Summary
- Batman's future in gaming is uncertain. The Arkham universe Batman will appear in Suicide Squad, while the Gotham Knights Batman may be deceased.
- The next Batman game should feature Terry McGinnis as Batman Beyond. It would be a fresh and exciting choice for fans, opening up new storylines.
- Adapting Batman Beyond in game form would be a natural fit, allowing for a new interpretation of the hero and a breath of fresh air in the gaming world.
Batman's future in gaming seems a bit uncertain at the moment. The Batman of the Arkham universe is set to appear in Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League alongside other Batman Arkham characters, and the Batman of the Gotham Knights universe may or may not be deceased. With that said, there is an obvious route to take with the character in the next Batman-centric release: Batman Beyond.
The most popular, contemporary version of Batman in video gaming comes in the form of the Batman Arkham games. This trilogy, along with the Origins prequel, covers most of the caped crusader's most iconic conflicts and stories; The League of Shadows makes many appearances and the most significant stories associated with them get coverage, Batman's relationship with Catwoman is chronicled in depth, and the Joker saga is decidedly concluded at the end of Arkham Knight. Other iconic villains, like Hush and the Riddler, have also been covered. When it comes to future Batman games, there's not too much more ground to cover - at least, not with Bruce Wayne at the helm.
The Next Batman Game Should Adapt Batman Beyond
While it doesn't quite look like Bruce is retired at the end of Arkham Knight, there is still an opportunity to replace him with a different hero, one that fans have been wanting to see in a video game for many years. A new Batman game featuring Terry McGinnis under the cowl, following the blueprint laid by the Batman Beyond television series, could make for an exciting and fresh game.
Aside from being something that would please countless fans, adapting Batman Beyond would be a natural fit, assuming the next Batman game takes place in Rocksteady's Arkham universe. As previously mentioned, Rocksteady's vision of Gotham City and Arkham City have seen a great deal of mileage, and there aren't too many traditional Batman stories left to adapt. Therefore, it wouldn't be unreasonable for a new game to be set a bit further in the future, with Bruce Wayne having to retire to do his advanced age, or some other reason out of his control. This would open the door for a new interpretation of the hero, and Terry McGinnis seems like an obvious choice.
While a new Batman game could feature Nightwing or some other member of the Bat Family, players have already seen and played as these characters in not only Rocksteady's Arkham games, but also in the recent Gotham Knights. In general, the version of Batman seen in Batman Beyond has gotten less attention in media outside the original TV show and the comics, and would thus be a breath of fresh air. This Batman's iconic look, interesting backstory, and importance as a Batman successor make him the best choice to continue the character's gaming legacy.
When it comes to adapting the actual plot of Batman Beyond, the developers would have to decide just how faithful they would like to be for this hypothetical game. There's plenty that would work when adapting a Batman Beyond Arkham game, like the fact that the Joker is dead in both universes. However, there are other elements that are a bit stranger and might need to be edited. For instance, the fact that McGinnis is revealed to be genetically engineered from Bruce Wayne's DNA might come a bit out of left field, and this plot point might need to be reworked or recontextualized. Terry's age might also be a point of contention, as he was only 16 when he assumed the role of Batman in the original series. This could be a fresh take on the character, but it could also feel somewhat strange and implausible. Either way, there is plenty of potential for the character in a Batman game.