Spider-Man developer Insomniac hiring for new open world PS5 game

The studio behind Spider-Man 2 and Ratchet & Clank is hiring for a new game, but could it be connected to X-Men?

Insomniac has become Sony’s most prolific developer this generation, knocking out three big budget games for the PlayStation 5 with Spider-Man: Miles Morales, Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart, and last year’s Spider-Man 2.

The studio’s success hit an unfortunate note last year, however, when it was targeted by a hacker, who leaked huge swathes of internal files including the studio’s supposed release slate up until 2031.

While plans often change during the course of game development, a new job listing at Insomniac has sparked speculation over what the studio is currently working on, as fans try and connect the dots to the prior leaks.

What is Insomniac working on next for PS5?

Insomniac is currently hiring for 10 jobs at the studio, but the listing for Senior Gameplay Animator is the one which has caught the most attention.

Under the essential duties section of the job post, the studio lists gameplay responsibilities as including ‘hero traversal, combat, boss, mission, and open world animations at the highest level using advanced skills in game engine tools’.

The key part is the ‘open world’ mention, which possibly suggests it’s connected to a new Spider-Man entry. According to the leak, Insomniac is planning a Venom spin-off sequel for next year, followed by the previously announced Wolverine in 2026, and Spider-Man 3 for autumn 2028.

Using the word ‘hero’ doesn’t necessarily mean superhero, as it’s a term widely used in development to refer to a playable character.

While no gameplay details have been confirmed about Wolverine, leaked footage suggests that game will be more linear. As such, it’s likely this job posting is either connected to the Venom spin-off or to Spider-Man 3, but if the former is scheduled for next year, hiring for an animator at this stage feels somewhat late.

Spider-Man 3 might be the likely choice then, but it could be connected to something further afield. In the leak, Insomniac was also said to be planning a new Ratchet & Clank for 2029, an X-Men game for 2030, and an unspecified new IP in 2031 or 2032 – so there’s plenty of possibilities.

As for when we could hear about Insomniac’s next project, a Sony State Of Play presentation is rumoured for this month, ahead of the Tokyo Game Show. If not then there’s a chance some kind of update will pop up at The Game Awards in December.