Leading PlayStation developers have called for fans to be respectful after Insomniac Games creative director Bryan Intihar received threatening messages related to upcoming PS5 game Spider-Man Remastered.
The studio revealed on Wednesday that it hasrecast Peter Parker’s facefrom original actor John Bubniak to Ben Jordan, a move which was met with disapproval from some members of the game’s community.
The negative response to the decision included online abuse aimed at Intihar, who has been a creative director at theSpider-Manand Ratchet & Clank studio since 2014.
Intiharrespondedon Twitter on Saturday: “To our Spidey fans: I totally appreciate your passion, but sending me threatening notes that you will “HUNT YOU DOWN AND WE WILL FIND YOU! YOU FIX THIS NOW!” isn’t cool. With what’s happening in today’s world, let’s be a force for good and be respectful of each other. Thank you.”
What the fuck, people?Please, don’t…don’t do this.Bryan is a good person. The entire Insomniac team is filled with hard working, great fucking people.This is not the way.We should be better to the people who make the things we love. ❤️https://t.co/0fOUF8i6zz
ProminentSony Interactive Entertainmentdevelopers came out in support of Intihar and condemned the online abuse he has received, including The Last of Us creative directorNeil DruckmannandGod of WardirectorCory Barlog.
“Sigh… sorry you have to deal with this crap, Bryan,”saidNaughty Dogvice president Druckmann,who was subjected to online harassment and threatsearlier this year in response toThe Last of Us Part 2creative decisions.
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“Sorry you are dealing with that kind of crap, Bryan,”echoedBarlog.
“What the fuck, people?”Santa Monica Studio’s creative director wrote in a separate message. “Please, don’t…don’t do this.
“Bryan is a good person. The entireInsomniacteam is filled with hard working, great fucking people.
“This is not the way. We should be better to the people who make the things we love.”
The recasting of Peter Parker’s face was revealed in the firstSpider-Man Remastered gameplay footage, which shows the game running using an optional performance mode which targets 60fps.
The $70/£70Spider-Man: Miles Morales Ultimate Editionwill come with a download code for Spider-Man Remastered when it’s released this November.
Players who purchase the standard edition of Miles Morales—which has a freePS4toPS5upgrade path—will also be able topay an additional $20 feeto get the Ultimate version including the remaster. Sony says “PS4 game disc owners who buy the PS5 Digital Edition disc-free console will not be able to access this offer.”
Spider-Man Remastered is not getting a physical release andPS4 saves won’t transfer from the original game to the remaster.
