The name of the upcoming Batman game from WB Games Montreal is Gotham Knights, a cinematic co-op brawler set in a Gotham City plagued by familiar villains like Mr. Freeze and a faceless threat known as the Court of Owls. This revelation comes a long and teaser-filled lead-up to today’s DC FanDome announcement, and it can be hoped that all the player investment will pay off in 2021.
Gotham Knights‘ story focus on the Court of Owls has been an open secret for months (with Batman: Court of Owls having been the presumed title for some time now), so there was likely little fan surprise when owl mask-wearing creeps showed up toward the end of the game’s reveal trailer. However, the rest of the game’s main focus has somehow remained tightly under wraps. This is especially surprising considering the hype-inducing teases and full-blown ARG that WB Games has led players through until today’s announcement, so the amount of new info is refreshing, if not somewhat anti-climactic.
Opening on an emotional goodbye from an aging Bruce Wayne passing the torch onto his pupils, it’s now known that Batman isn’t the star of Gotham Knights thanks to today’s DC FanDome announcement trailer, which can now be viewed in its native 4K glory on the official Gotham Knights YouTube channel. Running counter to the traditional Batman Arkham-style gameplay popularized by Rocksteady’s beloved series, Gotham Knights instead will focus on Robin, Batgirl, Nightwing, and Red Hood taking up the Dark Knight’s mantle as Gotham’s watchful protector in co-op gameplay. Thematically, the new title looks to break the mold of the popular franchise’s usual depiction in the gaming medium.
In terms of gameplay, however, it’s not so certain that players will be quite so impressed. Beyond looking somewhat slow and plodding for a co-op brawler set in one of gaming’s hottest licensed properties in in the reveal’s accompanying gameplay trailer, Gotham Knights doesn’t look very inspired from a mechanical perspective. Players might be wary of the game’s potential to lean too heavily into the kind of live-service model popularized by the likes of Destiny, evidenced by the mixed reaction to the Marvel’s Avengers beta. That said, if it stays true to the story focus shown today, Gotham Knights could be the first DC property to outperform a Marvel one in years.
Of course, it’s far too early to make sweeping predictions about a game before audiences are given a better look at what will really be on offer at launch and where WB Games Montreal’s ultimate interests lie. The studio was able to masterfully control public knowledge of its upcoming title and revealed its story and gameplay in one fell swoop, pulling it all off without so much as a hitch. As such, Gotham Knights might have more surprises tucked away in its utility belt.
Gotham Knights will be available in 2021.
