Exclusive: Batman: Arkham Trilogy Unveils an Exciting Surprise on Switch!

The highly anticipated Batman: Arkham Trilogy will not be available on a single cartridge and will require a download. This unexpected development may dampen the excitement that followed the Arkham Trilogy's initial announcement during the June Nintendo Direct.

First leaked by WTT in 2022, Batman: Arkham Trilogy is set to join the list of many reissued titles from the successful Batman: Arkham series. Featuring Batman: Arkham Asylum, Arkham City, and Arkham Knight, along with all their DLC packs, this collection promises to be one of the finest ways to experience these games. The addition of the Nintendo Switch's portability only enhances the appeal, making it a thrilling prospect for fans. However, as is often the case with Switch ports, certain compromises have had to be made in order to accommodate these three massive games on the hybrid console.

As indicated in the FAQ section of the collection, Batman: Arkham Trilogy is among the various Nintendo Switch ports that necessitate a download to access all of the content, even if you purchase the physical version. Choosing to buy the game on a cartridge will only grant you access to Arkham Asylum, requiring a visit to the Nintendo Switch eShop to unlock Arkham City and Arkham Knight. Once this additional purchase is made, all three games can be accessed by simply inserting the cartridge.

The exact amount of space required for the download was not specified, but considering the expansive maps, additional content, and numerous DLC expansions in both Arkham City and Arkham Knight, it would be wise to have some extra storage available. Unlike some other Switch ports, the Arkham Trilogy does not seem to be a Cloud release and may not necessitate a continuous internet connection, which sets it apart from those games.

Although these compromises were not mentioned in the official Nintendo Direct announcement, it seems clear in hindsight that they would be present. The Nintendo Switch is now in its seventh year, utilizing a chip that was already outdated back in 2017, and only offering 32GB of internal storage (64GB in the OLED model). Nintendo has a unique way of compressing larger games to fit and run smoothly on the platform, but they have not shared this technique with third-party developers, resulting in measures like these being taken to bring their software to the Switch. Even just by watching the trailer, it is evident how the graphics have been significantly compromised, especially in Arkham Knight. With rumors of a new Switch console on the horizon, perhaps Turn Me Up Games could have waited a bit longer before releasing the port.

Batman: Arkham Trilogy is coming exclusively to the Nintendo Switch in fall 2023.

Source: Warner Bros. Games