Wolverine reportedly claws into PlayStation’s late-September State of Play with a new trailer

Insiders say Sony is lining up a late-September State of Play and that Insomniac’s Wolverine is “almost certain” to show with a fresh trailer. Sony hasn’t confirmed the showcase, the trailer, or a release window, so file all of this under well-sourced rumor rather than fact. Still, momentum is building—and after nearly four years of radio silence since the 2021 teaser, fans are ready for more than a mood piece.

The state of play (pun intended)

Reports suggest the trailer is cut and ready, with a tentative target of 2026 for launch. That timing tracks with a large, combat-driven AAA from a studio that just shipped Spider-Man 2 in 2023. The complicating history is the 2023 cyberattack that exposed early assets and plans; a clean re-reveal now would let Insomniac reset expectations on its own terms.

What the trailer must answer

1) Combat identity. Wolverine isn’t a traversal sandbox first; it’s a power-fantasy about controlled brutality. The trailer needs to show how Insomniac translates claws into readable, weighty systems: stance changes, limb targeting, crowd control without turning Logan into a crowd-cleave lawnmower. Parry windows, stun thresholds, and finishers should be readable at a glance.

2) World shape. Is this a compact, dense action-adventure (think hub zones and bespoke missions) or a broad open world? Logan doesn’t swing across boroughs; if it’s open, what’s the loop that makes crossing distance interesting—vehicles, hunting, tracking, vertical knifepoint platforming? If it’s tighter, show the craftsmanship: layered interiors, destructible cover, and spaces that reward stealth or loud play.

3) Tone and rating. Spider-Man thrives on quips; Wolverine thrives on silence and mess. The trailer should communicate a higher age rating without being edgelord: blood, scars, and consequences, not shock value. A brief look at healing/regeneration under pressure would be a strong statement of intent.

4) Tech promises that matter. Show the studio’s next-gen flex where it helps the fantasy: fast reloads into combat arenas, dense destruction, reactive cloth/leather, and haptics that make slashes and blocks feel different. Skip the empty buzzwords.

Green flags to look for

• In-engine gameplay with an uninterrupted combat slice, not just jump-cut hype.
• Readable UI that explains systems without shouting (stance icons, claw meter, resolve/berserk).
• A conservative window (“2026”) rather than a day-and-date they can’t hold.
• A short post-reveal beat—e.g., “deep-dive coming next month”—to keep momentum.

Red flags worth noting

• CG-only trailer with the “not actual gameplay” fine print.
• Vague “in-engine” sizzle that never shows the camera behind Logan.
• Feature creep callouts that echo leak-era documents—promises they may no longer be chasing.
• A crowded villains reel instead of a clear thesis for the first act.

Release timing reality check

A 2026 window is plausible if Insomniac locks the feature set now and focuses on polish and performance. If the trailer names only the year, expect Sony to place a proper gameplay showcase in the first half of 2026, then date the game for the back half. A PC version—if planned—would likely follow the PlayStation launch on Sony’s usual stagger.

Editor’s take

If Sony really brings Wolverine to State of Play, the smartest move is restraint: one sharp trailer with unmistakable gameplay, a plain “2026,” and a promise of a focused deep-dive soon. After the leak saga, less is more—show the combat loop, the tone, and the scale, then get back to work. Do that, and Logan instantly becomes PlayStation’s headline story for 2026 without overpromising today.