Wolverine’s Mixed Reception Raises Questions for EA’s Iron Man

Marvel’s Wolverine has launched to a more divided critical response than its pre-release hype suggested, and that reception is a warning for EA’s Iron Man game, which is also a premium, single-player game built on a major Marvel hero. Insomniac Games’ Wolverine released on September 10, 2026 on PlayStation 5 and holds a Metacritic score of 77.

How Wolverine was reviewed

A 77 is not a failure, but it places Wolverine as the lowest-rated PlayStation Studios game on PS5 since the console launched in 2020, below Sackboy: A Big Adventure at 79. Several major outlets, including IGN, GameSpot, Eurogamer and VGC, scored it 6 out of 10, and Giant Bomb gave it 5 out of 10. Some smaller international outlets awarded 9s and 10s, which pulled the average up.

The most common criticism was that Wolverine feels dated. Reviewers described a solid but uninspiring linear third-person action game that plays like an older generation of blockbuster. At a $70 price, that made it a harder recommendation for some critics. Sony has not published sales figures, so the commercial picture is not yet clear.

Where EA’s Iron Man stands

EA Motive’s Iron Man game has been in development for years, and it returned to the spotlight in late August 2026 when around two and a half minutes of work-in-progress footage leaked online. Rather than issue takedowns, EA confirmed the footage was real, and the game’s official account posted: “Well, that didn’t go as planned. But now you know, and we’ve got a lot more to show you.”

The leaked clip showed a single-player, third-person action game built around full flight across an open city, with unfinished textures and cutscenes. EA has not announced platforms or a release date, and the unfinished state of the footage suggests the game is still some distance from launch.

The lesson for Iron Man

Wolverine shows that a famous character and a strong studio do not guarantee critical consensus. Iron Man has decades of cultural weight, especially after the Marvel films, but players now judge licensed games against the best action games on the market, not against other superhero games. If the core gameplay feels familiar or dated, a big licence will not cover the gap.

The good news for EA is time. Motive can study what worked and what did not in Wolverine’s reception before finalising Iron Man. Flight, which the leak suggests is central to the game, is also a feature that could give it a distinct identity if it feels as good as it looks.

Why it matters

For players, Wolverine’s reception is a reminder to look past the licence and judge each superhero game on its reviews and gameplay. A 77 still means many players will enjoy it, especially fans of the character, but it may be worth waiting for more impressions or a discount if you are unsure.

For publishers, the stakes are high. Premium superhero games cost a great deal to make, and a lukewarm launch at full price makes it harder to justify the next one. How Iron Man lands will shape how willing publishers are to keep betting on big single-player Marvel projects.