Revisiting Rocksteady's Epic Arkham Trilogy: A Masterpiece That Still Shines

Highlights

Batman: Arkham Trilogy's release for Nintendo Switch has been delayed until December 1, 2023, causing disappointment among fans.

Releasing the game in Fall 2024 alongside the speculated successor to the Nintendo Switch could have been a more effective approach to highlight the new hardware and generate excitement.

The proximity of the release of Batman: Arkham Trilogy to the upcoming Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League might overshadow the fresh experience and potentially influence its reception, as fans will be reminded of Rocksteady's previous achievements.

When it comes to superhero video games, few series are as beloved as the Batman: Arkham Trilogy. This trilogy features excellent portrayals of the Bat-Family and the iconic rogues' gallery, influential combat mechanics, and engaging comic stories. Rocksteady's Batman: Arkham series has rightfully earned its status as a certified classic and has been released on numerous platforms. However, the release of Batman: Arkham Trilogy on the Nintendo Switch has been delayed. Originally scheduled for October 13, 2023, the new release date is now set for December 1, 2023. While there don't seem to be any major issues with the collection, Warner Bros. has stated that it needs more time to ensure a high-quality release. Perhaps it would have been better if Rocksteady had postponed the release even further.

Why Rocksteady Should Have Held Off on its Batman: Arkham Trilogy Switch Port For a Bit Longer

If the abundance of recent rumors and leaks is to be believed, Nintendo is reportedly close to releasing a successor to the Switch. While it's always wise to approach rumors with skepticism, the significant amount of speculation and leaks surrounding a Nintendo Switch 2 suggests that there may be some truth to it. Additionally, the rumored release window aligns with Nintendo's past patterns, with the Switch 2 supposedly targeting a Fall 2024 launch date. If these rumors hold true, it would have been more advantageous for Rocksteady to postpone the release of Batman: Arkham Trilogy and launch it instead on the new Nintendo console.

During its initial launch in 2017, the Nintendo Switch had a limited game selection, leaving early adopters with few options beyond Zelda: Breath of the Wild. Consequently, many fans purchased subpar games in the console's first month simply because they were desperate for content. If the Nintendo Switch 2 follows a similar trajectory, Batman: Arkham Trilogy could have served as an excellent launch-day title, offering early adopters three exceptional games at a reasonable price. Furthermore, the Batman: Arkham Trilogy would have provided an ideal platform to showcase the enhanced hardware capabilities of the Nintendo Switch successor, which is rumored to be significantly more powerful than its predecessor.

Delaying the release of Batman: Arkham Trilogy until the launch of the Nintendo Switch 2 could create more excitement for the collection. The Batman: Return to Arkham collection, released in 2016, still feels new to many fans, which may deter long-time fans from purchasing Batman: Arkham Trilogy in December. However, shifting the release date to next Fall would allow fans an additional year to miss the Batman: Arkham series, potentially increasing anticipation for its release on the Switch.

Furthermore, delaying Batman: Arkham Trilogy would prevent it from competing with Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League. While the Batman: Arkham series is beloved and has been played numerous times by fans, Suicide Squad offers a fresh and unique experience. However, if the Suicide Squad game turns out to be underwhelming, the recent reminder of Rocksteady's excellence through Batman: Arkham Trilogy would only amplify the disappointment.

Batman: Arkham Trilogy is set to release on December 1 for Nintendo Switch.