I’m a fan of both PC and console gaming, but honestly, the Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 PC port is a massive letdown. It’s not just the performance issues that are frustrating, though those are undeniable—it’s the fact that PlayStation treated the PC version of their smash hit like an afterthought. For a game that was a PlayStation 5 exclusive, and one of the best-selling games of 2023, this kind of neglect is surprising.
Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 launched on PC on January 30, 2025, but its release felt more like a “check the box” moment than a full-fledged launch. With almost no marketing push and minimal support, this PC version feels like it was left to sink or swim. So, what went wrong with Spider-Man 2 on PC?
That’s a great question.
Non-Existent Marketing Was a Slap in the Face
When Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 launched on PlayStation 5 in 2023, the marketing campaign was massive. From limited edition controllers to incredible Spider-Man statues, PlayStation went all in. The game dominated headlines and social media. But when it came time for the PC release? Silence. No commercials, no special merch such as a re-release of the Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 DualSense controller or 19 inches of Venom statue, and no noticeable effort to engage PC gamers. PlayStation dropped the ball in my opinion.
For comparison, the PS5 release of Spider-Man 2 had a big splash, but the PC version felt like an afterthought. We didn’t even get the system specs until a day before launch, which is ridiculous for a game that carries such a massive name. This is freaking Spider-Man. One of Marvel’s biggest names, and yet PC gamers who weren’t following the release were left in the dark with zero hype. That’s not how you treat Spider-Man. Marvel constantly kicks the superhero when he’s down enough. Though, I suppose PlayStation assumed that because it’s Spider-Man, it doesn’t need marketing.
PC Performance Issues Plaque the Port
The first thing you see when you head to Steam and you’re about to spend your money on Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 PC port is all of the performance problems from people who’ve already purchased the game, which makes it hard to recommend in its current state. The game is plagued by inconsistent frame rates, crashes, and graphical glitches. While Spider-Man 2 was praised for its smooth performance on PlayStation 5, the same can’t be said for the PC version.
Of course, not one to always believe what everyone says, I did purchase the game, because it’s not like PlayStation was going to toss us a code to compare it to the PlayStation 5 version. Sadly, after nearly two hours of gameplay, it was just like what the complaints were about. Thankfully, since I was under two hours, I got my refund. Did I want to? No, I wanted to play the damned game.
Is Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 playable on PC? Well, that depends on how you define “Playable”. Sure, you can play it. But you’ll need a lot of patience, since the game crashes and there’s way too much stuttering going on. Until Nixxes gets things under control, I’d advise waiting for updates. The game simply isn’t optimized well enough for a smooth experience right now, and that’s with DLSS enabled.
PlayStation’s Lack of Commitment to PC Ports
This isn’t the first time PlayStation has ported a game to PC, but it is one of their biggest titles. If PlayStation can’t properly handle Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 on PC, what does that mean for future PlayStation to PC releases? Horizon Zero Dawn, God of War, and Marvel’s Spider-Man Remastered all had solid PC ports, but even they faced issues at launch. With Spider-Man 2, though, it feels like PlayStation didn’t try hard enough.
This neglect is a red flag for PC gamers who are hoping to see more of PlayStation’s exclusive titles on their platform. If PlayStation continues to treat PC ports like this, it could deter future players from even considering these games on PC. This would be a shame, because there are quite a few PlayStation games I’m looking forward to arriving on the PC, despite owning a PlayStation 5.
Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 on PS5 is still a masterpiece and remains one of the console’s best games. However, the PC port is a mess and will likely go down as one of the worst PS5 to PC ports to date if things aren’t fixed. If PlayStation wants to continue to grow its presence on PC, it needs to step up its game—because as it stands, they’re not doing its PC fans any favors. But at least they removed the PSN requirements, that’s a plus.
Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 is available now on PlayStation 5 and PC, but unless you’re willing to deal with performance issues, I recommend waiting for updates on the PC version before purchasing.
