Marvel's Wolverine has landed at a 78 Metacritic, a result that sits well below the studio's recent output and raises questions about Sony's ability to maintain its record. Polygon notes the score reflects reviews that found the relentless combat wearing thin and the storytelling divided, with the outlet's own write-up labeling it the biggest disappointment of the PS5 era. This places the game as Sony's weakest first-party PS5 exclusive in years, trailing titles like Astro Bot at 94 and Spider-Man 2 at 90 on the same aggregate.

The 11-year Game of the Year nomination streak for Sony at The Game Awards now looks vulnerable, as no game below an 80 Metascore has ever received a nomination and licensed properties face additional scrutiny. Polygon traces the streak back to 2015's Bloodborne and highlights three wins including God of War in 2018, The Last of Us Part II in 2020, and Astro Bot in 2024, underscoring how cinematic action-adventures with high polish have defined Sony's critical success. A director switch two years ago hints at development course corrections that may have arrived too late.

Alternatives like Housemarque's Saros at 87 remain in the picture for a nomination, though the studio's prior title Returnal was overlooked in a similarly weak year. Sony's recent decision to end physical game production adds another layer of reputational weight in a softer output year overall. The result underscores a publisher hoping the streak holds with other projects rather than this one.