Rocksteady Studios’ next project after the conclusion of the Batman: Arkham trilogy has long been a subject of rumors and speculation. Specifically, the talks of the Superman game has haunted the internet’s darkest corners, similar to how Batman likes to stalk the degenerates of Gotham City. The gossip have become louder ahead of the release of Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League.
After a lengthy (and very understandable) delay, the game is finally coming out soon. But, that’s not all. According to a report by Bloomberg’s respected journalist, Jason Schreier, confirming that Rocksteady never even pitched, let alone developed, a Superman game.
You can’t exactly blame the internet for jumping on the “Rocksteady is making a Superman game” bandwagon. It has a solid track record of making the best superhero games, specifically, Batman. It was released at a time when superhero games, while good, weren’t particularly great. It set a new standard for other studios to follow, combining an immersive gameplay with intricate storytelling and a deep understanding of the source material. The only games to come close to replicating this success, despite several attempts since, are Insomniac Games’ Marvel’s Spider-Man titles. This success naturally led fans to wonder about Rocksteady’s ability to handle other beloved characters from the DC universe, with Superman at the forefront of these discussions.
Zero truth to this one. Rocksteady was never working on a Superman game https://t.co/aGvoOC2Y9l
— Jason Schreier (@jasonschreier) November 16, 2023
Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League, set to launch in February 2024, is a departure from Rocksteady’s previous work. It eschews the hero-focused narratives set in Gotham by taking place in Metropolis. Instead of the usual role as as Batman (or Superman), players take control of the members of the titular group of supervillains. Their goal? To kill the Justice League. This pivot in narrative direction and inclusion of one of the most powerful group of superheroes might have led to speculation that the title evolved from a scrapped Superman project. However, Schreier insists these rumors are unfounded, confirming the studio always planned to work on Suicide Squad.
But, just because the project was planned by Rocksteady all along, this doesn’t mean that the studio is happy about it. On one hand, it’s possible Rocksteady wanted to try something new. After working on the Batman franchise for years, it might have wanted to explore a different pocket of the DC universe without specifically giving up the gaming universe it worked so hard to build. The game, which takes place in Arkhamverse, has been in development for over seven years. This long development cycle suggests that Rocksteady is committed to delivering a similarly high quality product, even if it means deviating from the single-player narrative-driven format of its earlier outings and experimenting with a live service model with loot-based gameplay elements, not unlike Diablo, Destiny, and more.
While it’s disappointing to hear the absence of a Superman game, Rocksteady’s focus on Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League presents an opportunity to explore new dimensions within the DC universe. The studio’s decision to innovate as well as branch out into different storytelling and gameplay mechanics demonstrates a willingness to take risks and push boundaries, rather than remaining confined to established formulas.
If nothing else, it’s a brave choice when it could’ve just cashed in on the hype surrounding Batman and the original trio of Arkham games – Arkham: Origins was made by a different developer – using it to fuel interest in a Superman game that may or may not have been good anyway.
Of course, the inverse could also be true. Rocksteady could’ve been pressured to work on a Suicide Squad game to take advantage of the sudden increase in mainstream popularity of the titular squad. While comic book fans have long been aware of the existence of the Amanda Waller’s band of mischievous misfits, it’s only been in recent years that they’ve really become popular among the general public.
Ultimately, Rocksteady will have its work cut out for itself. Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 is a legitimate GOTY contender. Not only that, but it’s the fastest-selling PlayStation game ever. With Marvel’s Wolverine coming out next year, the bar for Rocksteady to meet has been set higher than ever.
To that end, Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League can’t just be another Marvel’s Avengers game, which Square Enix has pulled the plug on earlier this year.
If it’s any consolation, the DCU’s Superman film is gaining traction online with the new Superman proving himself to be worthy of the mantle with his most recent photos.
As for Superman’s video game, the closest that he’ll be starring in one is Injustice 3, which may no longer be in active development, contrary to the earlier leaks.
