Google Maps users have started spotting Spider-Man fighting villains across New York, but the sightings are not random. The hidden Street View scenes are part of a promotion for Spider-Man: Brand New Day, with Google confirming that five custom Spider-Man moments have been embedded across select locations in New York City for fans to discover ahead of the film’s July 31 release.The hidden scenes, which include Spider-Man confronting members of the Hand, appear inside Google Maps’ Street View imagery. As users began sharing the discoveries online, Google encouraged more searches through a series of posts on X, asking fans to use their “Spidey senses” to uncover additional locations across the city.
Spider-Man hidden in Google Maps Street View
The campaign first came to light after Google Maps posted on X: “Our Street View sense is tingling, but let’s not spoil the fun yet. Can any web-slingers drop the coordinates below? 🕷️📍”The post featured an image from Long Island City in Queens. Users who opened Google Maps Street View at the location found Spider-Man outside a nearby deli and grocery store, where he appears to be battling the Hand, a ninja-like group featured in the upcoming Spider-Man: Brand New Day film.With more people searching, more Spider-Man sightings popped up, from Washington Square Park to Madison Avenue.Google later acknowledged the discoveries in another X post, writing, “Word on the street is that your friendly neighborhood Spider-Man was caught in action by our Street View car. Can you find him in Google Maps? 🕷️”After fans uncovered more locations, the company added, “Good work finding Spider-Man, Webheads! Looks like he stopped by a few more locations in NYC… use your Spidey senses to figure out where else we saw him. 📍🧵”Social media users also reacted to the unusual Street View appearances. One user wrote: “Imagine an old person looking for directions and they see f***** Spider-Man fighting villains,.”
How to find Spider-Man on Google Maps
According to Google, five customised Spider-Man scenes have been inserted in the Street View of New York City. Google will not tell you all the locations, but asks you to use Google Street View to search the city for clues that Google Maps will share on its social networking sites.The company said the Street View scenes include rooftop lookouts, web-slinging moments and the aftermath of street-level encounters, all staged specifically for the campaign before being captured by Google’s Street View cameras.
Google, Sony Pictures and Samsung launch Spidey Tracker
The Street View scavenger hunt is part of a broader promotional campaign called Spidey Tracker, created by Sony Pictures in collaboration with Google Maps Platform and Samsung.Inspired by an in-film app used by Peter Parker’s friend Ned Leeds (Jacob Batalon), SpideyTracker.com lets fans explore Spider-Man sightings, campaign events, Easter eggs, user-generated content and exclusive movie material through a customised Google Maps experience spanning 35 countries.The website uses Google Maps Platform technologies, including Maps JavaScript API, Cloud-based Maps Styling, Advanced Markers and Street View integration. It also features geolocation support, a live X feed from @SpideyTracker, event listings and downloadable wallpapers, stickers and emoji packs for Samsung Galaxy users.Google said the campaign is designed to let fans virtually explore New York while discovering hidden Spider-Man moments ahead of Spider-Man: Brand New Day’s July 31 release in theatres.The Street View activation is not Google’s first promotional use of the feature. Earlier this year, the company also used Street View as part of a campaign for a Paul McCartney album.