Source: Pixabay
The cape, the cowl, the car – when it comes to superheroes, few are truly as iconic as the Dark Knight himself, Batman.
Furthermore, one of the most impressive things about him is that he is one of only a handful of comic-book heroes to really shine in the video gaming world, with Rocksteady’s Arkham series of games featuring the character reaching major heights in terms of critical and commercial success.
Building excitement
In more recent months, excitement has of course been building around his potential return to the world of PlayStation in a new game. However, it seems that a big announcement on that front may have potentially been impacted by recent global events.
As we have reported elsewhere, a Kotaku journalist recently suggested that Warner Bros was expected to offer up some news on a new Batman game at a press conference held around the time of E3 2020 in June. However, with the major event being cancelled in recent weeks, there are question marks on when any update may now arrive.
There is currently little to no detail available on what a new Batman game may look like, but little pieces of information like a potential new logo have emerged. One thing that is certain though is that fans of the Caped Crusader would no doubt insist that it is time for him to make his return to video gaming – and here are three reasons we think they are right.
1. He’s a pop culture icon
First of all, he is an icon of popular culture who has come a long way since his first appearances in the world of comic books. He has particularly grown to become a major hit in the film world, with Robert Pattinson currently in the process of preparing for his debut in the role. His impact in gaming even stretches beyond consoles too, with the William Hill online casino, for example, featuring a host of slot games linked to the character including some based on Justice League and The Dark Knight. Put simply, the release of a new game would be a major event.
2. It’s been a while
It has been five long years since Rocksteady and Warner Bros Interactive released Batman: Arkham Knight, the last title in that acclaimed series of games. Prior to that, there was just a two-year gap between each game released in the franchise. With that in mind, it could well be argued that a new adventure featuring the character and his rogues’ gallery of famous super-villains is long overdue.
3. Fresh competition
The Arkham games were released to a fairly impressive fanfare, with many feeling that some entries set a benchmark for superhero video games. However, in the years since Arkham Knight, new contenders have emerged to challenge for that crown. For example, the Spider-Man game for PS4 received rave reviews, while a title based on Marvel’s Avengers is also now incoming. This suggests that the time may be right for Batman to return and show everyone what he can do from a gaming perspective.
Time to suit up
Batman has already made a significant impact on the world of video gaming, and that is why there is so much excitement and speculation about what a new title featuring the character could look like.
Fans have – literally – been waiting years for news on his return to video gaming, so the confirmation of E3’s cancellation is sure to have been met with disappointment. However, hopes will be high that Warner Bros will soon make the move and finally provide clear updates on what we can expect when The Dark Knight returns.