Future DC games may be stuck between a rock and a hard place

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After recent releases failed to impress audiences, Warner Bros. revealed that it will change the focus a bit. Instead of developing titles across its vast IP, the studio plans to put more emphasis on four franchises: Mortal Kombat, DC Comics, Harry Potterand Game of Thrones. With DC Comics, the studio wants to focus specifically on Batman and his intriguing list of supporting characters. While it may lead to something special, it may not be the best way forward.




As with Marvel, DC has made a name for itself with its massive cast of characters. Gamers have fallen in love with Wonder Woman, The Flash, Green Lantern and all of DC's leading characters. However, Batman's massive success has overshadowed all of them, so naturally the studio wants to focus on his story more than anyone else's. And while that has led to some great titles over the years, too much focus on him could put DC's future in a tough spot.

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Family

Why a bat family's role in future Arkham games may be set in stone

The Arkhamverse is alive and well and yet Batman's immortal popularity makes it unlikely that his companion will be in the spotlight anytime soon.

DC's focus on Batman may not be a good way forward


The Arkham series is currently in a difficult situation

One of the main reasons why focusing on Batman might not be the best idea is that his video game life seems to be in a rough state right now. While LEGO Batman franchise has gone from here to here, the Batman: Arkham the series hasn't had much luck lately. The original Arkham trilogy helped define what a great superhero game should be, but since then Arkham Knightthe series has struggled to achieve the same effect.

Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League was supposed to be the next massive Rocksteady-led adventure in this series, but it failed to deliver. The focus on live service proved extremely controversial, the story felt lackluster to many and the whole experience paled in comparison to what came before. Additionally, the story's use of the Caped Crusader left a sour taste in the mouths of many.

Outside Suicide squadthe other Arkham games after the main trilogy have also struggled to impress audiences. The 2013s Batman: Arkham Origins and Batman: Arkham VR met with mixed reception, and Batman: Arkham Shadow has seemingly come and gone despite good reviews. While another main line Batman: Arkham The game might be worth a shot, if it continues the franchise's recent trend, it might also dampen it further for many.


Too many Batman experiences can burn players out

Of course, Warner Bros. needs not just stick to Batman: Arkham comics, because superheroes are rebooted all the time. There are still plenty of stories waiting to be told and gameplay styles waiting to be exploited, so the potential for a Batman-led adventure in a different style is seemingly limitless. But the time may be right to move away from Batman altogether, despite Warner Bros.' plans.

Batman has been the face of the DC brand for years, being its most profitable hero. He has seen countless movies and appeared in many video games in recent years. As of now, there are even two live-action The Dark Knight series in the works, and his most famous villain just got a brand new standalone film in the form of Joker: Folie a Deux. Fans don't have to look far for any kind of Batman content, which is great, but if video games also continue to focus on him, those same fans could quickly become burned out.


Warner Bros. risks having too much of a good thing on its hands by focusing on Batman. DC is filled to the brim with characters that could shine in their own video games. If Batman is all fans get, those experiences won't feel as special anymore. But if there are other heroes' stories in between whatever Bruce Wayne does next, it could be the perfect way to build anticipation. Hopefully that's exactly what will happen, but based on what Warner Bros has said, it could be a long time before players get anything besides Batman.

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