With just hours to go before Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 arrives on PC, Sony has pulled back the curtain on the platform’s enhancements, offering a deep dive into what players can expect. Originally launched on PlayStation 5 in 2023, the game was praised for its stunning visuals and seamless web-slinging mechanics. Now, PC players will experience it with a suite of graphical upgrades and optimizations, courtesy of Sony-owned Nixxes.
A Visual Upgrade for the PC Audience
When Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 launched on PlayStation 5, it set a new benchmark for open-world visuals, with Digital Foundry calling it a “new showcase” for ray tracing and detailed cityscapes. The PC version builds on that foundation, introducing customizable settings to accommodate a range of hardware.
Sony’s latest blog post highlights individual ray tracing quality settings, allowing players to tweak performance and fidelity as needed. Enhancements include raytraced interiors, shadows, and ambient occlusion, offering deeper realism with improved lighting and shading effects.
For those with top-tier GPUs, there’s an increased ray tracing geometry detail setting, ensuring higher-quality reflections and environmental realism. Additionally, an object range slider gives users manual control over how far objects are considered for ray tracing, which could be key for balancing performance and visual fidelity.
Support for Modern Rendering and Ultra-Wide Displays
Beyond ray tracing, the PC version brings upscaling and frame generation technologies to the table, ensuring a smooth experience across different setups. The game will support:
- DLSS Ray Reconstruction, an AI-driven feature that enhances ray tracing quality.
- DLSS 3 and FSR 3.1, offering improved performance via upscaling.
- Ultra-wide resolutions, including 21:9, 32:9, and even 48:9 for triple-monitor setups.
These enhancements mean Spider-Man’s web-slinging across Manhattan will feel more fluid and immersive, whether playing on high-end rigs or more modest gaming setups.
PC System Requirements: Can Your Rig Handle It?
Sony has also detailed the system requirements for Marvel’s Spider-Man 2, spanning six different tiers. The minimum specs target 720p at 30 FPS, while the highest settings push for 4K at 60 FPS with Ultimate Ray Tracing.
Setting | Minimum (720p @ 30 FPS) | Recommended (1080p @ 60 FPS) | High (1440p @ 60 FPS) | High RT (1440p @ 60 FPS) | Very High RT (1440p @ 60 FPS) | Ultimate RT (4K @ 60 FPS) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
GPU | GTX 1650 / RX 5500 XT | RTX 3060 / RX 5700 | RTX 3070 / RX 6800 | RTX 4070 / RX 7900 XT | RTX 4080 / RX 7900 XTX | RTX 4090 |
CPU | i3-8100 / Ryzen 3 3100 | i5-8400 / Ryzen 5 3600 | i5-11400 / Ryzen 5 5600 | i5-11600K / Ryzen 5 5600X | i7-12700K / Ryzen 9 5900X | i9-12900K / Ryzen 7 7800X3D |
RAM | 16 GB | 16 GB | 16 GB | 16 GB | 16 GB | 32 GB |
OS | Windows 10/11 (64-bit) | Windows 10/11 (64-bit) | Windows 10/11 (64-bit) | Windows 10/11 (64-bit) | Windows 10/11 (64-bit) | Windows 10/11 (64-bit) |
SSD Storage | 140 GB | 140 GB | 140 GB | 140 GB | 140 GB | 140 GB |
For those aiming for Ultimate Ray Tracing, an RTX 4090 and an i9-12900K (or AMD equivalent) will be required, which isn’t surprising given the level of graphical fidelity on offer. Meanwhile, players with more modest hardware can still enjoy a solid experience by tweaking the settings.
No PSN Account Requirement—A Welcome Surprise
One of the more controversial aspects of recent Sony PC releases has been the requirement for a PlayStation Network (PSN) account to access single-player content. However, Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 will not require a PSN account to play. This change, following backlash over previous releases, means that PC players can jump into the game without needing additional logins or online authentication.
Launch Details and Availability
The wait is almost over. Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 will be available for PC players on Thursday, January 30, launching via Steam and the Epic Games Store. Pre-loads have already gone live, allowing players to get ready for launch.
With enhanced graphics, customizable settings, and a flexible range of performance options, this PC release looks set to be a hit. Whether you’re swinging through Manhattan at 4K ultra settings or making do with a budget-friendly setup, Sony’s latest port aims to deliver a visually stunning and technically impressive experience.