Insomniac Games, the creator of Spider-Man 2, urges buyers of the physical release of the game to install Day 1 patch 1.001.002 for the best gaming experience. The physical disc, complete in itself and playable without requiring patches or online connectivity, significantly benefits from installing the patch. The enhancements brought by the Day 1 patch include general refinements to improve the gaming experience and additional undisclosed accessibility options.

Downloading the digital version of Spider-Man 2 eliminates the need for a separate patch download, since patch 1.001.002 comes pre-loaded with the game. Insomniac's message highlights the increasing trend of Day 1 patches among big-budget game titles offering immediate game improvements. This can prove inconvenient for physical release owners who prefer to play offline.

In the official review of Spider-Man 2, the game was described as "blessed and cursed". The gameplay, Insomniac's sequel in the successful series, sticks predominantly to familiar and comfortable combat and web-swinging mechanisms. While the world of New York City has been expanded within the game, it has not necessarily improved, with "an exhausting checklist of mostly repetitious side activities".

Spider-Man 2 is set to launch on PS5 on October 20. A series of reviews and discussions on the performance of Spider-Man 2 on PS5 can be found on the IGN website.