Suicide Squad: Rocksteady's Next Superhero Hit?

Spoilers Ahead for Batman: Arkham Knight.

Rocksteady is widely known for its exceptional work on the Batman: Arkham series. The studio's talent for creating high-quality action adventure games continued to shine through its sequels, leading fans to believe that its latest project, Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League, would be no exception.

However, the game's recent gameplay reveal was met with mixed reviews, and the project has been delayed once again. Some believe that the game is deviating from what made past Rocksteady games special, opting to focus on the live-service model instead. It remains to be seen if these concerns are valid, but it's hard not to think that Rocksteady missed an opportunity for a potential smash-hit, given its success with Batman: Arkham Knight.

Batman: Arkham Knight's Unresolved Cliffhanger

Rocksteady has confirmed that Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League will be set in the same universe as the Batman: Arkham franchise. This means that the game's narrative will technically serve as a sequel to Batman's last adventure in 2015's Batman: Arkham Knight.

Furthermore, Kevin Conroy will be reprising his role as Batman, which will be his final appearance as the DC superhero following his passing last November. While the game is expected to be enjoyable in its own right, some fans may feel that Rocksteady would have been better off sticking to Batman as he is undoubtedly more fascinating and beloved than the Suicide Squad.

After defeating Scarecrow in Batman: Arkham Knight, the Caped Crusader imprisoned the memory of the Joker in his mind, ensuring that he would never be haunted by the villain again. However, before this, Scarecrow exposed Batman's true identity to Gotham City, forcing Bruce to activate the Knightfall Protocol.

This was a plan that Bruce and Alfred had prepared in case his secret identity was ever compromised. With members of the press waiting outside Wayne Manor, Bruce returned home. But as the mansion exploded in a fiery blaze, seemingly taking Wayne with it, the fate of the Dark Knight was left uncertain. The story ends on a cliffhanger, leaving fans wondering about the future of the hero.

There is Now Untapped Potential for Future Batman Games

While Bruce Wayne's decision to fake his death may have seemed extreme, it was a necessary measure to protect his loved ones from public scrutiny. By eliminating any trace of his persona, he could ensure that his family and friends wouldn't be connected to the Dark Knight. This intriguing twist opened the door for potential future storylines that could explore the aftermath of Batman's disappearance.

WB Games Montreal's Gotham Knights followed a similar plotline of a world without Batman, but it didn't quite meet fans' expectations like Rocksteady's previous works. Nevertheless, the opportunity was there for Rocksteady to take on a similar story or even venture into new territory, like exploring an older Batman passing the mantle to Terry McGinnis in a game inspired by Batman Beyond.