The Great Web: The Multiplayer Mode That Never Was
Via Marvel
This multiplayer mode, called Spider-Man: The Great Web, was never officially announced. Instead, it leaked online, and while Insomniac quickly shut it down, the footage that surfaced was enough to show its potential. The idea? Players would team up as different Spider-People, jumping across the Spider-Verse and facing off against iconic villains. Imagine teaming up with friends, each playing as Miles Morales, Spider-Gwen, Spider-Man 2099, or one of the countless other variations of the character from across Marvel’s multiverse.
Unfortunately, The Great Web was scrapped before it ever saw the light of day. Reports suggest it was originally designed as a live-service experience—something that, given the industry’s current shift away from live-service fatigue, might have led to its demise. But just because Insomniac shelved it doesn’t mean fans have to let it go.
Modders Are Already Working on Multiplayer
Via Marvel
Now that Spider-Man 2 is on PC, modders are already working on a multiplayer mod that could bring The Great Web back to life. Some reports suggest that up to 16 players might be able to web-swing together, which, if it works, would be absolutely insane.
But before we get too excited, we need to be realistic: turning a single-player game into a multiplayer experience is not easy. Unlike games that already have online co-op built into their code, Spider-Man 2 was designed as a purely solo experience. There’s no multiplayer infrastructure in place, meaning modders would have to reverse-engineer the game to make it work.
That being said, this wouldn’t be the first time modders have pulled off the impossible. Fans have successfully added multiplayer to games that were never intended to support it before—just look at Just Cause 2 Multiplayer Mod, which turned a strictly single-player open-world game into a chaotic multiplayer sandbox. GTA San Andreas also saw a wildly popular multiplayer mod that let players roam around together years before Rockstar made GTA Online official. So while it’s an enormous challenge, history has shown us that modders can work magic when given the chance.
Will Sony Shut It Down?
Via Marvel
Of course, there’s one big obstacle standing in the way: Sony. Legally, they have every right to take down any multiplayer mod for Spider-Man 2, and they’ve been known to crack down on fan projects before. If this mod starts gaining traction, there’s always the risk that Sony (or Insomniac) will step in to stop it.
But I can’t help but hope. The idea of me and 16 other players swinging through the multiverse, teaming up as different versions of Spider-Man, and battling villains together is just too good to let go. Whether it takes months or even years, I truly believe the fans will find a way.
So here’s to Spider-Man 2 on PC—not just for the enhanced graphics, but for the possibility that modders might finally bring back The Great Web. Here’s hoping Sony lets it happen.
