Marvel’s Wolverine Creative Director Now Working on Upcoming Xbox Game

Key Takeaways

  • Brian Horton leaves Marvel’s Wolverine to lead Xbox’s Perfect Dark, leading to rumors of a 2025 release.
  • The lead team has changed on the Wolverine project, with Spider-Man veterans Smith and Daly taking over creative roles.

As a seasoned gamer with decades of gaming under my belt, I must say I’m intrigued by the recent developments in Marvel’s Wolverine. The news that Brian Horton is moving on to Perfect Dark at Xbox and the new creative team led by Marcus Smith and Mike Daly has certainly piqued my interest.


The character Marvel’s Wolverine is shifting to a fresh creative approach with Brian Horton now at the helm for Xbox’s Perfect Dark project. Although updates on Marvel’s Wolverine have been scarce, whispers in the gaming community point towards a 2025 release date. It has been quite some time since its initial reveal in 2021, leading some enthusiasts to speculate about potential production challenges behind closed doors.

Stoking speculation, it appears that some significant personnel from the project team have departed, fuelling whispers about Marvel’s Wolverine. Lately, the associate narrative director at Insomniac Games has shifted to CD Projekt Red, hinting at new ventures. Earlier, the art director for this game parted ways with the company, a move initially perceived as unremarkable due to the presumption that the game’s artistic direction could have been locked in several years ago. However, recent reports might raise eyebrows among enthusiasts of the upcoming PS5-exclusive title.

Following Brian Horton’s departure to work on Xbox’s Perfect Dark, Sony Interactive Entertainment has announced that Marcus Smith and Mike Daly will be assuming responsibilities for the Wolverine project. Previously, these two held creative and game director positions for Insomniac’s Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart and also contributed to Marvel’s Spider-Man. Given whispers of an imminent reveal for Marvel’s Wolverine, fans are eagerly anticipating the fresh ideas these new team members will bring to the project. Their past work on Spider-Man games should serve them well in their new positions.

What Games Have Marcus Smith and Mike Daly Worked On?

  • Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart
  • Marvel’s Spider-Man
  • Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales
  • Marvel’s Spider-Man 2
  • Sunset Overdrive

In the collaboration between Daly and Smith during the production of Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart, it was evident that they functioned seamlessly together. An interview with Mike Daly in 2021 revealed that their primary goal was to create games that were both accessible and entertaining for a broader audience. This approach extended to other projects they worked on, including Marvel’s Spider-Man 2, which benefited greatly from its extensive accessibility features. However, it should be noted that most of the titles they have worked on thus far tend to have a more lighthearted tone compared to Marvel’s Wolverine, so this could potentially present a new set of challenges for them in their upcoming roles.

It was mentioned that alterations within the Wolverine development team were due to creative choices concerning the game. Although there has been minimal to no recent updates on the project for four years, these delays might not be indicative of internal development difficulties. Instead, the shift in key personnel could signify individuals who can contribute more significantly to the game’s progression. Many believe that Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart is one of the most user-friendly games available, so it’s hoped that Daly and Smith will transfer some of that success over to Marvel’s Wolverine.

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2024-10-31 11:53