The Arkham series has been the standard for Batman games ever since Arkham Asylum hit the scene back in 2009. Since then, there have been several Arkham sequels, mostly headed by developer Rocksteady. However, the Arkhamverse has been facing some turmoil lately. At the beginning of 2024, Batman took a back seat as Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League was supposed to ring in the next era of the series.
This change in direction did not go according to plan, leaving Rocksteady with the decision to discontinue ongoing development of the live-service title. The end of Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League wrapped up its Arkhamverse chapter, leaving plenty of questions about what awaits the extended universe next. Recently, Bloomberg’s Jason Schreier claimed that Rocksteady could be returning to Batman after all. Of course, these claims should be taken with a grain of salt until proven true, but if the studio revisits Batman-focused Arkham games, it makes one wonder if WB Games Montreal’s now-scrapped Project Sabbath concepts could make a comeback as well.
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Project Sabbath Was Planning to Take the Arkhamverse in a Brand-New Direction
Damian Wayne Picking Up the Batman Mantle
The few details that are known about the canceled Project Sabbath game promised some fascinating changes from the previous Arkham chapters. Project Sabbath was planned to take 10 years after the events of Arkham Knight, introducing Damian Wayne as the new Batman. Since its cancelation, leaked concept art for Project Sabbath has made its rounds on the internet, teasing a compelling concept that never came to fruition.
After the success of developer Camouflaj’s Arkham Shadow VR spin-off last year, bringing more Batman into the spotlight may be the best way to reignite interest in the Arkhamverse. However, if Rocksteady still wants to keep the story fresh, then revisiting the unused Project Sabbath ideas may be an exciting path forward for a new Arkham game.
Everything Known About Project Sabbath
- Damian Wayne’s Batsuit was inspired by the Batman Beyond animated series.
- Bruce Wayne would have been elderly.
- Dick Grayson was planned to be middle-aged.
- After Bruce’s fortune no longer supplies many of Gotham City’s humanitarian funds, the metropolis has fallen into decay and even higher rates of crime.
- Villains like Gorilla Grodd, The Penguin, and Flamingo were expected to appear.
A resurrected Poison Ivy was also planned for Project Sabbath. This would eventually be seen in Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League.
Rocksteady Has a Steep Hill to Climb
After the performance of Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League, Rocksteady has serious work ahead of it. Bouncing back from the live-service game’s tumultuous year won’t be easy, but it’s also not impossible. The direction Project Sabbath was going in is an incredibly intriguing route, and if these Rocksteady rumors are true, making the canceled story a reality could prove to be the right move for the Arkham series.
Rocksteady’s Next Move Will Hopefully Become Clear Soon
Until Rocksteady makes an official statement about its next project, then there can only be speculation on what the developer plans to do in the future. When it comes to Warner Bros. games, the company has faced a rocky year outside Suicide Squad, as well. Between the shut-down of Suicide Squad and MultiVersus and the shaky development of Monolith’s Wonder Woman game, Warner Bros. and its respective game studios need a win.
There’s also the question of who will play Bruce Wayne in a new Batman game following Kevin Conroy’s unfortunate death. Arkham Origins voice actor Roger Craig Smith reprized the role in Arkham Shadows, but it’s unclear if he will continue to play Batman.
Thankfully, Arkham Shadow served as the silver lining of a tough year, demonstrating that strong games based in the Arkhamverse are still quite possible. It’s unclear if Rocksteady will ever return to Project Sabbath’s ideas, but the developer’s recent shake-ups could ultimately be a blessing in disguise.
