The Batman games of the last two console generations have not only been hits, but they've helped to redefine what players can expect from superhero games. It never seemed like there would be a question of whether there would be another game starring the Caped Crusader and his allies, but rather a question of when it would come out. With DC announcing a new slate of games at its Fandome event, gamers around the world found out that a new Batman game really was in development - and it would be quite different from those that had come before.
Fans have been eagerly awaiting a new Batman game, especially since the last entry - Arkham Knight - was released all the way back in 2015. There have been consistent rumors that both WB Montreal and Arkham developer Rocksteady have had various games in the work in the meantime, but no truly credible rumors emerged until earlier in 2020. Fans have been gobbling up every bit of information they could find, but DC's Fandome event finally revealed that a brand new Batman game was on its way - even if it wouldn't actually be one that starred the Dark Knight.
The biggest shift in Gotham Knights is that players will no longer be taking on the role of Batman.
The biggest shift in Gotham Knights is that players will no longer be taking on the role of Batman. Instead, players will be playing as one of the members of Batman's extended family - Nightwing, Red Hood, Batgirl, or Robin. The game will also be the first in the series to feature co-op play, allowing players to experience the open world of Gotham together as they take on villains like the Court of Owls. The game looks like it owes quite a bit to the aesthetics of the previous Arkham games, but it will actually be an entirely new adventure.
After a bit of confusion, WB Games made it clear that Gotham Knights will not be a continuation of the Arkham games. This is an entirely new continuity that certainly owes something to the look and feel of the games that came before it, but it's being made without direct ties to the story or with the involvement of former developer Rocksteady. Though Rocksteady was responsible for the main titles in the Arkham series, WB Montreal did develop the prequel game Arkham Origins and will likely use the skills gained there to bring the new game to life.
Gotham Knights will not be a continuation of the Arkham games.
Scheduled for a 2021 release, there's still quite a bit that we don't know about Gotham Knights. There's no definitive release date beyond a year, nor have the platforms been announced quite yet. What's important, though, is that a new game in the Batman universe is on its way and that it looks like it bringing quite a number of things that fans have been asking for along with it. While it may not be a new game in the Arkham universe, it really does look like a spiritual successor to those beloved games.