14 DAY TRIAL // Batman: Arkham Knight, the upcoming action adventure title from Rocksteady and Warner Bros., will have a much bigger emphasis on story and a more personal plot that emphasizes the relationship between the Dark Knight and allies like Barbara Gordon or Commissioner Gordon.
Rocksteady's Batman games have gained a cult following thanks to their high-quality and fun gameplay but also thanks to their impressive stories that featured all-new adventures for the Dark Knight, separate from those in the comic books or movies.
For the upcoming Batman: Arkham Knight, Rocksteady has already surprised people by confirming that it will feature an all-new villain in the form of the actual Arkham Knight, which will put Batman to the test in a variety of ways, while the Scarecrow is locking down Gotham City.
In terms of story, players will see the relationship between Batman and his longtime allies grow, according to Rocksteady's Guy Perkins, who talked with Polygon about the plot of the next title.
"There's a lot more storytelling and narrative in this game than we have had in the previous two Arkham games from Rocksteady," said Perkins. "We are really trying to build out the relationship between Batman and his allies."
Allies like Barbara Gordon, who's helping Batman under the name Oracle, and Commissioner Gordon, who wants to help the hero keep Gotham safe, are going to get more screen time in the new title, according to the developer.
"This is really a much more personal story we're trying to tell, so I think the dynamic between Batman and his allies like Barbara Gordon and Commissioner Gordon are very important. We want to make sure players feel that connection because there are consequences. So we want players to feel involved and engaged. It's what we've always done but I think we're going to make it a more personal experience this time."
Besides the story, however, players will be able to enjoy a variety of secondary missions and activities, according to Perkins, so they won't be forced to complete the plot before enjoying the open world of Gotham City.
"We're building this huge city, but it's not empty. There's loads of stuff to do in there. There's lots of side missions and quests that you can go on that take you away from the main story path but you choose whether or not you want to do that. Players want to feel invested in the world around them. We are giving them the keys to the car, the cape and the cowl."
Batman: Arkham Knight is set to debut next year for the PC, PS4, and Xbox One platforms.