The world that developer Rocksteady created in the Batman: Arkham franchise is dark, grim, violent, and yet filled with life. You can't walk two blocks in it without finding a reference to an obscure DC villain or without discovering an Easter Egg that suggests that other heroes live within this universe. To this date, many mysteries remain unsolved, and fans want to see more of this iteration of the Caped Crusader. Other developers even expanded upon this beloved video game franchise by creating new titles of their own, trying to fill in gaps between major events and expand upon the established lore.
Unfortunately, there's a big problem with the Arkhamverse after the release of Batman: Arkham Knight and Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League, given there's no clear direction moving forward. Rocksteady has always planted some seeds about where the story might go next, but it's all left up in the air right now. For all that we know, the Arkhamverse could be completely over. But instead of pondering what will happen, it's time to take a step back and ask the question: What should happen moving forward?
Declare Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League is not canon
It isn't a secret that Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League failed to meet expectations. Not only did it cost Warner Bros $200 million, but it also featured a story that wasn't well-received by fans and failed to make sense when looking at the bigger picture.
Regardless of whether the game was enjoyable or not, it introduces many continuity errors that are hard to ignore. Youtuber Knerd made a video about why Rocksteady's latest title can't be canon based on what came before it, as there would be multiple inconsistencies (such as King Shark dying in Batman: Assault on Arkham, yet miraculously being alive and acting as a playable character in SSKTJL).
Plot holes aside, we can't forget that iconic DC characters such as Wonder Woman, the original version of Lex Luthor, and Tim Drake's Robin permanently died, all while Metropolis was completely decimated in the blink of an eye. The game might've ended with the revelation that the versions of Batman, Superman, Green Lantern, and Flash that were killed during the main campaign were simply clones. However, that doesn't take away from the fact that the story of other big characters is completely over.
Instead of being constrained by the narrative featured in Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League, it would be better if developers had a blank canvas moving forward, devoid of any unnecessary deaths or story inconsistencies. Given how Rocksteady's latest title heavily features the multiverse, it could simply be explained that SSKTJL took place in a parallel reality. Players could pretend that Brainiac's invasion never happened in the Arkhamverse, and we could even see the iconic villain steal the spotlight again in the future (except on a better story, that is). Speaking of which...
Rocksteady should work on a new DC hero (ideally Superman)
Rumor has it that Rocksteady will go back to basics and develop a single-player Batman game. While that idea is nothing short of exciting, we can't deny that it's long overdue for another DC hero to be the star of a memorable video game. So, who else better than Clark Kent to take that spot? There's been a lot of discourse surrounding whether a good Superman game is actually possible. But just as Rocksteady made history back in 2009 by creating a memorable experience featuring an iconic DC hero, the developer could try to put its name back on the map by doing it all over again.
The code behind a good Batman game has already been cracked. Developer WB Games Montréal didn't only create great DLC for Batman: Arkham Knight, but they also delivered an entertaining prequel in the form of Batman: Arkham Origins. Granted, their work didn't reach the same heights as Rocksteady's, but it's worth keeping in mind that they had a very short development cycle, and yet the result was solid. That only goes to show that other studios are capable of replicating the formula established by Rocksteady.
Another good example is Batman: Arkham Shadow, which was developed by Camouflaj. The VR title even had its unique yet fantastic spin on the free-flow combat we all know and love. That's why Rocksteady shouldn't reinvent the wheel with yet another game featuring the Dark Knight. Instead, they should be pioneers in the superhero world yet again by allowing us to fly through the skies of Metropolis as Clark Kent. The only thing we'd ask is for them to let us explore a city that's filled with citizens, this time around.
This hypothetical Superman title could take place in the Arkhamverse, but the biggest difference compared to Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League is that it should honor the story that came before it instead of tearing it down. Just like Batman: Arkham Knight featured little hints that indicated Flash and Superman were real, we could now get hints that the Dark Knight is still alive and well in Gotham City. Besides, all roads could lead to an eventual Justice League game further down the line (that's why we need SSKTJL not to be canon, so that Wonder Woman can still be a part of the team-up).
WB Games Montréal should work on a follow-up to Batman: Arkham Knight
As we mentioned before, the code behind a good Batman game has already been cracked. So while Rocksteady works on a new DC hero, WB Games Montréal should keep the Dark Knight's tales alive. After all, they already gained all the experience necessary to take the lead thanks to their work on the successful Batman: Arkham Origins title and the Arkham Knight DLCs, as well as the failed Gotham Knights (because it's also important to know which mistakes not to repeat).
Before developing Gotham Knights, WB Games Montréal was working on a follow-up to Batman: Arkham Knight, which would've seen an older version of Bruce Wayne pass the mantle to Damian Wayne. While that idea never came to be, it could be revisited moving forward.
Batman: Arkham Knight ended with the whole world learning the Dark Knight's secret identity and him staging his death (though we know he's really alive). However, the idea that Batman is no more could open a whole new can of worms for Gotham. Even with the legends of a "Demon bat" going around, criminals would take this opportunity to wreak even more havoc. That means we could explore an even more worn-down version of the city that was lost to criminals and mob bosses.
Bruce could train Damian to be his successor. That would mean that a new trilogy could be on the cards, with the son becoming Gotham's new protector and the father joining the Justice League in adventures across the globe (and perhaps even outer space).
Camouflaj should keep doing prequels to Batman: Arkham Knight
There are many exciting stories still waiting to be told in the Arkhamverse. We know that the Court of Owls exists within this world, so where have they been? Besides, nobody is truly sure what happened to Anarky after his debut appearance. And what about Bane after the events of Batman: Arkham City? Could there be a story worth exploring there?
There are still many gaps in the Batman Arkham lore, and that's where Camouflaj should come in. Their fantastic work on Batman: Arkham Shadow proved they are more than capable of filling in those blanks and creating amazing stories along the way. It would be ideal if their upcoming titles could be available on other VR devices aside from Meta Quest, so that more people could experience their work. But more stories set in the past of the Arkhamverse are always welcome.
Over 16 years in, the Arkhamverse still has a lot of potential. One arguably bad game doesn't take away from the mesmerizing world that has been created over a decade. Hopefully, Warner will realize its potential, and Rocksteady will expand on it with the help of other acclaimed studios.