There’s no doubt that Spider-Man 2 is arguably the most anticipated title of the year, but the game may not be fully released in some territories, or at all.
Many are gearing up for what could be one of the biggest releases of the year in Spider-Man 2, and the latest gameplay trailer has only added fuel to the flames of anticipation for fans everywhere. However, reports are circulating that the title is no longer available for pre-order or is being refunded outright in some countries. This (as with many other things) comes via users on Reddit, and they’ve provided ample evidence that this particular title is running into these sorts of problems.
Worse than the alleged ban, the aforementioned Reddit thread includes a post from user HopefulDisaster3983 ‘1 month ago’ which states “I asked PlayStation support, and they said it’s not banned and I should expect it back in the store within 2 weeks”. Users are still reporting the same problems with Spider-Man 2, now with more frequency, and on top of that, the (already confirmed) age rating for the title has been removed, as well as the release date (20th October). So there’s a real air of ‘uncertainty’ about what’s happening with Insomniac Games’ massive release in the Middle East.
The blockbuster animated film Spider-Man: Across The Spider-Verse was recently a casualty of censorship laws in the United Arab Emirates and was blocked from its initial release, The Hollywood Reporter reported during the film’s launch back in June. Interestingly enough, another PS5 exclusive, Final Fantasy XVI, also received the blockage treatment in Saudi Arabia due to the title running afoul of censors. Saudi General Supervisor of Video Games, Hattan Tawili tweeted a statement saying Square Enix refused to modify the game to meet censor standards in the region.
The unclear launch status of Spider-Man 2 in some regions underscores the challenges of releasing games globally. With differing censorship policies, developers must weigh creative freedom against market access. Fans await clarity on the murky Middle East release, hoping all can enjoy web-slinging on PS5 soon. For now, Spidey enthusiasts must wait patiently for official word before taking the virtual superhero for a swing. Spider-Man 2 is scheduled to launch globally on October 20.
