The next entry into the Batman: Arkham franchise is rumored to be a Meta Quest-exclusive VR title and follows the negatively reviewed Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League.
The upcoming game is currently known as Batman: Arkham Shadow and will be the official next part of the Batman Arkhamverse. It joins other memorable titles in the franchise, including Arkham Asylum, Arkham City, and Arkham Knight.
Next Game in Batman: Arkham Franchise
(Photo : Camouflaj, Rocksteady Games / Screenshot taken from official website)
Similar to Arkham VR, the new game in the franchise is said to be completely exclusive to virtual reality. Not only that, but it would also be exclusive to only one VR headset, in particular, the Meta Quest 3.
The developer behind the next game in the Batman: Arkham franchise is Camouflaj, which is best known for Iron Man VR and stealth-action game Republique. The latter started out as a non-VR game but later made the jump to virtual reality.
The developer has described the upcoming VR game as their biggest project so far. It is also apparently "being crafted to be the ultimate VR game and take full advantage of Meta Quest 3," according to Rock Paper Shotgun.
Camouflaj also said that the new Batman: Arkham game will be a "distinctly Arkham-feeling game but done in a way that leverages the immersive magic only VR can provide." The title would still be considered canon in the universe that was established by the likes of Asylum, City, and Knight.
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The teaser trailer for Batman: Arkham Shadow does not show much about the game other than it is an actual Batman game. For now, a full reveal for the title is expected at Summer Games Fest which is scheduled on June 7, 2024, and it has a planned release in late 2024.
While there wasn't much gameplay footage shown in the teaser trailer, it did suggest that the game will likely include a lot of "glide through Gotham" traversal sections. These were what made Batman: Arkham City so popular among fans of the franchise.
A Meta Quest-Exclusive VR Game
So far, Meta has not yet shared who will be chosen to voice the iconic Dark Knight in the upcoming VR game. Of note, Kevin Conroy, who is best known for voicing the first-ever animated version of the superhero, already passed away in 2022, said The Verge.
The official blurb of the upcoming VR game reads that Gotham is in danger and there is only one who can save it. It urges fans to prepare to enter Gotham for a new story set in the Batman: Arkham franchise on Meta Quest 3 in late 2024.
The reveal of Batman: Arkham Shadow comes only three months after Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League was launched. The latter was developed by the franchise's creator, Rocksteady Game.
The latest game in the series is a high-profile flop for both developer and publisher and has garnered widespread negative feedback from the community. It also has extremely low player numbers on Steam despite a recent update that added the Joker as a playable character, according to IGN.
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