Is Wolverine gay in new PS5 video game?

PlayStation 5 (PS5) video game Marvel’s Wolverine is now out, but fans have one burning question: is Wolverine gay?

The rumours all started when Marvel’s Wolverine narrative director Walt Williams used the word “yearning” to describe a central relationship in the new story following the beloved X-Men character.

Speaking to The Washington Post, Williams described Logan as “yearning” for Sabretooth. 

The outlet noted: “Even Logan’s famously violent rivalry with Sabretooth has room for love. When the two attack a military base, Sabretooth grabs the back of Logan’s head in a brief moment of yearning.

Williams added: “Logan feels that yearning and he gets scared and pulls away. Sabretooth feels that yearning and it makes him hurt and want to lash out to exert that hurt outward.

“Hate and love are so hand in hand… you hurt me so I’m going to hurt you, and we’re still going to be linked because now the pain is shared.”

The statements then spurred rumours about the gameplay, including a romantic storyline between Logan and Sabretooth.

‘It’s a brother / best friend thing.’

The game follows mutant Logan rejoining Team X to investigate the abduction of displaced mutants by industrialist Bolivar Trask and the Reavers militia.

So, is Wolverine a gay character in this game? Well, Insomniac Games director James Stevenson responded to the rumours.

He said that fans misinterpreted the studio’s original comments and confirmed the two characters will not have a romantic relationship.

Stevenson took to X (Twitter) to clarify the game’s content before it dropped on Tuesday (15 September).

Responding to a YouTuber’s video about the so-called romance, Stevenson replied, “No. They don’t,” confirming that their relationship is not romantic.

He also noted about the relationship: “It’s a brother / best friend thing. There ya go.”

“Can I still ship them tho?” one person teasingly replied to Stevenson’s post. 

Another responded: “Well the writer of the game seems to think they do.”

Despite this apparent misunderstanding, the game has received mixed reviews.

The Guardian wrote: “Logan is well realised by Liam McIntyre and some exquisite character art, but there are lapses in narrative and emotional arcs and some of the combat feels like a chore.”

Though, Empire added: “If you’re craving a visually striking, incredibly cinematic story-driven experience, complemented by some of the crunchiest combat to ever tax your thumbsticks, Wolverine has got your back.”