Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 Players Face Toughest Challenge Yet with Brand New Day Update

The incredible popularity of Spider-Man: Brand New Day is drawing players back to the latest open-world titles, but they’re not just revisiting old habits. A new trend has emerged where gamers are tackling the Marvel games without any swing assist, and the results are both chaotic and entertaining.

Swing assist in Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 is a feature that helps players maintain speed and navigate through the bustling streets of New York City. It adjusts your trajectory while you swing, making it easier to dodge obstacles. The setting ranges from 10, which offers maximum correction, to 0, where you’re on your own.

By default, swing assist is enabled, but many returning players are opting to turn it off, only to realize they might not be as skilled as they thought. Clips showcasing this trend are often paired with Tame Impala’s “Loser,” the smooth track that plays during Brand New Day’s credits, or Bad Bunny’s “EeO,” which accompanies a scene where Spider-Man learns to use his organic webbing. A lot of these videos feature players in the Brand New Day suit, which was added to the game earlier this year.

The differences in gameplay are immediately noticeable. Newcomers to the no-assist setting struggle to swing fluidly, frequently coming to abrupt stops. Even seasoned players who previously thrived without swing assist are finding it challenging after a break from the game.

One TikToker humorously captured the struggle, saying, “When you hop back on Spider-Man after watching Brand New Day but your lowkey washed,” alongside a clip of Peter Parker crashing into a tree and a car within moments. Another user quipped, “POV: you’re bad at zero swing assist but you refuse to turn it on because you’re Spider-Man.”

On the flip side, some players are eager to flaunt their skills, impressing viewers with their mastery of the game. Some are so adept that others doubt they’ve actually turned off swing assist. The giveaway? Expert players can maneuver Spider-Man so close to the ground that it seems almost impossible. A video from early August 2026 showcasing this skill has already garnered 2.3 million views, with many comments expressing disbelief that the player didn’t crash immediately after.

However, not everyone is impressed by the no-swing-assist challenge. Some commenters dismiss it as a display of superiority. “Half the time playing on 0 swing assist is people with a superiority complex,” one user remarked on a viral web-slinging video. Another chimed in, “Most performative thing some1 can do,” under the username Narcissist.

Yet, there are those who argue that a bit of swing assist is essential for truly embodying the Spider-Man experience. One player, using the lowest swing assist setting, mentioned they liked to think of the extra help as akin to having Spidey-sense.

The best comment that sums up this trend? “We got Spider-Man sweats now.”

Peter’s got some new gear to celebrate his latest adventure in the MCU.