The Arkham series has been hailed by many as some of the best comic book-based video games in modern gaming. Rocksteady’s work on the Batman: Arkham games put the developer in fantastic standing with many gamers, but the studio has unfortunately not seen much success with its most recent project.
Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League was one of the first major flops of the year, as both critics and players panned it. The game also faced plenty of controversy for seemingly killing off Batman and the rest of the Justice League. Thankfully, Kill the Justice League back-tracked on this decision, as a recent twist revealed that the murdered heroes were actually clones. This now leaves the door wide open for Batman to make a return, and according to rumors, that is the route Rocksteady is planning on taking next. Industry insider Nick Baker dropped an update that he heard Rocksteady’s next project is a new Arkham game, or at least a Batman-focused title. If that’s the case, the game could bring up some complicated feelings.
A New Arkham Game Could Bring Rocksteady Back, But With a Cost
Hopes For Other Rocksteady Superhero Games Could Become Lower Than Ever
Past job postings from Rocksteady have confirmed that the developer is currently working on a project, but its identity has yet to be confirmed. There has been speculation that the studio would continue to explore outside the realms of Batman’s story, but the failure of Kill the Justice League may have caused Warner Bros. and Rocksteady to reevaluate the next steps forward. Going back to the Arkham series may be too obvious of a move, but it would be one of the safest available.
However, this potential preference for safety could also squash the chances of another DC superhero game being the post-Kill the Justice League project. In the past, James Gunn has confirmed that his DC universe will bleed over into games, but it’s unclear to what extent. It’s possible that the next Batman game isn’t an Arkham game at all and is a brand-new series based on the character, which would be intriguing. On the other hand, though, with James Gunn’s Superman film scheduled for next summer, finally seeing a Rocksteady-made game based on DC’s most iconic character could be a strong turn.
The arrival of
Batman: Arkham Shadow
has many excited, but since it is a VR title, it doesn’t have as wide of a reach with its audience.
DC Characters Who Could Offer a Unique Story in a Rocksteady Game
- Martian Manhunter
- Green Lantern
- Wonder Woman
- Lobo
- The Joker
- Swamp Thing
- Constantine
Wonder Woman already has a game in the works with Monolith, but its production has seemingly gone silent. The Joker, of course, has been a fixture in Arkham and even Kill the Justice League, but a game from the Clown Prince of Crime’s perspective is full of possibilities. Rocksteady nailed bringing horror themes to Arkham, making a Justice League Dark game with Constantine and Swamp Thing another compelling option.
Rocksteady’s Chance to Rise From the Ashes
Unfortunately, Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League has hurt Rocksteady’s reputation, but hopefully not for long. Even if the developer chooses a new Arkham or Batman game as its next project, it will be a welcome return to form. The mysterious in-development project has yet to be confirmed, but there are already even rumors that it could be a PlayStation exclusive.
Whatever hero or villain Rocksteady chooses to make the centerpiece of its next game, returning to a narrative-driven formula would be ideal for many. If the Arkham universe is destined to grow, then bringing Batman back into the spotlight may be the best starting point.
