Rocksteady's Latest Disappointment Sparks Controversy and Raises Eyebrows

Highlights

The delay of the Batman: Arkham Trilogy port collection for the Switch has disappointed fans who were looking forward to playing the games on the go.

Rocksteady's recurring pattern of delayed releases, including the Arkham Trilogy and Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League, has resulted in a negative perception and loss of trust from fans. In an attempt to regain this trust in 2024, the company will need to overcome the current controversies surrounding these games. Adding to the mix, the unexpected announcement of the Batman: Arkham Trilogy for the Switch raised concerns about the performance and graphics on a handheld system. While some fans were excited about having Batman's adventures on-the-go, the release of the Trilogy has been unfortunately postponed by Rocksteady.

There was already negative discourse around Rocksteady’s ports when it was discovered that the Arkham Trilogy would not be available on a single cartridge. However, the shift away from physical releases is not the main cause for concern. Rocksteady is currently occupied with the controversial Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League, a multiplayer shooter that has drawn criticism for its live-service approach and delay until early 2024. Moreover, the delay of the Arkham Trilogy to December further adds to the developer's recent string of setbacks.

Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League’s Delay was the Only One Rocksteady Could Afford

It was disappointing to hear about the delays of Kill the Justice League for eager fans who were looking forward to the next chapter of the Arkham franchise. However, considering the criticism Rocksteady faced for incorporating live-service elements into the game, which was a departure from their previous action-adventure Batman games, fans were more understanding of the delay in hopes of seeing favorable changes made.

The changes to Kill the Justice League for its expected launch in February remain unclear. However, despite the nine-month delay, fans should not have high expectations of any significant alterations in its gameplay design. Unless Rocksteady has something truly inspiring to showcase in the next appearance of Kill the Justice League, it is likely doomed due to these pre-release expectations and assumptions alone.

Rocksteady's Arkham Trilogy was never intended to be a groundbreaking endeavor. Yet, by reminding fans of the game's origins, it could potentially facilitate a smoother transition and pave the way for the sequel. Unfortunately, with this port collection also facing delays, Rocksteady might find themselves affected by this recurring pattern.

Rocksteady’s Going to Have a Steep Hill to Climb in 2024

The Arkham Trilogy is set to release in December, just two months before Kill the Justice League. This shorter time gap between the two games could potentially make the transition from Batman to Suicide Squad smoother. However, if the Switch trilogy underperforms after its recent delay, fans will understandably be more upset. It's important to note that we should not expect Arkham Knight to look or run better than it did on the base PS4. However, if the trilogy ports don't match the stability or appeal of the previous console generation versions, it could lead to comparisons and disappointment. Even Kill the Justice League will have to compete visually with how Arkham Knight looks after nine years. While the Switch ports shouldn't be held to the highest graphical standard, it will still be a topic of discussion. Game delays often imply that changes or improvements are being made. If these changes don't meet fan expectations, it could damage Rocksteady's reputation until they prove that they have something of high quality to deliver. Ultimately, only time will tell how successful both titles will be.

Batman: Arkham Trilogy releases on Switch on December 1.