The Witcher 4 faced backlash over a controversial decision. Is Spider-Man 3 heading down the same path, or learning from those mistakes?

History has a funny way of repeating itself in the gaming industry. Just two months after CD Projekt Red’s controversial announcement about The Witcher 4, Insomniac Games finds itself walking a similarly thorny path with Marvel’s Spider-Man 3.

Two studios, two heroes, two different breakup letters. | Image Credit: Insomniac Games

Both beloved franchises are shifting focus from their iconic protagonists, but while one studio’s approach has fans ready to storm the castle with pitchforks, the other might have found a way to keep the peace. It’s a tale of two transitions, and the devil’s in the details.

The question isn’t just about who gets to be the hero anymore—it’s about how you handle letting go of characters that players have spent hundreds of hours embodying.

When passing the torch becomes a wildfire

The gaming community hasn’t exactly been throwing roses at CD Projekt Red since The Witcher 4‘s reveal. Replacing Geralt with Ciri as the protagonist was always going to ruffle some feathers, but perhaps it’s the studio’s cagey approach to Geralt’s role that really got under players’ skin.

While CD Projekt Red keeps dancing around the White Wolf’s involvement like a nervous bard at a vampire’s ball, Insomniac is taking a refreshingly different approach. Speaking with The Direct at MultiCon, Peter Parker’s voice actor dropped some web-slinging wisdom:

There are very few things that I can say about this game, but you have somehow landed on the one thing that I can answer, and that’s that, yes, Peter is not gone. He will be a part of the next game and he won’t be relegated to the couch, I promise.

It’s not just what Yuri Lowenthal said—it’s how he said it. No cryptic developer speak, no “wait and see” teases. Just straight-up confirmation that Peter isn’t being shoved into retirement faster than Uncle Ben’s memory.

Meanwhile, poor Doug Cockle (Geralt’s voice actor) got “slapped by CD Projekt” (his words, not ours) for even hinting at his involvement. Talk about different approaches to transparency.

The irony? Both studios are essentially doing the same thing—evolving their franchises beyond their original protagonists and most likely disappointing a portion of their fanbase in the process. But while one’s treating it like a state secret, the other’s treating it like a natural progression.

Why some torch passes burn brighter than others

Not all hero transitions need to leave fans fuming. | Image Credit: Insomniac Games

Change in gaming communities is about as welcome as a game-breaking bug in the launch build. But it’s fascinating how the same pill becomes easier to swallow when it’s coated in the right kind of transparency.

CD Projekt Red’s approach to The Witcher 4 feels unnecessarily mysterious. Sure, they’ve confirmed Ciri as the new protagonist, but their silence about Geralt’s role has turned a straightforward transition into a PR puzzle. Executive Producer Małgorzata Mitręga calls it an “organic, logical choice,” (via IGN) but the lack of clear communication feels anything but organic.

Contrast this with Insomniac’s handling of their next entry in the Marvel’s Spider-Man series. They, via Lowenthal, are not just acknowledging Peter’s continued importance—they’re celebrating it. This isn’t about replacing heroes; it’s about expanding their legacy. And somehow, that makes all the difference.

The best part? This approach actually builds excitement rather than anxiety. When you tell fans “your favorite character isn’t gone, they’re just sharing the spotlight,” it turns out they’re a lot less likely to reach for their pitchforks.

What do you think about these different approaches to character transitions? Are you more excited about Peter’s active role in Spider-Man 3, or are you still holding your breath about Geralt’s fate in The Witcher 4? Share your thoughts in the comments below!