Marvel’s Wolverine Hands-On: Rage Combat System and PS5 Release Date
Sony Interactive Entertainment held a hands-on event for Marvel’s Wolverine in Burbank, USA — roughly 30 kilometers from Hollywood — at Insomniac Games’ development headquarters, about two months before the PS5 title’s September 15, 2026 launch. Famitsu attended as a guest of SIE alongside media and influencers from around the world. Insomniac Games went all out for the occasion, converting its hands-on playrooms — each assigned to different media outlets — into rooms themed after locations featured in the game. A Japanese-language version with Japanese voice acting was also prepared for Japanese media attendees.
The tutorial portion centers on the Essex rescue operation on Teranban Island, where Wolverine is joined by Mystique and Sabretooth. Controls feel close to Marvel’s Spider-Man, with button combos clearing nearby enemies and leap attacks reaching distant foes. “Techniques,” the game’s skill moves, can wipe out enemy groups, while stealth lets players ambush enemies by exploiting openings. Wolverine can sense incoming attacks and parry them to chain further hits, though the early game suggests parrying is less central than in recent action titles. Combat remains straightforward and accessible, carrying the Spider-Man series’ traditional action pedigree.
The standout mechanics are the Rage Gauge and Wolverine’s signature healing factor. Defeating enemies and successful parries charge the gauge, which slowly depletes when idle. A sufficient charge boosts combo damage, and when HP reaches zero, Last Stand triggers — the healing factor restores health and Wolverine rises again, rewarding aggressive play over caution. At max charge, Rage Level 3 unleashes a berserk state where L2+R2 near enemies delivers Critical Strikes capable of instantly killing weaker foes. Kills refill the gauge, letting players sustain the state, though depletion accelerates without kills. Skills can also heal, and HP fully restores after each enemy wave.
The mid-game hands-on sees Wolverine rescue Essex and then clash with Trask, leading to a boss fight against a Sentinel prototype — still in development, the massive machine attacks with only its upper body and includes battle gimmicks revealed during combat. Chase sequences against fleeing enemies also appear later. Additional content includes “Nightmare Door” challenge elements and field collectibles such as liquor bottles and costumes. In-game character and keyword explanations are included for newcomers, and the developers noted the fully original story requires no prior Marvel knowledge. The hands-on left a strong impression of Insomniac’s signature style, and this looks like one to watch for Marvel’s Spider-Man fans.
