Rocksteady's next Batman game a stylized prequel - Report

North London developer supposedly adopting new art style for game that details Batman's first meeting with Joker, arriving in 2014 at earliest.

The next game in Rocksteady Studios' Batman series will be a "highly stylized" prequel, Hollywood news site Variety reports today. The game will reportedly detail Batman's first encounter with the Joker, and is based on the Silver Age of DC comics from the 1950s.

Gamers may want to temper their excitement for the project, as the site reports the new Batman game is not likely to arrive until 2014 at the earliest. Additionally, Mark Hamill said last October that he will not reprise his role as the Joker in the next game.

As of press time, neither Warner Bros. nor Rocksteady Studios had responded to GameSpot's request for comment.

Rocksteady Studios' first Batman game, Arkham Asylum, launched in 2009 to a strong critical reception. A sequel--Arkham City--debuted last October and had shipped 6 million copies as of February.

Eddie Makuch
By Eddie Makuch, News Editor

Eddie Makuch (Mack-ooh) is a News Editor at GameSpot. He works out of the company's Boston office in Somerville, Mass., and loves extra chunky peanut butter.

7 comments
blaze_boy30
blaze_boy30

I found John DiMaggio voicing Joker to be a pretty descent in the Red Hood movie. Maybe he can do it.

LoganWesker
LoganWesker

no rocksteady makes me very nervous...

Duffman93
Duffman93 like.author.displayName 1 Like

I hope its not an entire prequel. I bet scarecrow gases batman into reliving past memories, and thats when you get to play the first meeting with the joker, or maybe he has some sort of mind fit that makes him relive past moments, building up as the story progresses only to reveal the joker isnt really dead! or probably something cooler. cant decid who the main villains would be , i bet killer croc will play a part, and it would be interesting to see the ventriloquist as a villain cos he freaks me out. also hope its set in gotham. i tend not to trust what rocksteady say, they have a habit of leaking fake information until the last minute.

costa4392
costa4392

Rocksteady is making a new batman game but i am shure it won't be a silver age... the next one will involve ''the identity theft, Azrael and the main villain will be scarecrow" there are soo many easter eggs. im shure its just a rumor about the silver age. if you notice in harley quins revenge, at a part when you are batman... u chat with gordon for a bit and if u ask him more questions he's like ''hey batman after this is done we have to deal WITH THE OTHER PROBLEM REMEMBER".... what other problem? i am shure that means something, like a sequel.

maddawg002
maddawg002

The batman games are awesome including when catwoman was brought in in arkham city, the gamer that made these games should do a thrid were you can explore gotham city with batman catwoman or download content nightwing, they should do a story were ivy and scarecrow take over gotham like they did in arkham and the cat and bat have too stop them from kidnapping the commissioner and mayor and stop ivy from exposing poison upon gotham, batgirl or aka Oracle make a camy in it.

DBZMaNiAc04
DBZMaNiAc04 like.author.displayName like.author.displayName like.author.displayName 3 Like

Definitely don't want a prequel. There's still so many things they can do by moving this game forward with the story which have been mentioned throughout the comments already. If this is the way it's going to be an mark hamil sticks to his guns and doesn't play the joker, there is only one replacement and only one. John DiMaggio. Don't get me wrong noone can touch hamil,s joker but John does a damn fine job of making the character his own.

epic542
epic542 like.author.displayName like.author.displayName like.author.displayName like.author.displayName like.author.displayName like.author.displayName 6 Like

This makes me angry, I dont wanna wait 2 games to continue the story, i want to find out what happens with the Hush Case, and Azreal, and Scarecrow returning, i want more riddles (this will probably still happen though). I also really want something to do with the Red Hood, and Nightwing and Robin will help. This sounds like a really long game but totally worth it.

seal180
seal180

it better be good if its not coming out till 2014

L_B_123
L_B_123 like.author.displayName 1 Like

The massive problem with the Azreal plot is it screams a new game, plus the fact that they released a GOTY would be odd for them to release another Arkham city dlc

MegandDia128
MegandDia128 like.author.displayName like.author.displayName 2 Like

Just because They are going back into the universe doesn't mean its going to be bad, It could possible end up being just as amazing as the others and given Rocksteady's reputation on these two it will be amazing I nave no doubt.

 

I didn't think that Arkham City was as good as Arkham Asylum, in my opinion. Perhaps I liked the atmosphere of Arkham Asylum better. But Arkham cities story's and senerios were way more intense. both games are epic, and a third is going to be just as good.

turkey39470
turkey39470

Well guess we knew they would kill the game sometime. It's so stupid in my opinion. Name 1 game that didn't tank when they try to go back to the beginning. We want the entire Gotham City to explore and as many of Batman's foes as possible to fight. Guess there is always the new Spiderman game.

Dakhoth
Dakhoth like.author.displayName 1 Like

 @turkey39470

Metal Gear Solid didn't tank after they took it back to Big Boss' beginning.  In fact, Metal Gear Solid 3 was the best game in the series (until 4 rolled out). 

gilalizard
gilalizard

60's Batman?  Meh.

 

Now if they made the prequel game along the lines of Frank Miller's Year One comic and Nolan's Batman Begins film, where Bruce Wayne first develops his alter ego, that would be something.

 

Either that, or a full Catwoman game that follows her story after Arkham City.

 

No 60-70's camp though.  Keep the darker tone.

HeroFromKrypton
HeroFromKrypton

@gilalizard The silver age ended in the late 60s for Batman.  At that point, Batman was revamped by Dennis O'Neil.  It didn't go to the gritty extremes of Frank Miller obviously, but it was much more down to Earth and serious by comparison to the silver age.

herman-huaco11
herman-huaco11 like.author.displayName like.author.displayName like.author.displayName like.author.displayName 4 Like

NO, NO they should be looking forward not backwards, since the Batman universe is so rich. I just wanna see Nightwing's game or one of the several macrosagas that Batman's universe has. So people, the bottom line is MOVE FORWARD, is more comfortable than backwards.

Dmitheon
Dmitheon

He probably said he wasn't going to do it any more because of how AC ended. I think with enough money and fan support, he'd do it. It's not like he's doing much else right now.

Phazevariance
Phazevariance like.author.displayName like.author.displayName like.author.displayName like.author.displayName like.author.displayName like.author.displayName like.author.displayName like.author.displayName like.author.displayName 9 Like

If they are making anothe rbatman with Joker, they need Mark Hamill.  Otherwise, leave the joker out of it.

epic542
epic542

I totally agree, why would Mark Hamill quit, i mean, he is so good at being the joker, I mean WHY NOT BE THE JOKER, you'd get lots of cash.

No Hamill, No Joker. Leave it to Bane or something.

dbzpranav
dbzpranav like.author.displayName like.author.displayName like.author.displayName 3 Like

Well rocksteady can make brilliant games everyone knows that, but WB is taking away two things that made AA and AC great, one, Rocksteady's gritty and dark tone and styling and two, their freedom in choosing the story and setting and I'm really concerned about that.

domokun00
domokun00

 @dbzpranav Who said it couldn't be dark and gritty, and Rocksteady probably chose the story themselves.

Wyckid
Wyckid

Yeah, Hamill also said that when they wrapped up Arkham Asylum...  and Arkham City...  And DCU Online...

epic542
epic542

Well, he said, For sure, For sure that he would do it anymore.

Ranma_X_basic
Ranma_X_basic

Wonder who they'll get to voice the joker in this prequel game since Mark hamill mentioned he's no longer doing it?! personally i prefer hamill as the joker because he's the only person that is right for the job. 

 

Also if kevin Conroy is voicing bruce wayne/batman again i'm happy.

dawnofhero
dawnofhero like.author.displayName like.author.displayName like.author.displayName like.author.displayName like.author.displayName 5 Like

A Batman game where Batman can explore Gotham City - First game you were on an island, second game in a walled-off part of Gotham, and now the third game should have Gotham city as the main playground.

blitxxx1981
blitxxx1981

 @dawnofhero I agree... the 3rd should be more explorative....

 

I would rather have a 1980's batman, go through "The Killing Joke" (where Joker paralizes Batgirl Barbara Gordan) and "Death in the Family" (Where the Joker kill's Robin aka Jason Todd aka the now Red Hood)

epic542
epic542 like.author.displayName 1 Like

I AGREE RED HOOD ALL THE WAY

The-Neon-Seal
The-Neon-Seal like.author.displayName like.author.displayName like.author.displayName like.author.displayName like.author.displayName 5 Like

As long as they drop challenge mode for a more expansive campaign I will be happy. Thought Arkham City's campaign was disapointingly short compared to the epic length of Asylum.

dbzpranav
dbzpranav like.author.displayName 1 Like

 @The-Neon-Seal What version of Arkham City did you play? Its almost twice as long as Asylum!

PaffDADDY
PaffDADDY like.author.displayName 1 Like

 @dbzpranav way to contradict reality. Conservative estimate: Arkham Asylum's campaign is 50% longer than City's, actually a bit more so. Somebody on youtube beat the entire Arkham City campaign from start to finish in under 1 hour and 48 minutes

slicedbread117
slicedbread117 like.author.displayName like.author.displayName 2 Like

I have no doubts that Rocksteady will make another fantastic Batman game but I really hope i don't have to wait until 2014. And I can't see anyone else play the joker besides Mark Hamill honestly. 

megaspiderweb09
megaspiderweb09 like.author.displayName like.author.displayName like.author.displayName 3 Like

Why dont they just make Batman Beyond, i mean, with all that futuristic setting

cdog21
cdog21

 @megaspiderweb09 

 

They'd have to get Terry's VA to do justice with it. It would sound off replacing Will with another VA.

kos_maverik
kos_maverik like.author.displayName like.author.displayName like.author.displayName like.author.displayName 4 Like

2014? Prequel? Why?? I have already met the Joker and i just let him die!I want a sequel to explain Harlequin's pregnancy tests, Joker's and Tania's deaths, not to see how batman MET joker!

epic542
epic542 like.author.displayName 1 Like

In Harley Quin's Revenge it shows Scarface dressed as the joker in a baby carriage with another pregnancy test resulting in negative. (and its Talia. Just letting you know).

epic542
epic542

wow, i didn't see how many people said what i said already, sorry.

kos_maverik
kos_maverik

@epic542 hehe ok, I got it! I played HQR and I'm now sure that she's not pregnant :( ! Oops, my mistake :p I don't want to revive wrong person!

Valas_Azuviir
Valas_Azuviir like.author.displayName like.author.displayName 2 Like

 @kos_maverik 

 

Sounds like you haven't played the last dlc.

 

After Harley's encounter with Robin, she may no longer be pregnant.

Getting punched and kicked in the stomach isn't exactly conductive to a pregnancy.

 

:P

patrib1103
patrib1103

 @Valas_Azuviir  @kos_maverik You obliviously haven't played the DLC either Valas. Harley Quinn didn't lose her pregnancy because of the encounter with Robin. If you check out Joker's HQ as Batman before the encounter, you can see that all her pregnancy tests is negative. She already lost her pregnancy before Robin punched her. Use your brain before you speak.

kos_maverik
kos_maverik

@patrib1103 @Valas_Azuviir Well, I just finished the dlc and I did notice the negative pregnancy tests.. You're right about that, I just don't believe joker is really done!

kos_maverik
kos_maverik

 @Valas_Azuviir Well, no I haven't :P

Too bad for her :(

You still do not know what has really happened to Joker tho! I really hope the SEquel proves his death wrong!!

MooncalfReviews
MooncalfReviews

We're all tired of prequels. Somebody tell the people who make these things?

GSuser10
GSuser10

Sounds awesome. But it sad that Mark Hamill won't be the Joker anymore.

 

burgo81
burgo81

it is not a prequel it is a justice league game with batman in it, game spot just reported it incorrectly

epic542
epic542

Lame, BATMAN ALL THE WAY.

Bumblebee1138
Bumblebee1138

That's Injustice game

patrib1103
patrib1103

 @Bumblebee1138 No! That game is developed by NetherRealm Studios. An this is a prequel for the love of... Because it introduces Batman to the other DC Heroes. And it includes the first meeting with Joker. And it is a modernized version of the old-school Silver Age from the 90's. It so screams a prequel.

Bumblebee1138
Bumblebee1138

It is so clear that my first comment was a reply to that other guy. But I guess one should have common sense to understand such simple thing. :P

Bumblebee1138
Bumblebee1138

I was replying to that other guy saying about that this is the Justice League game. It's not. It's a Batman prequal. The JL related game is Injustice

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