Earlier this year, Warner Bros. Games made it public that they were canceling the Wonder Woman game that they’d previously announced, leaving many eager DC comics fans disheartened by the news. To pour salt in the wound, it was recently revealed through the release of concept art by Montreal Principal Artist Rodrigue Pralier, that there was a new Batman game in the works that was canceled as well.
First rumored about 5 years ago with some leaked concept art, this potential Arkham sequel code-named “Project Sabbath” was apparently scrapped during early design phases. The game was said to feature Damian Wayne taking up his father’s mantle as the Batman and would include recognizable series heroes and villains including Huntress, Killer Croc, and more than likely Poison Ivy, Two Face, and a handful of other characters from the B-man’s rogues’ gallery.
Though fans were never treated to an official announcement, its existence was leaked a few years back when that first round of concept art got out. The leaked information all indicated that the game would serve as the fifth entry in the Batman: Arkham series and would be set around ten years after the events of Batman: Arkham Knight. If this project had reached maturity, so too would have Bruce Wayne, giving fans a look at a more aged and grizzled Batman.
In comparison to the previously “leaked” images from about 5 years ago when the game was originally assumed to be in production, it would seem that much more rendering progress had been made on the project since the initial character concept mock-ups.
It was also reported that the game would feature connections to the Batman Beyond storyline, drawing inspiration from one of the more beloved arcs in the Batman franchise. Unfortunately, due to WB’s insistence on the inclusion of online multiplayer capabilities and live-service mechanics, it remains to be seen whether or not fans of the Arkham series will ever get another true sequel to dive into.
With that said, in the recent news around Warner Bros. restructuring efforts it was made incredibly clear that the newly focused studios would certainly be focusing on more Batman games moving forward. There have also been more than a few rumors in recent months about “insider leaks” indicating that Rocksteady is currently developing a new single-player story focused Batman: Arkham game, but until something is officially revealed, I will choose not to get my hopes up.
With the critical and commercial failure of Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League, many DC fans are concerned for the future of their favorite comic book characters in the current gaming landscape. Only time will tell if WB starts listening more intently to the feedback from the fans and treat us all to a return to form, and I for one and cautiously optimistic.
Would you have loved the canceled Batman game? Are you hopeful for more in the Batman: Arkham series? Do you think WB will handle the franchise properly after their restructuring efforts? Let us know over on the Discord!
