Rocksteady Studios may have dropped the ball withSuicide Squad: Kill the Justice Leaguebutthe latest rumor regarding the developer is great news for fans of theBatman: Arkhamseries. The games starring the eponymous superhero that kicked off withArkham Asylumare regarded as some of the best action-adventure experiences the video game industry has ever seen, which is what madeSuicide Squad’s lackluster gameplayall the more disappointing. Ever sinceArkham Knight, which was released in 2015, fans have begged for a return to a form and it turns out they could soon get their wish.
Posted to X (formerly Twitter) by insiderShpeshal_Nick,the leaker claims to have heard that Rocksteady is making another Batman game.
While that may be cause for celebration for fans of theArkhamfranchise, there is an aspect of the news that complicates matters: Shpeshal_Nick further alleges thatPlayStation is trying to “moneyhat” the game, implying that Sony wants to sell it as an exclusive. Until such a time as an official announcement is made, fans would do well to take this report with a grain of salt.
Should Rocksteady Return To Batman?
Fans Certainly Think So
TheBatman: Arkhamgames are recognized for putting Rocksteady on the map so the announcement that the studio was shifting away from the character forSuicide Squadhad fans concerned from the start.Kill the Justice Leagueproved to bea failure both critically and commerciallyas many lamented the fact that the middling looter-shooterfollowed the polished excellence ofArkham: Knight. With all that being said,returning to Batman may be the way forward.
While Warner Bros. Montreal attempted to carry theArkhamphilosophy forward with the spiritual successorGotham Knights,the game’s poor combat and empty open world prompted many fans to demand Rocksteady’s return. There’s undoubtedly still room for the developer to pick up where it left off with Bruce Wayne; The Dark Knight lends himself to many interpretations. The question remains as to whether there’s room to mechanically expand upon the formula.
Batman: Arkham Shadow Hands-On Preview: The Most You’ve Ever Felt Like The Caped Crusader
Batman: Arkham Shadow transports players to Gotham through immersive VR, bringing fast-paced combat, mystery solving, and exciting new storylines.
Whether or not Rocksteady does come back for a fourthBatman: Arkhamgame remains to be seen but it would likely be a strong decision.Returning to the franchise that served the studio so well as a means of saving face afterSuicide Squadcould be exactly what the developer needsto continue moving forward.As long as there’s still an opportunity to innovate,The Dark Knight will rise again.
