This year’s Batman: Arkham Knight may be the final entry in the series developed by Rocksteady Studios, but that doesn’t mean it’s necessarily the last time you’ll see the Caped Crusader in video game form. Warner Bros. gaming boss Ames Kirshen says in a new interview that the Batman franchise has limitless potential in terms of where it could go in the future.
Speaking with the PlayStation Blog, Kirshen declined to share specifics about what’s coming next, but stressed how vital Batman, and the Arkham series specifically, is to Warner Bros.’ gaming portfolio. “Batman is one of the cornerstone IPs for Warner Bros,” he explained. “With the Arkham series, we were finally able to realize the full potential of the character.”
Kirshen added: “We don’t have anything to talk about at this time [regarding future Batman games], but the possibilities are endless with a character as dynamic and beloved as Batman.”
In addition to Rocksteady, Warner Bros. has enlisted some of its other internal studios, such as NetherRealm (Batman: Arkham City Lockdown, Injustice: Gods Among Us) and TT Games (Lego Batman), to work on extensions of the Batman franchise. The Dark Knight’s latest appearance in a game is through Lego Dimensions, Warner Bros.’ new toys-to-life franchise that launched just yesterday.
The company’s overarching approach to Batman video games is to make sure that the “core essence” of the franchise is embodied in every new game. But at the same time, it’s important not to be beholden to the past.
“You have to understand and respect the core essence of the franchise,” Kirshen aid. “But you can’t be a slave to every single aspect of its history or continuity in translating it for the gaming medium.”
“More importantly, you have to have the talent, vision, and passion from the development teams to make great games and treat them as they would an original IP,” he added. “We’ve been blessed at WBIE with studios and talent such as Rocksteady, NetherRealm, and TT Games.”
Where would you like to see the Batman video game series go next? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
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