Originally written in the previous iteration of this blog in 2010-2011.
 Updated: March 27, 2025

Insomniac GamesBack in 2010, when the gaming landscape was divided between the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and Wii, the PlayStation 2 era felt like a distant memory. The shift to the seventh generation of consoles was a game-changer, and developers were scrambling to adapt. As the market grew more fragmented, it became increasingly difficult to ignore the potential of multiplatform releases. With the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 each boasting nearly equal market shares, it seemed only logical for developers to reach as many players as possible by releasing their games across both platforms.

It wasn’t entirely unexpected that Insomniac Games, long synonymous with PlayStation exclusivity, would eventually take the plunge into multiplatform development. After all, the rumors were circulating for months, especially following the somewhat lukewarm reception of their last few releases at the time — Ratchet & Clank: A Crack in Time and Resistance 2. The opening of a new studio in North Carolina added fuel to the fire, hinting at a larger expansion.

In 2010, Insomniac made the official announcement that they were working on a new multiplatform title with EA Partners, marking their first foray outside Sony’s ecosystem. This title was not only a new intellectual property (IP) but also the first game in a new direction for the company. But there was a twist: the deal was limited to just this one game, suggesting Insomniac was cautiously testing the waters of the multiplatform market rather than fully committing to it.

For PlayStation fans, there was some relief in knowing that Insomniac’s core relationship with Sony would remain intact. They were still committed to developing exclusive content for PlayStation, which meant that the future of franchises like Ratchet & Clank wouldn’t be immediately threatened.

Despite the cautious optimism, this multiplatform experiment didn’t yield the level of success that many had hoped for. The one multiplatform title, Fuse, released in 2013, struggled to make a significant impact. It failed to capture the attention of fans in the same way their previous exclusives had, and critics found it lacked the charm and innovation that defined their best work.

But that wasn’t the end of the story for Insomniac. Far from it. The studio, known for its exceptional talent and creativity, soon found new success with Marvel’s Spider-Man in 2018. The game was a critical and commercial hit, revitalizing the superhero genre and cementing Insomniac’s reputation as one of the industry’s leading developers. This success was followed by Spider-Man: Miles Morales in 2020, further solidifying their place at the top.

Meanwhile, the Ratchet & Clank franchise saw a resurgence as well. While the movie tie-in remake of the original Ratchet & Clank (2016) was a fun update, it felt somewhat watered down compared to the original PS2 version — especially lacking the intense relationship and emotional depth between Ratchet and Clank. More recently, Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart (2021) impressed players with its innovative use of PlayStation 5 hardware, though it felt like the game was a bit on the short side in comparison to previous games.

In 2019, Sony made a bold move. Recognizing Insomniac’s increasing success and the value they brought to the PlayStation ecosystem, Sony acquired Insomniac Games, making them a permanent part of the PlayStation family.

Looking back, Insomniac’s brief venture into multiplatform development may have been a necessary experiment, but it also underscored the company’s true potential as a PlayStation-exclusive developer. Now, as part of Sony, they have returned to their roots, delivering stellar, exclusive titles that continue to define the PlayStation experience. Their journey from multiplatform uncertainty to Sony acquisition is a testament to their talent, resilience, and ability to adapt to an ever-changing gaming world.