Batman Arkham Trilogy on Switch: A Glorious Test of Heroic Skills

The most recent Nintendo Direct had a good amount of announcements for non-Mario fans, even though it focused heavily on Super Mario. Some of the highlights included updates on the paid DLC for Pokemon Scarlet and Violet, the confirmation of Metal Gear Solid Master Collection coming to the Switch, and more details about Pikmin 4. Surprisingly, the Batman: Arkham Trilogy also made the list.

After 14 years, the Batman: Arkham series is finally coming to a Nintendo console in its entirety. While the Wii U had Batman: Arkham City and the Nintendo 3DS had Batman: Arkham Origins Blackgate, this is the first time that all three mainline Arkham games will be available on a Nintendo platform, which is a significant milestone. However, there are some challenges for the Batman: Arkham Trilogy on the Switch.

The Batman: Arkham Trilogy on Nintendo Switch Is Facing a Tough Uphill Battle

The Nintendo Switch is widely recognized for its outdated hardware, which was apparent even at its initial release in 2017. In comparison to the Xbox One and PS4, the Switch was considered inferior, and its lack of internal hardware updates since then has only accentuated its underpowered nature, especially when compared to the Xbox Series X and PS5. While first-party games like The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom have managed to perform decently on the aging console, third-party games typically struggle.

The Batman: Arkham Trilogy, comprising all three mainline Batman: Arkham games and their respective DLCs, presents an interesting case. Given that Batman: Arkham Asylum is now 14 years old, it is highly likely that it will run smoothly on the Nintendo Switch. However, the transition to a larger open-world format and more expansive levels in Batman: Arkham City might pose some challenges for the trilogy. The game may struggle to run optimally on the Switch, potentially resulting in compromises to both graphics and performance. These concerns were already somewhat evident in the announcement trailer, particularly when showcasing characters' faces.

The Nintendo Switch version of Batman: Arkham Knight, the largest installment in the series, may encounter significant challenges. When the game initially launched in 2015, it experienced a notorious and disastrous release on PC, plagued by frame rate issues and frequent crashes. Although it is expected that Arkham Knight will run on the Switch without crashing, it is highly likely that the game will suffer a substantial downgrade, particularly in terms of visuals.

The Batman: Arkham Trilogy on the Nintendo Switch is already facing an uphill battle, which could worsen given the current state of Rocksteady. While these games have garnered widespread adoration, Rocksteady's upcoming title, Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League, has not received the same positive reception. The studio had to delay the game by almost a year in an attempt to rectify the numerous issues fans discovered in its gameplay reveal trailer. This disappointing reveal has left some fans disillusioned with Rocksteady as a brand. If the Batman: Arkham Trilogy fails to perform well on the Nintendo Switch, it could potentially deliver the final blow to Rocksteady's reputation. However, if Rocksteady manages to overcome these challenges, the Batman: Arkham Trilogy has the potential to restore faith in the developer, reminding fans why the studio was highly respected in the first place.

Batman: Arkham Trilogy will launch on Nintendo Switch in Fall 2023.