Rocksteady Developing A New Batman Game For Next-Gen Consoles

For quite some time, Rocksteady Studios has been the subject of many rumors. Since 2024, we’ve been hearing that they were working on an upcoming AAA game, and everything indicated it to be the new Batman game. However, the studio has not yet verified any specifics, recent occurrences, including a job advertisement, hint that Rocksteady is developing an exciting new project, possibly a new Batman game.

A recently discovered job opening for a Senior Core Engine Programmer uncovers the next major item coming from Rocksteady's company. Apart from the current hardware cycle, the job posting draws attention to the game's development for next-gen systems like the PlayStation 6 and the next Xbox console. This suggests the possibility of the game already being planned for development. While it mentions next-gen, it should cover support for both current-gen and next-gen consoles as well as high-end PCs.

It's not surprising that the post also mentions Unreal Engine 5. UE5 is gaining increasing popularity and flexibility in terms of game development. Even studios like CD Projekt RED are switching to UE5 for their future games to speed up production. So, the next Batman game should greatly benefit from this gaming engine's realistic lighting, advanced physics, and capacity to generate incredibly complex settings.

Even though Rocksteady has been silent on the subject, rumors have it that the studio is planning to return to its single-player Batman origins with a new game following the underwhelming success of Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League. Rocksteady's future was called into question by Suicide Squad's weak sales and the fact that it deviated from the studio's usual focus on single-player, narrative-driven experiences with its live-service component.

If the rumors of a new Batman game are accurate, Rocksteady would be returning to its roots with tight, compelling gameplay and a fascinating story, which would be a major change. Most fans would probably prefer a return to another Arkham-style character-driven and in-depth Gotham City experience, something that Gotham Knights failed to deliver. However, what makes this position unique is its reference to next-gen platforms.

Given the long development periods of AAA games, Rocksteady's is unlikely to hit the current-gen consoles before the next-gen release. The game could first be released on PS5 Pro and Xbox Series X/S; an enhanced version would follow for PS6 and next-generation Xbox devices. Should that be true, it might open the door for even more next-gen gaming technologies to follow.

Rocksteady's upcoming project raises more general concerns about gaming gear. Many gamers don't believe the PS5 and Xbox Series X/S are worth the generational leap, as many popular titles are still playable on PS4 and other older platforms. Many major titles in the first half of this console cycle were cross-generational, which cast questions about whether creators are maximizing modern hardware. Should Rocksteady's next project be built with future gaming technologies in mind, it might provide a revolutionary title highlighting the next major jump in gaming.

Although an official studio announcement is still far off, the job opening gives us a sneak peek at Rocksteady's plans for the future. Whether it's a new Batman game featuring Batwoman or some other AAA project, Rocksteady is undoubtedly looking ahead, and they really have to, given their recent consecutive failures. Fans of the studio and the Batman: Arkham series will surely look forward to further information.

A return to a story-driven, single-player game would be a good comeback, given Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League's poor ratings. It is not just Batman fans; most action RPG enthusiasts are anxiously waiting for Rocksteady to announce their new Batman game. Unless they mess things up like the Suicide Squad, this new project's possible return to the studio's single-player origins and use of Unreal Engine 5, which is meant for next-gen consoles, suggests well for its future.

Official confirmation is still some distance off, but one thing is sure: Rocksteady is getting ready for the future, and fans can't wait to see what they will bring to the table. Could another Arkham-like Batman game be in development? Every indication points to a positive turn of events, even if the outcome is still undetermined.