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TheBatman: Arkhamserieshas consistently pushed boundaries within the superhero video game genre, and is still regarded by many as the best in the biz. In 2015, series developer Rocksteady Studios faced a critical decision during the development ofBatman: Arkham Knight.
The PS4 and Xbox One, the then-new generation of consoles, were picking up steam among gamers. While some studios opted to develop cross-generational titles to cater to the established player base on PS3 and Xbox 360, Rocksteady went in a bolder direction instead.
Rocksteady PrioritizedBatman: Arkham Knight‘s Quality
The studio broke free from the shackles of the PS3 and Xbox 360 hardware, and chose to focus solely on the PS4 and Xbox One. This decision wasn’t without risk, though. When development forArkham Knightbegan in 2011, the success of these new consoles was uncertain. The rise of mobile gaming and free-to-play games led some to question the future of traditional consoles altogether.
However, Rocksteady prioritized their vision for the game. They believed that compromising the experience for last-gen hardware would diminishArkham Knight‘s overall quality. Game director Sefton Hill remarked in an interview withRed Bull:
It definitely was a gamble. No one really knew what the uptake of next-gen would be like at that original point, but when we looked at the scope of what we wanted to achieve with Arkham Knight, we knew within the first few months that if we were to remain on previous gen systems we would really have to compromise the vision.
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Thankfully, publisher Warner Bros. supported this gamble, acknowledging the potential of the new consoles.
We could either make a game that we knew was worse or really just go for it and make the game we all wanted to make and forego the previous generation of consoles. Credit to Warner for that as well, because it was a bold decision, no-one knew what the install base was going to be.
The gamble paid off, asArkham Knightreceived swathes of critical acclaim, and was lauded for its moody art direction, intricate open world, endlessly fun combat, and the introduction of the Batmobile.
The decision to focus on next-gen hardware at the time allowed Rocksteady to fully realize their vision, resulting in a landmark title for the superhero genre.
Batman: Arkham ShadowTakes A Similar Gamble With VR
Fast-forward to 2024, and Warner Bros. hasunveiled the next chapter in theArkhamsaga–Batman: Arkham Shadow. This time, the gamble involves a different kind of cutting-edge technology: virtual reality (VR).
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Developed by Camouflaj ofIron Man VRfame and Oculus Studios,Arkham Shadowwill be a VR exclusive for theMeta Quest 3, almost echoing the one made forArkham Knightand 8th-generation consoles. Just as the future of consoles was uncertain in 2011, the nascent VR market has yet to break through to the average consumer.
While some studios might choose to hedge their bets and develop for established platforms, Warner Bros. and the development team are once again prioritizing their vision. The limitless potential for immersion in VR may enableArkham Shadowto truly make you feel like Batman.
The announcement for the new game was a surprise, and since Kevin Conroy, the original VA for Batman in theArkhamgames, passed away in 2022, many are curious about who will take up the mantle.Arkham Shadowwill be fully revealed inGeoff Keighley’s Summer Game Feston June 7.
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Only time will tell whetherArkham Shadowwill achieve the same critical and commercial success asArkham Knight. However, it’ll be interesting to see how immersive of an experience it’ll be, and how well Camouflaj holds up the legacy Rocksteady left.
Viraaj Bhatnagar
Content Writer
Articles Published :247
A lifelong gamer, lover of cars, and Master’s student of Automotive Journalism, Viraaj Bhatnagar is a gaming writer at FandomWire who aims to be one of the greats. When he’s not hunched over on his laptop typing out copy, he can be found lapping circuits in Gran Turismo or slaying draugr in God of War.
