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Along withStarfield,Marvel’s Spider-Man 2is the biggest release of the year, with the hotly anticipated superhero sequel proving to be a contentious issue in Saudi Arabia and the Middle East as a whole, for some reason.
It’s no secret that the recentSpider-Man: Across the Spider-Versewas banned and removed from theatres potentially due to some trans-supportive messages contained in the film, but as to whyMarvel’s Spider-Man 2may have met the ban-hammer isn’t clear right now.
Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 is On the Way… and nearly here!
Marvel’s Spider-Man 2is set to continue the story and adventure of Insomniac Games’ Marvel universe, with the story picking up 9-10 months after the culmination ofMarvel’s Spider-Man Mile Morales.Now we’ll finally have access and control over both Spider-Men, each wielding very different powers and abilities, from Miles Venom powers to Peter and his newly acquired Symbiote Suit, as well as the introduction of villains like Kraven and Venom, there’s plenty for us to get our teeth into… at least, if we’re able to buy it.
Depending on the country you reside in, that may not be possible. It’s been noted that Spider-Man 2’s Digital Deluxe Edition has been removed from the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia PlayStation Stores last month, with fans unable to pre-order the game whatsoever hours after the store pages launched. Unlike other countries, these two stores no longer show the release date of the game, and most recently, the age rating of the game has been removed as well.
Related:“We’ve always thought of our Spider-Heroes as ‘acrobatic improvisors”: Senior Creative Director Bryan Intihar Explains New Abilities and Gameplay in Marvel’s Spider-Man 2
The laws in the two regions prohibit all number of things, butThe Last of Us Part 2andFinal Fantasy 16have both been banned in the countries predominantly due to featuring LGBTQ+ content, same as the aforementioned issues withSpider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse.
![[REDACTED]’s Steve Papoutsis & Ben Walker Talk The Callisto Protocol, What Prompted the Change and the Future of the Franchise (INTERVIEW)](https://i2.wp.com/fwmedia.fandomwire.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/08124020/redacted-1-768x432.jpg)
Some Middle Eastern fans have claimed that they hgave managed to pre-order the game before it was pulled, leaving them in limbo as to their payments, as well as players full stop who can’t yet pre-order the game, or have any idea if they’ll even be able to.
Related:Insomniac Games Have A Secret Third Multiplayer Game in Development Alongside ‘Marvel’s Spider-Man 2’ – But What Is It?
Insomniac Games and PlayStation are yet to comment whatsoever on the situation, but the theory being floated around fans is that there’s an LGBTQ+ moment or character that cannot be cut, or that the developer is rightfully refusing to cut the specific moment(s).
With so little time left between now and the release of the game, it’ll be interesting to see if the game does end up censored and released over in the two regions, or if there is all one big misunderstanding and a simple oversight.
What do you make of all this? Let us know in the comments!
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Luke Addison
Former Head of Gaming
Articles Published :462
Luke Addison is a Former Video Game Critic and Gaming Editor. As likely to be caught listening to noughties rock as he is watching the latest blockbuster cinema release, Luke is the quintessential millennial wistfully wishing after a forgotten era of entertainment. Also a diehard Chelsea fan, for his sins.
