Spider-Man 2 – Looks like could be banned or delayed in the Middle East

Spider-Man 2 – Looks like could be banned or delayed in the Middle East

Hey, here’s a fun fact – Spider-Man 2, the game everyone’s talking about, might hit a few bumps in the road when it comes to its release in the Middle East. Well, not so much fun as it’s more of a potential setback. Sony, the guys, and gals behind the game’s release, started saying, ‘Bring on the pre-orders!’ for this much-awaited PS5 game last month. They’ve been shouting from the rooftops about the release date: October 20, 2023.

But wait, there’s a twist in the tale. Gamers from several Middle Eastern countries like Saudi Arabia, UAE, and Kuwait have run into, let’s call it, “a bit of a snag” when trying to pre-order the sequel. Oddly enough, it seems like the age rating has gone AWOL from the local PlayStation website listings for Spider-Man 2. The launch date still stands as October 20 but with a ‘yeah, but…’ note that the real release date might be paused.

The popular guess is that the game’s launch could be stalled because Spider-Man 2 needs some tweaks to keep it jiving with localized customs and standards. We’ve reached out to Sony for the inside scoop on what’s cooking with the game’s release status in the Middle East.

Here’s a weird coincidence — it’s not the first run-in Spidey’s had with censorship in the region. Did you know that Sony’s animated flick, Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse was given the no-go for launch in the UAE? Apparently, they broke some censorship laws. Among the issues was a poster flashing briefly in one scene backing transgender lives.

And in case you didn’t hear, another PS5 exclusive – Final Fantasy 16 – was also shown the red card in Saudi Arabia recently. Apparently, the makers, Square Enix, said no to altering the game to fit with the nation’s censorship rules.

But here’s the silver lining – despite these hiccups, Insomniac Games, the game’s creators, went all out with an eye-popping story trailer for Spider-Man 2 at a Comic-Con panel just last week. If you’re a Venom fan, get ready for your first taste of him in action – stirring up even more buzz for the game.

And for that cherry on top? A limited edition PS5 bundle for Spider-Man 2 is on the horizon. This cool package brings you a custom-designed console and a matching DualSense wireless controller. Hey, you can even look forward to this sweet deal dropping in September before the game’s launch.