It looks like even Rocksteady Studios agrees that Robert Pattinson is The Batman now. Over two years after The Batman premiered in theaters and eight years after Batman: Arkham Knight first came out, Rocksteady is apparently preparing to update one of gaming’s best success stories – Arkham Knight was abhorred at launch due to poor optimization – by adding in one of the more controversial castings in recent memory (which ultimately paid off, by the way.)
New screenshots “confirm” an unexpected update to Arkham Knight, as spotted by @Venturian628 on X, showcasing the suit in action through a series of photo mode snapshots. As if it wasn’t surprising enough, neither the Arkham nor the Batman social media platforms have made any announcement regarding this development, adding an air of mystery.
This new costume, while mirroring Pattinson’s attire from the 2022 film, has aspects that make it stand out. The suit was initially believed to be exclusive to the Epic Games Store version of the game, but it has since been removed from the said platform. A screenshot of the suit selection screen features the attire with the caption, “I am the shadows”, hinting at its affiliation with the Pattinson-led film.
none lol there are some screenshots though, not mine obviously pic.twitter.com/Jx5CCZ44AL
— Jᐰke Is Hyped For The Sonic Movie 3 (@Venturian628) October 26, 2023
What makes this update even more intriguing is the uncertainty surrounding its authenticity. The costume’s icon isn’t of the highest quality and appears less polished than other in-game icons. This glaring anomaly could raise doubts about its legitimacy. However, the screenshots do seem true following the reveal of a 51-second clip of gameplay featuring the new Batsuit. The fluidity of motion during combat, as Batman battles criminals in Gotham, clearly shows that the suit isn’t merely a photo edit. But, it remains unclear if it’s an official update or a mod as fans wait for an official announcement from the game’s developers or film’s representatives.
A plausible explanation for this sudden appearance could be tied to the impending release of Batman: Arkham Trilogy for the Nintendo Switch, which was initially slated for an October release but has now been pushed to December. Given the timing, it’s conceivable that the new suit was meant to accompany the trilogy’s Switch release and might have accidentally been released ahead of schedule on the Epic Games Store.
From the Fidlock buckles on the bicep armor to the intricate battle damage on the cowl, the design appears screen-accurate. Notably, Arkham Knight has a legacy of offering alternate costumes based on various live-action batsuits. This new addition, while not officially announced, joins the ranks of Michael Keaton’s 1989 Batman suit, Christian Bale’s Dark Knight armor, and Ben Affleck’s 2016 Batman V Superman attire.
Amidst this speculation, there are calls for Rocksteady to return and update Arkham trilogy for modern consoles. Even if it’s still almost a decade old, many still regard the trio of games, specifically Arkham Knight, in high regard, with plenty of fans considering it one of the best superhero games of all time, equaled if not surpassed only by the recent release of Marvel’s Spider-Man 2. Some hope for improvements like 60fps support for console versions, while others dream of a 4K, HDR, 60fps update for the entire Batman: Arkham series.
If the update isn’t for the Switch, there’s still another possible culprit: the remastered Arkham Knight RTX version from a still-reliable Nvidia GeForce Now leak.
Whether this implies that the game will receive new outfits or further enhancements remains a subject of speculation. The good news is that, Turn Me Up, known for its impeccable track record, is responsible for the porting of the game on the Switch. Its expertise is a guarantee that the aging console can handle the bat-mobile and destruction sequences as well as it can, resulting in an overall satisfactory experience.
Speaking of The Batman, a sequel to the Matt Reeves’ film is on the way following the reboot’s commercial success. But, fans will have to wait for a while before it premieres. In the meantime, Warner Bros. Discovery is keeping audiences occupied with the release of spin-offs, including The Penguin.
Rocksteady Studios is currently working on Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League, which was delayed to next year.
