Gotham Knights

Gotham Knights is the first game set in Gotham City since 2015's Batman: Arkham Knight and the first game released by developer Warner Bros. Montréal since 2013's Batman: Arkham Origins.

However, it is not a sequel to the Batman: Arkham series, which takes place in a different version of the DC universe.

Pricing, platforms, release date

Gotham Knights was unveiled after years of rumors at 2020's DC FanDome event that occurred online due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The game was targeting a 2021 release date, but publisher Warner Bros. Games had to delay it to 2022 to deliver a better product.

A more precise launch date was announced in March 2022 to be on October 25th. However, a few weeks ago, fans learned that they would get to enter Gotham City four days earlier than planned, thanks to a rare instance of a release date being moved forward.

The original announcement of Gotham Knights included PlayStation 4 and Xbox One as platforms where the game would be available. However, these versions were subsequently canceled, leaving only PC and next-generation consoles such as PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series S|X.

Pre-orders are now available on all platforms, with all pre-orders getting the 233 Kustom BatCycle skin. The PC version is cheaper, priced at $59.99 for the Standard Edition and $79.99 for the Deluxe Edition, which includes the Visionary Pack's following items.

- Exclusive ‘’Knightwatch by Jim Lee’’ Transmog
- Beyond Suitstyle, inspired by Batman Beyond universe
- Salvage to build new Gear
- Boosted Gear
- Exclusive Emote
- 3 Exclusive Suit Colorways:
• Ultra Zur-En-Arrh
• Chroma Frost
• Tribute Asylum

Console customers can get each version with a $10 surplus, as is the case with most games.

There is also a Gotham Knights Collector's Edition, priced at $299.99 for consoles and $289.99 for PC. It includes the following items:

• Collector Box
• Gotham Knights Deluxe Edition Digital Download
• Original Ledbook Packaging & 16-Page Mediabook
• Augmented Reality Collectible Pin, Gotham City Map
• Exclusive Knights Diorama inspired by Jim Lee & Certificate of Authenticity
• In-game content such as Promethium New Guard Transmogs and Visionary Pack

Setting

As briefly mentioned earlier in this post, Gotham Knights is set in a different version of the DC universe compared to the Batman: Arkham games. The main reason for that is the developers wanted to be free of any constraints that would come up with being connected to that universe.

The premise is rather brutal, as Bruce Wayne himself is supposedly dead alongside long-time ally James Gordon, Gotham City's Police Commissioner. With the two bastions of lawfulness removed, Gotham City soon experiences a rampant rise in criminal activity, leaving Batman's protégées with only one option: step into the shoes of Bruce Wayne to try and save the city. Gotham Knights lets players choose between four of the most popular members of the so-called BatFamily: Robin (Tim Drake), Nightwing (Dick Grayson), Batgirl (Barbara Gordon), and Red Hood (Jason Todd).

They will have to deal with several classic villains, such as the Penguin, Mr. Freeze, Harley Quinn, Clayface, and chiefly the secretive and shadowy Court of Owls, which is the centerpiece of the narrative featured in the Batman: Gotham Knights comic book series that inspired the game.

As a side note, the upcoming Gotham Knights TV series in production at The CW does not have any ties with this game whatsoever.

Gameplay Mechanics

The game is an open world action RPG where players can independently level up each character and develop their unique abilities. Gotham Knights features auto-leveling so that enemies will always be leveled up alongside the player characters, and special foes will appear more often once the player characters' levels are high enough. Also, when you're playing as one character, even the others will level up to avoid them being left behind.

Each BatFamily member has access to a unique ultimate-like ability that can be unleashed after filling the corresponding meter. So far, we've only seen Batgirl's swarm of bats.

Additionally, they also all have different means of transportation, some far more outlandish than others. Nightwing hangs on to a Flying Trapeze glider; Batgirl uses a Cape glider; Robin teleports with the Justice League's satellite; Red Hood taps into the mystical powers gained after his resurrection through the Lazarus Pit to literally jump through the air.

Fans of the BatFamily will already know their signature styles and weapons, but here's a recap anyway:

• Batgirl has her tonfa, is trained in kickboxing and capoeira, and has excellent hacking skills;
• Nightwing is an acrobatic fighter who uses electrified escrima sticks alongside punches and kicks;
• Robin wields a collapsible quarterstaff alongside various gadgets;
• Red Hood employs firearms, although equipped with non-lethal weapons, and can throw attaching grenades that can be detonated with his pistols.

Gotham Knights supports two-player drop-in, drop-out co-op. The mode will be untethered, so each player will be free to explore in whatever direction they prefer instead of having to stick with the other teammate. Back in June, we also got confirmation that it will be possible to play as two Nightwings (or any other character double); additionally, the game features co-op takedowns, and the combat system as a whole has been designed to take advantage of the co-op feature.

As befitting a game set in Gotham City, the action will only take place at night, when the BatFamily goes out to solve crimes and stop villains. Upon returning to the Belfry home base, daytime will begin, and players will be free to manage their progression, conduct dialogues with their allies, and more.

Last but not least, the game's rendition of Gotham City is said to be far larger than in any other game before, including an underground of interconnected tunnels. There will be five boroughs to explore and to do so without spending too much time moving around, a fast travel mechanic named Fast Bat.

Technical Specifications

We don't know the official PC requirements for Gotham Knights yet. However, we know the game will support ray tracing on PC thanks to a collaboration with Intel. XeSS support is also likely but not confirmed for now.