Wolverine Breaks PS5’s Live Service Stranglehold in the US
Marvel’s Wolverine, Insomniac’s new PS5 exclusive, has achieved a significant milestone by becoming the only single-player game to crack the top ten in Circana’s weekly engagement rankings, which measure active user counts. The achievement demonstrates that substantial market demand persists for story-driven, single-player gaming experiences amid the industry’s recent shift toward live-service models.
Wolverine’s success is particularly notable given that PlayStation 5’s engagement charts have been increasingly dominated by live-service games and multiplayer titles. The game’s ability to break through this trend suggests potential player fatigue with live-service monetization models and renewed interest in traditional gaming experiences. However, regional performance varies—Wolverine’s sales have trailed Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 in Japan, indicating differing player preferences across markets.
This development signals an important shift in the gaming landscape, where single-player AAA titles continue to find substantial audiences despite the industry’s recent pivot toward live-service models. Insomniac’s success with Wolverine reinforces that well-crafted, story-focused experiences remain commercially viable and can compete effectively with live-service offerings for player engagement on major platforms.