Tag: gaming

Insomniac Games is actively working on fixes for Marvel’s Wolverine after a controversial scent-trail feature sparked widespread criticism online, with players jokingly referring to the visual effect as ‘fart gas.’

The controversy centers on a blue-green trail that appears when Wolverine uses his heightened senses to track a person, sound, whisky, or another clue. The feature is designed to represent Logan’s mutant abilities and elite tracking skills.

Scent Trail Becomes Viral Talking Point

The visual effect drew criticism after reviewers and players shared footage showing the trail guiding Wolverine through sections of the game. Some users argued that the mechanic makes exploration too straightforward and gives players too much direction.

The discussion intensified after The Washington Post journalist Gene Park described the effect as ‘fart gas’ on social media. Players subsequently began using the phrase across social platforms when discussing the game’s navigation system.

Insomniac community and marketing director James Stevenson previously clarified that the scent trail is not always active. He explained that it appears only when Logan is tracking a specific scent or sound, during story or mission moments, or when he detects a collectible.

Players Want More Control

The criticism also focused on the game’s accessibility settings. Players found that while Marvel’s Wolverine includes options for navigation assistance and other guidance features, the scent trail cannot be switched off through those settings.

It prompted requests for Insomniac to introduce a toggle allowing players to decide when they want to use Wolverine’s tracking ability.

Some players suggested tying the ability to a button press, such as R3 on the DualSense controller. That would allow players to activate Logan’s heightened senses when required instead of having the visual trail appear automatically during specific sequences.

Stevenson also clarified that collectible tracking still involves some exploration. Players first need to get close enough to detect the relevant sound or scent before Wolverine can identify it.

Insomniac Working on Fixes

The debate has now moved beyond social media criticism, with the developer indicating that it is working on fixes following the reaction to the feature.

The timing comes as Marvel’s Wolverine launches exclusively on PlayStation 5 on September 15. Insomniac’s latest release faced discussion around its linear structure, guidance systems, and accessibility options, alongside praise for its combat, presentation, and character work.

The game also received a day-one update addressing several gameplay, progression, visual, and stability issues. The update adds a beard option for Logan and includes fixes for gameplay elements, progression problems, visual issues, and general stability.

For now, the ‘fart gas’ debate highlights a broader disagreement over how much guidance modern action games should provide. For Insomniac, the challenge is to preserve Wolverine’s signature tracking ability while giving players enough control over how prominently that ability appears on screen.