Insomniac Games is currently developing Marvel’s Wolverine, which was first announced during the PlayStation Showcase in 2021. Since its initial reveal, updates regarding the game and its expected release have been scarce. However, a significant change in the studio’s leadership has brought forth a new creative director and game director for the project. Brian Horton, who was named creative director for Wolverine back in 2021, has reportedly departed to take on a similar role in Xbox’s Perfect Dark reboot.
Shift in Leadership for Wolverine
According to a report from Game File, Horton has been absent from the Wolverine project since this summer, as confirmed by two sources familiar with the matter. Marcus Smith has now stepped in as the game’s new creative director, a change verified by a representative from Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE).
In addition to Horton’s departure, the game director role has been filled by Mike Daly, who takes over from Cameron Christian. The sources indicated that Christian will continue at Insomniac Games in a different capacity. While the reasons for these leadership transitions were not detailed, they reportedly relate to creative decisions surrounding the game’s development.
Both Smith and Daly previously held creative director and game director positions, respectively, on Insomniac Games’ Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart, which launched on PS5 in 2021.
New Role for Horton at Perfect Dark
Following his exit from Insomniac, Horton has been named the creative director for Xbox’s Perfect Dark. This project is concurrently in development at Microsoft-backed The Initiative and Crystal Dynamics, a studio owned by Embracer Group. Perfect Dark was first announced at The Game Awards 2020 and showcased its initial gameplay trailer earlier this year at the Xbox Games Showcase in June. Prior to his work on Wolverine, Horton served as the creative director for Insomniac’s Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales.
Marvel’s Wolverine was unveiled alongside Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 during the PlayStation Showcase in 2021. The game is anticipated to take place in Earth-1048, which is the same universe as the other Spider-Man titles developed by Insomniac.
In December 2023, leaked materials including gameplay footage, storyboards, concept art, and plot details surfaced online, following a severe ransomware attack on Insomniac. This breach also exposed private information belonging to several employees. Among the leaked contents was a version of Wolverine that featured a main menu and chapter select screen labeled ‘Vertical Slice’.
