TheBatman: Arkhamfranchise broke new ground for the superhero video game genre. For the most part,Batman: Arkham Asylumand its sequels struck a perfect balance of having grounded stories, characters, and action, while also not being afraid to explore some of the more obscure parts of theCaped Crusader’s rogue’s gallery. Last year’sBatman: Arkham Shadowcontinued to build upon that legacy.
A prequel set six months afterBatman: Arkham Origins,Batman: Arkham Shadowsees a Roger Craig Smith-voiced Batman hunting down the elusive “Rat King.” Currently exclusive to the Meta Quest 3 and 3S,Batman: Arkham Shadowdelivers an extremely authenticArkhamgameplay experience that takes full advantage of the new medium.Arkham Shadowperformed well critically, and it’s just been confirmed to have passed an impressive sales milestone, and that could end up forging a path for the Arkhamverse’s future.
Batman: Arkham Shadow’s Sales Pave a New Path For The Franchise’s Future
The Batman Arkhamverse Is At a Crossroads
Batman: Arkham Shadowwasn’t the onlygame set in the Arkhamverseto release last year. What was meant to be Rocksteady’s triumphant return to the franchise ended in disaster, with last year’sSuicide Squad: Kill the Justice Leaguereceiving an infamously dire reception from fans and critics alike. Though it had some humorous moments and its combat could feel satisfying under the right circumstances,Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice Leaguewas a far cry from theArkhamentries that came before it, with its live-service model severely impacting the amount and type of content in the game.
Though many ofSuicide Squad: Kill the Justice League’s controversial story decisionshave just been reversed in the game’s final post-launch season, the game as a whole has left the Arkhamverse on a bit of a sour note. As things stand, fans probably won’t be clamoring for a sequel toSuicide Squadanytime soon. But that’s whereBatman: Arkham Shadowmay have just opened a new door.
Batman: Arkham Shadow Could Only Be The Beginning
WhenBatman: Arkham Shadowwas first announced, many fans were disappointed that the Arkhamverse’s next entry was going to be VR-exclusive, and even worse, one that was exclusive to just one VR platform. But despite this initial backlash, and despite VR still being a relatively niche part of the gaming industry, it’s just been confirmed thatBatman: Arkham Shadowhas sold over 1 million copies, with over 1 million players having unlocked the game’s first achievement (a feat that was first spotted by YouTuber QuestWithMatt).
1 million copies sold is quite a ways off fromBatman: Arkham KnightandOrigins, which both allegedly sold around 7 million each. And it’s a far cry away fromBatman: Arkham AsylumandCity, which sold 10 million and 14 million respectively. But in terms of the VR market, 1 million copies sold is an impressive milestone.
2020’sHalf-Life: Alyxis probably the most apt comparison forArkham Shadow’s sales numbers. Both games marked the return of big gaming franchises, and both games were used to sell shiny new headsets (the Valve Index and Meta Quest 3/3S). By December 2020, 9 months after its release,Half-Life: Alyxhad sold 2 million copies.Arkham Shadowhas sold 1 million in a little over 3 months.
So, while it may not be as immediately successful as its flat-screen counterparts,Batman: Arkham Shadowis still shaping up to be another win for the franchise. And that might be enough to convinceWarner Bros/DC to continue exploring the Arkhamverse in spinoffs likeShadow. The first step for Warner Bros. should be fast-trackinga sequel toBatman: Arkham Shadow, as the game leaves plenty of room for future entries, especially after the recent release of its Dick Grayson-focused post-credits epilogue.
