Batman: Arkham Origins and Blackgate Launched

Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment and DC Entertainment today unleash some of DC Comics’ most deadly villains upon Gotham City with the launch of Batman: Arkham Origins. The next installment of the blockbuster Batman: Arkham video game franchise is available for the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, with the Windows PC (boxed) and Wii U system versions available from November 8th. Also available today is Batman: Arkham Origins Blackgate for the PlayStation Vita and Nintendo 3DS. 

Developed by WB Games Montréal, Batman: Arkham Origins is based on DC Comics’ core Batman license. The game features an expanded Gotham City and introduces an original prequel storyline set several years before the events of Batman: Arkham Asylum and Batman: Arkham City, the first two critically acclaimed games of the franchise. Taking place before the rise of Gotham City’s most dangerous criminals, the game showcases a young, unrefined Batman as he faces the defining moment of his early career and sets his path to becoming the Dark Knight.

Batman: Arkham Origins Blackgate, a companion game to Batman: Arkham Origins, is a 2.5-D handheld game developed by Armature Studio, which brings the core Batman Arkham pillars, such as FreeFlow combat and Batman’s infamous gadgets, to the PlayStation Vita and Nintendo 3DS for the first time. Batman: Arkham Origins Blackgate allows players to continue the storyline of the console version and discover more details of the Dark Knight’s past. 

It’s a big responsibility taking on the Batman: Arkham franchise and the WB Games Montréal team has dedicated itself to giving players an experience that is worthy of the name. Batman: Arkham Origins allows fans to play through a new take on Batman’s story while experiencing some enhanced game-play mechanics.
- Reid Schneider, Vice President and Executive Producer, WB Games Montréal

Batman: Arkham Origins features a pivotal tale set on Christmas Eve where Batman is hunted by eight of the deadliest assassins from the DC Comics Universe. Along the way, players will experience a fresh take on iconic Batman characters, including The Joker, Black Mask, Penguin, Deathstroke, Bane, Deadshot, Copperhead and others yet to be revealed. 

Also new to the franchise is the online multiplayer mode, which is developed by Splash Damage. Friends and foes can play online in 3v3v2 gameplay that blends traditional Arkham gameplay with third-person shooter mechanics.  Gamers can hunt as Batman or Robin against the most challenging opponents yet – friends and other online gamers – or take a walk on the dark side as a Super-Villain Elite and be part of The Joker or Bane’s gang.  Those playing as a Super-Villain Elite will also have a chance to seize control of either The Joker or Bane for a limited amount of time.

Players looking to extend their gameplay experience can buy the Batman: Arkham Origins Season Pass now for 15.99 and receive £27.99 worth of content.  The Season Pass is comprised of five of the game’s upcoming downloadable content packs, which includes two exclusive skins, as well new content from the Batman Arkham Initiation Pack and a separate all-new story campaign.  The Initiation Pack content tests Bruce Wayne’s skills of detection, evasion and confrontation among the mysterious temple high in the Paektusan mountains of Korea, where his greatest teacher, Grandmaster Kirigi, is holding a final class.  The Season Pass is available on the PlayStation Network, Xbox Live, Nintendo eShop and Steam.

The PS3, Xbox 360 and Wii U versions of Batman: Arkham Origins are priced at £49.99 suggested retail; the Windows PC version is priced at£39.99.  The suggested retail price for the Batman: Arkham Origins Blackgate handheld game is £39.99.  Also available in limited quantities is the Batman: Arkham Origins Collector’s Edition for PS3 and Xbox 360, priced at £79.99 SRP.