The release date of Batman: Arkham Knight for the PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC was pushed back again on Monday. Rocksteady Studios is delaying the launch of the open-world superhero title by a couple of weeks to make sure that it is fully baked when players boot the game from their favorite platform.
Rocksteady Studios Game Director Sefton Hill made the announcement on the Batman: Arkham Knight community forums .
“ Batman: Arkham Knight will now launch worldwide on June 23, 2015,” Hill wrote. “We’re a developer that hates to make any compromises, so we are sorry to say this means it’s going to be just a little bit longer until you can play the epic conclusion to the Arkham trilogy.”
We are pleased to announce our new release date – Batman: Arkham Knight will officially launch worldwide on 06.23.15 pic.twitter.com/3XEBhghpK6
— Batman Arkham (@BatmanArkham) March 23, 2015
Rocksteady’s desire not to make any compromises extends beyond just the release date. It also resulted in the game receiving an “M for Mature” rating from the ESRB, a first in the series. That makes the delay only three weeks from the most recent release date of June 2. However, the game was originally scheduled to be released on October 14, 2014. Hill appears to be more than aware that multiple delays can test the patience of fans, even if done for the right reasons. So, a new gameplay video was released as well.
“As a reward for your patience and understanding, and to make the wait even more unbearable, we are pleased to whet your appetite with a new gameplay video of Batman: Arkham Knight ,” Hill added.
The gameplay footage released appears to be from very early in Batman: Arkham Knight . It opens with Batman speaking with Commissioner Gordon about Scarecrow’s threat to poison Gotham City with a deadly fear toxin. Batman departs to take down a crew of thugs beating a lone police officer on the streets, where you humorously hear one thug claim that Batman previously broke his arm right before it presumably happens again.
Officer Down! The latest gameplay video for #ArkhamKnight picks up Batman’s pursuit of Scarecrow in downtown Gotham https://t.co/wfiLp4QZBK — Batman Arkham (@BatmanArkham) March 23, 2015
The fight ends with the cop rescued, but not before an armored car attempts to run over Batman and the police officer. This leads to a call for the Batmobile and a car chase through the streets of Gotham.
Aside from the Arkham standard fight mechanic against multiple thugs and the all-new Batmobile, the gameplay video also showcases Batman’s ability to glide around the city combined with the grapple gun. It’s a really impressive way to convey the size of Gotham for Arkham Knight as well the upgraded graphics.
The news of the delay and the new gameplay video comes in conjunction with rumors that a remaster collection featuring Batman: Arkham Asylum and Batman: Arkham City is in the works.
[Images via Batman: Arkham Knight ]