After years of speculation, DC FanDome finally brought the announcement of WB Games Montréal's next project. The Batman: Arkham Origins developer's next game is Gotham Knights, a co-op adventure game that focuses on Batman's allies rather than on the Dark Knight himself. After the death of Batman, it is up to his proteges Robin, Batgirl, Nightwing and Red Hood to defend the city from evil.
Gotham Knights' premise is reminiscent of the ending of Rocksteady Studios' Batman: Arkham Knight, with both games having Batman supposedly killed in a massive explosion. However, the developers have confirmed that Gotham Knights takes place in its own universe separate from Rocksteady's "Arkhamverse." While many fans are confused and surprised by this information, in many ways, the new title is better off without tying itself to the past games.
One major benefit of setting Gotham Knights outside of the Arkhamverse is that all of Batman's iconic villains are available. Batman: Arkham Knight, as a grand finale for the Arkham series, gave many of Batman's rogues definitive send-offs. The Joker was dead and banished from Batman's mind, Mr. Freeze left Gotham forever after being reunited with his dying wife and Ra's al Ghul was either dying or vowed to leave Gotham alone. Other major villains, such as Riddler, Penguin and Two-Face, were given proper conclusions as well. This would have made it challenging to find fresh new villains for another Arkham game outside of the mysterious Court of Owls. However, by removing itself from previous titles, the game will be able to freely utilize iconic villains like Mr. Freeze, who plays a prominent role in the gameplay trailer.
The fact that Gotham Knights is set in its own continuity also means that it is able to ignore or change certain events from the Arkham trilogy. In Arkham Knight, it is revealed that the second Robin, Jason Todd, was kidnapped and tortured by the Joker until he became the antagonistic and titular Arkham Knight. This origin story is a far cry from the comic book version of the character, and it wouldn't gel with Jason cooperating with fellow Bat-Family members in this game. WB Games Montréal's version of Red Hood can have a new backstory, one that doesn't involve him participating in Gotham's destruction.
Character relationships can, and likely will, also change between the Arkham series and Gotham Knights. For example, Barbara Gordon and Tim Drake are engaged in Arkham Knight, with their marriage occurring at the end of the game. This surprised many fans, since those two are almost never romantically involved in any adaptation of the Batman mythos. Gotham Knights' versions of Batgirl and Robin can be given a more traditional relationship since the game doesn't need to follow any established canon.
A new universe also allows the game to feature a new Gotham City. Throughout the Arkham games, players had the opportunity to explore every inch of Gotham, from the dreary catacombs of Arkham Asylum to the bright skyscrapers of Founder's Island. This means that a sequel to Arkham Knight would either need to expand the city even further or force players to retread the same areas. However, because Gotham Knights is set in a new continuity, WB Games Montréal is able to redesign the city with its own unique spin. It can make Gotham larger, include different iconic locations or make it one unified city rather than multiple disconnected islands.
The fact that Gotham Knights' premise is extremely similar to the end of Arkham Knight while being unrelated still seems a bit off. It's possible that the game began as a traditional sequel before the studio decided that the game would be better off in a new universe. However, there are many benefits to disregarding prior games and marching forward into new territory. By doing so, Gotham Knights will be able to expand and innovate on the world of Batman without being restricted by previous continuity.