearing a mask. Game Informer's cover story suggested that a young woman is behind the mask.

Given the time skip Miles is 16 years old since he’s 15 in the original game. Miles' mother, Rio, has seemingly begun to make political leaps. As seen in the latest trailer, Rio is seen campaigning for a position in the city council. This will also certainly play into the game's main conflict as Miles balances being a superhero and son of a politician.

Is Peter dead in Spider-Man: Miles Morales?

No. According to a Playstation Blog post, Peter is alive and kicking."Many of you fans have wondered if Peter Parker is OK. Don’t worry, we still have much of Peter’s story left to tell," says Horton.

That said, Peter Parker is stepping down as New York City’s friendly neighborhood Spider-Man. The opening scene of the trailer features Miles remembering a pep talk that he and Peter once had while he’s in the middle of a battle. “A hero is just someone who doesn’t give up,” the ghostly voice of Peter says. “Your dad said that. He was right. Now it’s your turn. Go be a hero Miles.”

Game Informer's cover story confirms that Peter will eventually exit the game's story. He's visiting Symkaria with Mary Jane, who is covering the ongoing election there. This move was teased in the first game's The City that Never Sleeps DLC and could be setting up the story for Marvel's Spider-Man 2. It appears Miles Morales will be able Miles handling the growing feud between the Underground and Roxxon as they start to fight right when Peter is leaving.

What powers will Miles have in Spider-Man: Miles Morales?

Besides the classic superhuman agility, unmatched senses, the ability to climb walls, and web-shooting powers that come with being bitten by a radioactive spider, Miles has a few other tricks up his sleeve.

We saw in the above demo that Miles will be granted his Venom Strike ability, letting him use some form of electricity in combat. Miles also has access to his invisibility. This will allow him to briefly disappear during combat with the time shrouded being limited by a gauge found on the upper right.

Who is Spider-Cat?

And now we have the feature that makes the PS5 worth it. Like Marvel's Spider-Man, Miles Morales will feature a plethora of unlockable costumes, one of these is Spider-Cat. According to Game Informer, this costume is obtained after Miles saves a cat named Spider-Man who some robbers stole from a store in Harlem. Afterward, players can dress up in a costume where Miles wears a sweatshirt, mask, a backpack with Spider-Man the cat with it.

The cat has special animations as Miles swings around the city, and will even come out of the backpack and help Miles fight enemies by clawing them. If you're a fan of cats, its inclusion must justify the $500 PS5 purchase more than anything else in the game. Check it out in the video above.

Spider-Man: Miles Morales will be released in late 2020 with the launch of PS5.