What REALLY Happened To WB's Cancelled Batman: Arkham Games?

6. WB Montréal And Arkham Origins - The Start Of Something Special?

To really understand what's gone on behind the scenes with Arkham's cancellations, you have to go back to 2013 and the release of Batman: Arkham Origins.

Developed by Warner Bros. Montréal, Origins was the first game in the series not to be made by Rocksteady, and was also a prequel to Arkham Asylum. With Arkham City's bombshell ending sending fans into a never ending K-hole of speculation and debate, many were disappointed to discover the next title wouldn't answer their questions, and that Rocksteady - who by that point were synonymous with the franchise - wouldn't be involved.

This put Origins on a poor footing to win fans over, and while I very much still believe it's the strongest entry in the franchise (bite me) - owing to its superb story and Yuletide theme - consensus is only beginning to shift.

One thing that even Origins' most vehement detractors will concede however is that the game showed promise. It was clearly designed as a stop-gap to tide fans over while Rocksteady were crafting Arkham Knight for the then next-generation of consoles, but Origins showed the promise of a burgeoning studio who obviously knew a thing or two about the DC universe - as was reflected in the prequel's many easter eggs and references.

Those who played Arkham Origins will no doubt recall how the ending built towards something to do with the Suicide Squad. The final cutscene depicts Deathstroke being approached by Amanda Waller (with CCH Pounder reprising her role from Justice League), while certain easter eggs in the title alluded to potential other members, including Captain Boomerang. Montréal also took the liberty of seeding other potential plot threads for a presumed sequel, including references to the Court of Owls (the presumed antagonists of their upcoming title), and even the Phantasm.

The signs were clear. WB were priming to deliver a game centred around the Suicide Squad at the same time efforts were being made to push the group in other media, with the animated Batman: Assault on Arkham film arriving in 2014, and the Will Smith-fronted blockbuster coming two years later in 2016.

The stage was set for Task Force X to make their full game debut, but - some three years after Arkham Origins' release - WB decided to pull the plug. Why?