Rocksteady's Risky Gamble with Suicide Squad: Did It Pay Off?

Highlights

Fans were initially wary of Rocksteady's departure from their beloved single-player action-adventure formula, and their concerns were validated when the gameplay was unveiled, showcasing repetitive environments, lackluster foes, and uninspiring character mechanics.

Rocksteady should have started by creating a single-player Suicide Squad game or a smaller multiplayer experience before taking on the ambitious live-service model. Originally a small developer based in London, UK, Rocksteady was established in 2004 and released its first game, Urban Chaos: Riot Response, in 2006. This mediocre first-person shooter allows players to step into the boots of a riot squad member and eliminate a gang using any means necessary. However, the game's premise has not aged well. Despite its humble beginnings, Rocksteady gained recognition with the release of Batman: Arkham Asylum a few years later, establishing their place in gaming history.

Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League Might Be Too Ambitious

Despite not reaching the coveted 10/10 rating, Batman: Arkham Knight was still widely regarded as an excellent video game, instilling high hopes for Rocksteady's future. After a considerable break, Rocksteady unveiled their next project, Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League. However, as fans learned more about the game over the years, it became increasingly apparent that it deviated from the typical Rocksteady style. Furthermore, with the substantial delay currently faced by Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League, it may have been wiser for Rocksteady to have taken smaller steps before diving headfirst.

Despite its flaws, Batman: Arkham Knight demonstrated Rocksteady's exceptional talent and ability to consistently create top-notch AAA blockbusters. With their reputation firmly established, Rocksteady had the freedom to choose from a wide range of opportunities. For years, fans speculated about Rocksteady's next project, with the prevailing theories focused on the beloved comic license.

Initially, fans speculated that Rocksteady was developing a Superman game, as leaked images surfaced regularly for about a year. Later, rumors circulated about a Justice League ensemble game, and there were even claims of a Green Arrow project. Despite the changing information, the consistent theme in every theory was that Rocksteady's next game would be a single-player action-adventure, similar to Batman: Arkham.

Therefore, when Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League was announced, it surprised longtime Rocksteady fans. This 4-player multiplayer shooter seemed like a significant departure for the studio, and some fans were skeptical about their ability to handle such a drastic change. And it appears that fans may have had valid concerns. When Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League showcased its gameplay earlier this year, many fans openly expressed their disappointment. The game, which is a live-service, always-online multiplayer, lacked the distinctiveness and quality associated with Rocksteady's Arkham series. The environments appeared repetitive, the enemies were uninteresting, and the characters felt indistinguishable.

The release date for Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League was originally scheduled for May 30, 2023 but has been delayed and rescheduled for February 2, 2024. It appears that Rocksteady may be overwhelmed with the challenges posed by the game. Transitioning from a history of creating single-player action-adventure games to developing a live-service 4-player co-op game intended to have a long lifespan after release is a formidable task. Even Naughty Dog has encountered similar difficulties with their Last of Us multiplayer game. Instead of diving into such a complex project, Rocksteady should have considered starting with another single-player game centered around the Suicide Squad concept or perhaps maintained a multiplayer aspect but with a reduced player count of two, while eliminating the live-service aspect. The game is set to be released on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S on February 2, 2024.