Someone must have signed a deal with the devil over at Warner Bros. Games because their next-gen titles are, for some reason, headed to the Nintendo Switch.
Hogwarts Legacy, the Batman: Arkham trilogy, and the upcoming fighting game, Mortal Kombat 1, are all available on the Nintendo Switch or are headed there at some point in the future.
So, does it really come as a surprise that Gotham Knights is eventually coming to the Nintendo Switch?
Gotham Knights, last year’s highly-anticipated but divisive game that’s set in its own Batman universe, has become the topic of unexpected whispers. Apparently, Robin, Batgirl, Nightwing, and Red Hood are making themselves cozy on the Switch a year after a relatively lackluster outing on the PlayStation 5, Xbox Series S/X, and the PC.
The news was first hinted at when the game was rated for the Nintendo Switch in Singapore. Moreover, this isn’t just an errant listing – the ESRB website also displays the same rating, further cementing the possibility.
Given Gotham Knights’ performance on platforms such as the PlayStation 5, Xbox Series S/X, and the PC, the move hasn’t sat well with skeptics. It’s no secret that the Batman: Arkham games set a gold standard for what to expect from the Dark Knight on any platform. Those who excitedly jumped on the bandwagon for a chance to play as a member of the Batfamily found themselves disappointed with the archaic gameplay and so-so graphics of what was supposed to be a next-gen title. The difference in gameplay and quality jumps at you, not unlike that Joker jumpscare from Batman: Arkham Asylum. Overall, Gotham knights felt like a step backward.
Interestingly, this potential transition to the Switch comes after the game’s developers decided to cancel the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One versions to focus solely on next-gen platforms. It’s amusing to imagine the same game now trying to find its feet on Nintendo’s console – a considerably weaker platform.
Is it possible the listing is talking about the long-rumored Nintendo Switch 2, which reportedly appeared at this year’s Gamescom, and showcased PS5-like performance?
It’s believed that cloud-based ports of games aren’t usually rated by the ESRB, among others, which lends credence to this possibility.
In any case, this wouldn’t be the first time that the Switch has surprised everyone with its performance. As we’ve already mentioned, several next-gen games are or will be available on the platform. The possibility of porting Gotham Knights to the Switch could mean players may see optimization improvements and perhaps even a performance mode for the current-gen versions.
Turn Me Up Games, a California-based studio renowned for optimizing games for Nintendo’s hybrid platform, could be the magicians behind this venture. The studio’s work on games such as the GOTY winner, It Takes Two, is a monumental achievement given the console’s limitations. Furthermore, with their involvement in porting the Batman: Arkham trilogy to the Switch, it isn’t far-fetched to speculate that Gotham Knights might be their next big project.
With so much experience already under its belt, Gotham Knights doesn’t seem like an insurmountable challenge – it’s like betting against Batman, at this point.
