Marvel’s Spider-Man’s First Multiplayer Mod is a Glimpse into a Lost Spider-Verse

For years, fans have dreamt of swinging through the streets of New York with their friends in a Marvel’s Spider-Man game. That dream has now become a reality, thanks to a dedicated modding community. A functional multiplayer mod for the PC version of Marvel’s Spider-Man Remastered has been released, allowing players to team up with up to 16 other web-slingers in real-time. This fan-made creation is arguably the closest players will ever get to experiencing what Insomniac Games’ canceled live-service project, ‘The Great Web,’ might have been like.

The mod, which has been in development since late 2024, is currently in a paid beta phase on Patreon, with a full public release expected at a later date. Despite its early stage, the mod has already showcased impressive capabilities, allowing players to navigate the open world together, engage in combat, and even run certain story missions with their friends. While the experience can be “janky” at times, particularly in scripted sequences, the mod has successfully captured the core fantasy of a co-op Spider-Man game.

The Great Web: A Canceled Dream

The existence of a multiplayer Spider-Man game from Insomniac was first revealed through a massive data breach in late 2023. Known as “The Great Web,” the project was a live-service, co-op experience that would have let players create their own Spider-Person and team up with other heroes to fight crime. Leaked trailers and concept art showed players fighting alongside various Spider-Verse characters, including Spider-Gwen, Spider-Man 2099, and Scarlet Spider, against iconic villains like the Sinister Six.

• Why It Was Canceled: ‘The Great Web’ was reportedly a casualty of a wider corporate shift at Sony, which saw the publisher pivot away from its ambitious live-service plans. The company has since refocused on its core strength of single-player, narrative-driven experiences, leading to the cancellation of multiple projects, including this one and a multiplayer title from Naughty Dog.
• A Lost Opportunity: The cancellation of ‘The Great Web’ was a significant disappointment for fans who were excited by the prospect of a multiplayer Spider-Man game. The mod, while unofficial, offers a proof of concept for why such a game would have been so compelling. It provides a taste of the shared-world experience that the community has long desired.

The mod’s creators have managed to replicate key features of a multiplayer experience, including the ability to see and interact with other players in the game world, engage in web-swinging races, and even synchronize combat against enemies. This level of functionality is a testament to the talent and dedication of the modding community, who have often succeeded in adding features to games that developers, for various reasons, could not or chose not to. The ability to use custom suits and mods with friends, as long as everyone has the same files, also adds a layer of personalization that enhances the co-op experience.

Future of Spider-Man PC Modding and Official Development

While the multiplayer mod is a huge win for the PC gaming community, it also raises questions about the future of official Spider-Man titles. With the PC port of Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 reportedly on the horizon, it’s possible that this mod could inspire similar creations for the sequel. The enduring popularity of the series and the desire for a multiplayer component suggest that a future official co-op or live-service Spider-Man game, while not currently on Insomniac’s roadmap, remains a high-demand concept.

This mod serves as a powerful reminder of the passion and creativity of the player base. It’s a clear signal to developers and publishers that there is a significant market for games that allow players to share their superhero fantasies with friends. For now, PC players can get the closest thing to ‘The Great Web’ and experience the thrill of web-swinging through a bustling New York City with a squad of fellow Spider-People, a feat that, until recently, seemed like a pipe dream.