Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 has made its way to PC and it looks like the port has some bugs affecting players. In this guide, we will go over a quest bug that has caused the game to soft lock for some unfortunate players in a particular quest. Yes, we are talking about the Show Me New York quest bug! So, if you have been dealing with the same, read till the end to find out if there is any way to fix it.
The soft lock occurs during the “Show Me New York” mission, where the camera continuously says “Subject Obscured”, preventing progression. Even after taking multiple pictures, the game doesn’t register them correctly. Some players also report unlocking the 2099 suit after opening and closing the camera a few times, but the mission remains stuck. So, now you might be wondering whether there is a fix for this issue. If yes, continue reading till the end.
Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 Show Me New York Quest Bug: Is there any fix yet?
This quest involves helping Robbie Robertson from the Daily Bugle capture the spirit of New York through photography. Following Miles’ advice, you head to an objective marker where you see two people tossing a Captain America frisbee between rooftops. The task is to equip the camera, aim, and take a well-timed photo as the frisbee flies through the air. However, some players have reported a soft lock at this point, where the camera repeatedly displays “Subject Obscured”, preventing them from progressing. Even after multiple attempts, the game does not register the picture, leaving players stuck. So, have the developers suggested a fix?
Dev response
There’s no official fix for this soft lock yet, but it is clear that the support team is aware of this issue. Recently, the developers also released a hotfix for the game that addresses the issue related to this specific quest and other bugs. While it’s unclear if this directly fixes the problem, we suggest that you make sure that the update is installed. After this, check whether the issue persists. If yes, try these workarounds:
Reduce in-game Graphics Settings
A potential workaround is to open the game, head over to the in-game Video Settings, and try lowering the Graphics Quality preset or switching to Windowed mode. Adjusting these settings might help the game properly register the camera shot and allow you to progress. While this isn’t a guaranteed fix, it’s a good start.
Basic Checks
Here are some basic troubleshooting steps. First, restart the game. Additionally, make sure no unnecessary background applications are running, as they can interfere with game performance. Also, running the game with administrator privileges may help prevent permission-related issues and improve stability.
GPU
To improve stability and performance in Marvel’s Spider-Man 2, make sure your GPU drivers are up to date and that the game is running on your dedicated GPU instead of the integrated one. To update your GPU, visit the official website of your GPU manufacturer (NVIDIA, AMD, or Intel), download the latest drivers, and install them. After updating, go to Windows Settings > System > Display > Graphics Settings, find Marvel’s Spider-Man 2, and set it to run on High-Performance Mode. NVIDIA users can also open the NVIDIA Control Panel, go to Manage 3D Settings > Program Settings, select the game and choose your dedicated GPU. You can do the same via the AMD Radeon software.
Intel GPUs?
One player experiencing the bug swapped out their Intel GPU for an NVIDIA GTX 1050 Ti and was then able to complete the mission without any issues. So for some, the problem may be related to Intel GPU compatibility. Therefore, those with an Intel graphics card may need to switch to a different GPU as a workaround!
Frame Gen and FSR
Here is another workaround to try. For this one, you will have to start by rebooting your PC. After this, launch the game and then access the video settings. Here, disable the Frame Generation and FSR (FidelityFX Super Resolution) options. Some players have reported that this combination helps resolve stability problems and allows the game to run properly.
UI Settings
For this workaround, you will have to tweak the video settings of the game again. So, head over to the in-game Settings menu > UI and turn everything ON. While it’s unclear which specific option resolves the issue, players have reported that making this change and then restarting from the last checkpoint allowed them to complete the mission without any problems.
Low Graphics
Try setting the graphics preset to Very Low and restarting the mission. Lowering settings can reduce GPU load and potentially fix rendering issues that may be preventing the game from registering the camera shot. Additionally, turning off GPU-heavy features like Ray Tracing, DLSS Ray Reconstruction, Frame Generation, and FSR may help improve stability.
Login from a different device
Another peculiar yet working fix is to have someone else log into your Steam account or login from a different device. After this, take the required picture and save the progress. One player confirmed that this method worked for them, allowing them to move past the bug.
Use a different save file
Some players have resorted to using a different save file. To do this, first ,click here to download the save file of the game. Next, navigate to Documents > Spiderman 2, then open the folder with a random number sequence (this represents your game save directory). Replace the existing files with the provided save files and restart the game. This method will allow you to bypass the bug by loading a save where the mission has already been completed. However, be sure to back up your original save files before replacing them in case you need to undo the changes.
Last Resort
If the game keeps crashing, try verifying the game files first. On Steam, go to Library > right-click the game > Properties > Installed Files > Verify Integrity of Game Files. This will check for and replace any corrupted or missing files. Next, ensure your game is fully updated, as patches often fix bugs and improve stability. If the problem persists, consider reinstalling the game, preferably on a faster SSD, as this can reduce load times and improve performance.
We hope that one of these workarounds did the job for you. Now, before you leave, click here for more guides and updates on Marvel’s Spider-Man 2. Also, don’t forget to bookmark DigiStatement for daily gaming reads like this one!
