Spider-Man 2 (PS5) Ending Explained: Peter Parker’s Retirement

Through several games, Insomniac has built a universe where Peter Parker and Miles Morales share the Spider-Man title. Peter is the more experienced one, having donned the Spider-Man suit for about seven years by the time of the original Marvel’s Spider-Man.

Miles, on the other hand, started his journey as a novice in the first game and grew into his own in the Spider-Man: Miles Morales spinoff. In Spider-Man 2, both heroes play key roles, allowing players to seamlessly switch between them.

This approach mirrors more of Marvel’s current Spider-Man comics than it does the animated Spider-Verse films. In the movies, Miles assumes the mantle after the death of his universe’s Peter Parker.

While the Ultimate Spider-Man comics featured a similar situation, Miles has since become part of the main Marvel Universe, where he now teams up with the classic Peter Parker. However, Spider-Man 2 seems to indicate a change in the Insomniac universe.

By the end of the game, Peter decides to retire, handing the Spider-Man mantle fully over to Miles. Peter steps away from his role as a vigilante to focus on his charitable efforts through The Emily-May Foundation.

It’s an important moment for Peter, who’s coming to realize that there are many ways to fulfill his responsibility besides swinging through New York City in a suit. This move is equally monumental for Miles, who transitions from being the younger sidekick to becoming New York’s sole Spider-Man.

This ending sets the stage for a follow-up to Spider-Man: Miles Morales, with Peter’s retirement providing the foundation for Miles’ solo adventure. As for a possible Spider-Man 3, it’s safe to say some new crisis will eventually force Peter to come out of retirement and put on his suit again.

The game hints at what might bring him back.

Green Goblin’s Potential in the Insomniac Universe

The Insomniac Spider-Man universe is unique in that it hasn’t yet introduced the Green Goblin, widely considered Spider-Man’s greatest foe. Norman Osborn plays a pivotal role, but he hasn’t yet transformed into the iconic villain.

In this universe, Norman is portrayed in a more sympathetic light as the mayor of New York, struggling with personal loss and his son’s illness. As for Harry Osborn, he hasn’t become the Green Goblin either.

Instead, in Spider-Man 2, Harry bonds with the Venom symbiote, echoing events from the Ultimate Spider-Man animated series. It’s only after the game that the possibility of the Green Goblin makes its way into the storyline.

As the game concludes, Harry is in a dire state, prompting Norman to order the activation of the “G-Serum.” This substance seems to be the Insomniac universe’s version of the Oz formula—an experimental compound that boosts strength but also mentally distorts the user.

With the G-Serum now introduced, the Green Goblin is likely to make an appearance in Spider-Man 3. The main question now is whether Norman or Harry will become the Green Goblin. Both characters have taken up the mantle in various versions of the Spider-Man story, including the comics and Sam Raimi’s film trilogy.

Perhaps Norman will inject Harry with the G-Serum, turning him into an even greater monster than Venom. Alternatively, Norman might test the serum on himself, unleashing his repressed anger.

Either way, it seems Insomniac is reserving Green Goblin for Spider-Man 3, where the villain may not be the only major threat, as Spider-Man 2 suggests.

Doctor Octopus’ Final Chapter

Spider-Man 2 presents a surprising mid-credits cameo by Otto Octavius, now incarcerated at the Raft after his defeat in the first Spider-Man game. Norman Osborn visits Otto, hoping he’ll reveal the identities of the two Spider-Men. Otto, however, refuses, relishing in the misery of his foe.

In this scene, Otto is seen writing in a journal, which could involve his master plan for vengeance. He refers to this as “the final chapter.” This “final chapter” could be a nod to two major storylines from the comics.

The first is The Amazing Spider-Man #33 from 1965, which features one of Spider-Man’s most iconic moments, where Peter must summon all his strength to free himself from tons of rubble. The second storyline, Spider-Man: The Final Chapter from 1998, involves Spider-Man clashing with the Green Goblin.

In this story, Norman Osborn initiates the Gathering of Five ritual, which grants him immense power, and Aunt May, believed to be dead, is revealed to be alive.

Neither of these stories directly connects to Doctor Octopus, so Insomniac might be using the title to evoke the Spider-Man franchise’s deep importance while forging its path. While Otto’s return could mean a plot inspired by The Amazing Spider-Man #33, it’s also possible the game is alluding to The Superior Spider-Man storyline.

In this arc, a dying Doctor Octopus transfers his mind into Peter Parker’s body, leading to a conflict where Peter fights to reclaim his life. Given Insomniac’s inclination to draw from Superior Spider-Man, Spider-Man 3 may have Miles battling a corrupted Peter for control of the city.

Let There Be Carnage

One of Spider-Man 2’s side quests pits the heroes against a terrorist known as The Flame. This storyline ends with Peter and The Wraith trying to stop The Flame from derailing an Oscorp train containing a sample of the Venom symbiote.

The identity of The Flame is later revealed—he’s Cletus Kasady, and he wants to use the symbiote to unleash chaos. This marks the beginning of Carnage’s origin story, a villain who is even more vicious and deadly than Venom.

This departure from Carnage’s usual backstory is remarkable. In many Spider-Man tales, Cletus is a cellmate of Eddie Brock, Venom’s host, and bonds with an offshoot of the symbiote. However, by altering Venom’s origin story, Insomniac has reworked Carnage’s introduction.

This reveals that Insomniac is setting up future Spider-Man content. The question remains whether Carnage will take center stage in a DLC or if he’ll be a key antagonist in a future sequel.

The Chameleon Comes Out of Hiding

In another side quest, Spider-Man tracks down Dmitri Smerdyakov, also known as the Chameleon. Through a series of pre-recorded messages, Spider-Man learns of the tense relationship between Chameleon and his half-brother, Kraven. The quest culminates in Spider-Man escaping a trap set for Kraven.

The mission ends with Chameleon, disguised, watching Spidey leave, vowing to do what Kraven couldn’t—kill Spider-Man. It seems likely that Chameleon will play a larger role in future Spider-Man content. A DLC campaign may focus on this villain, as he doesn’t seem to have enough of a presence to anchor his own game.

The Spider-Verse Cameos

While the Insomniac universe already features two Spider-Men, Spider-Man 2 hints at the introduction of even more. The game includes two key cameos that suggest Spider-Verse characters may be making an appearance.

First, there’s the Spider-Bot quest line, which culminates in Spider-Man meeting Delilah, a futuristic bartender. Delilah mentions Miguel O’Hara, aka Spider-Man 2099, and implies time travel might be involved in the next game.

It’s been pointed out that Delilah is a character cut from Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, adding weight to the idea of her appearing in Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse.

Second, there’s a post-credits scene where Miles and his mother host a dinner, and it’s revealed that the daughter of their guest is Cindy Moon, a character who becomes the hero Silk in the comics. This could set the stage for Spider-Man: Miles Morales 2, where Cindy gains her powers and learns from Miles.

This tease suggests that the next Spider-Man game might feature three playable Spider-People, creating the potential for even more web-slinging action. That’s a wrap on what Spider-Man 2 has in store for its fans. What are you most excited about for the next game? Let us know in the comments.

In our review, we noted: “Spider-Man 2 is a great follow-up in a fantastic series, with Insomniac refining its formula of combat and web-swinging. While it doesn’t radically change either, it improves them enough to make the gameplay fun.

However, the game’s open world of New York City, though larger, still feels repetitive with a lot of side activities.”