Here’s everything we know so far about Gotham Knights.
Gotham Knights is a highly-anticipated game from WB Games Montreal, the developer behind Batman: Arkham Origins. After delays, the game is now expected to land in 2022 and as that date edges closer, we’re slowly finding out more about what Gotham Knights has to offer. What we know so far is that Gotham Knights will take players to a “dynamic and interactive” open world Gotham City where they’ll be able to step into the shoes of Batgirl (Barbara Gordon), Robin (Tim Drake), Nightwing (Dick Grayson) and Red Hood (Jason Todd), all of whom must work together to stop the city descending into chaos following the apparent death of Batman. Gotham Knights is a game designed with co-op play in mind but it’s completely up to you whether you play on your own or team up with a friend. Regardless of what you choose, you’ll be able to seamlessly switch between the four main characters and use their individual powers and abilities as you patrol Gotham’s five district boroughs and stop criminals. Read on to find out everything else we know so far about the upcoming game, as we’ve collected together the latest news and rumors about Gotham Knights below to keep you busy until it lands. [Update: Is a spring 2022 release window on the cards? Read on to find out more.] Gotham Knights was officially announced during DC FanDome on August 22, 2020. A release date was then slated for sometime in 2021, however, Warner Bros. announced in March 2021 that the game was being delayed until 2022. The delay was announced on the official Gotham Knights Twitter page, with Warner Bros. revealing that the upcoming action RPG will now launch worldwide in 2022 rather than in its initial 2021 release window. «We are giving the game more time to deliver the best possible experience for players,» the statement reads. «Thank you to our amazing fans for your tremendous support of Gotham Knights. We look forward to showcasing more of the game in the coming months.» The first action-packed Gotham Knights trailer shows our four vigilantes receiving a posthumous call from Bruce Wayne, declaring Gotham unsafe and the GCPD distrustful, while also leaving behind all his files and a base of operations (The Belfy) to help keep the city safe. We then receive a montage looking at the quartet’s different fighting styles, before leading into the co-op element of the game and the introduction of the Batcycle. The trailer closes out introducing what is likely the game’s main antagonist — the Court of Owls. Simultaneously, a child’s voice can be heard saying: «No one talks about them. Not a whisper word is said. For if you try to crush them, then the talon strikes you dead.» This refers to the deadly assassins known as ‘Talons’, which were first introduced back in Batman #2 in 2011. At the same DC FanDome event, Warner Bros. then premiered the first pre-alpha gameplay of Gotham Knights, showing Batgirl and Robin joining forces to take on Mr. Freeze during one of several villain encounters. Creative director Patrick Redding narrates the footage, stating that the Mr. Freeze storyline takes place about «a dozen or so hours» into Batgirl’s character progression. Renee Montoya is heard speaking via radio to Batgirl, seemingly confirming that the GCPD detective is working with the group in some capacity. Alfred Pennyworth — Bruce Wayne’s butler and guardian — is featured over comms too. A new addition to the series is the introduction of an XP system for leveling up characters, meaning all thugs will possess a number above their head, giving players an idea of their difficulty. This grows as the player increases in power and ability, so that foes keep pace throughout. «Confronting a villain like Mr. Freeze can be a very different proposition at level five or at level 15, and not just in terms of stats but in the kinds of attacks and defenses they bring to bear,» explains Redding, before teasing more to come in future. Fast-forward to DC’s FanDome event in October 2021 and a fresh new trailer has landed. It’s tense, creepy and confirms that the big bad in this game is likely going to the The Court of Owls. This is a secret society meets crime organization made up of Gotham’s elite. This would make sense given we already know the game features deadly assassins known as ‘Talons’. According to DC canon, these assassins were trained by The Court of Owls. As mentioned above, Gotham Knights is an open-world action RPG that allows you to play as four characters: Batgirl, Robin, Nightwing and Red Hood. Each of these characters has their own playstyle and abilities. Batgirl is trained in a variety of fighting styles and is also well-versed in technology and coding; Nightwing is a master of acrobatics and carries his iconic dual escrima sticks; Robin is an expert fighter who carries a quarterstaff and is trained in stealth; while Red Hood is strong and proficient in a manner of weapons.
