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Batman: Arkham Asylum

Warner Snap Up Majority Stake in Batman: Arkham Asylum Dev, Rocksteady
Written Tuesday, February 23, 2010 By Richard Walker
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Warner Bros have decided to put their money where their mouth is and buy a majority stake in Rocksteady who proved a dab hand in handling the Batman license, where so many others have failed.

Part of its own DC Comics brand and movie franchise, Warner has now acquired the Batman video game license and will publish the next title in the Arkham Asylum series, snatching the reigns from Eidos.

"Rocksteady demonstrated its professionalism and extraordinary development abilities with Batman: Arkham Asylum," said Kevin Tsujihara, president of the Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Group. "This arrangement is a great strategic fit and we are very pleased to solidify our relationship with this talented development team." 

Rocksteady game designer, Sefton Hill also expressed his excitement to work on other Warner properties besides Batman, saying, "The Rocksteady team is very much looking forward to creating more great games based on widely recognised Warner Bros. brands like Batman."

Eidos still own more than 25 per cent of Rocksteady Studios, and will continue to represent on the developers board of directors.

Warner also recently bought the rights to Mortal Kombat from a doomed Midway.

[Via GamesIndustry.biz]




 
 

User Comments

Forum Posts: 4
Comment #1 by honered1
Tuesday, February 23, 2010 @ 05:11:27 AM
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should be interesting to see how this effects future games


Forum Posts: 1353
Comment #2 by Emfulz
Tuesday, February 23, 2010 @ 05:14:18 AM
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Well there goes our beloved Arkham Asylum 2. :(


Forum Posts: 7
Comment #3 by Richie82 [STAFF]
Tuesday, February 23, 2010 @ 05:16:59 AM
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@2 Not at all - it just means that Warner will be publishing it now. It won't affect Arkham Asylum 2 at all. Don't worry!


Forum Posts: 901
Comment #4 by Ooyah
Tuesday, February 23, 2010 @ 05:19:34 AM
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#2 - Arkham Asylum 2 is already well underway, so I doubt if they would pull it now... especially as it will rake in the cash.


Forum Posts: 4081
Comment #5 by evokazz
Tuesday, February 23, 2010 @ 05:24:05 AM
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Nice to see Eidos still hanging in there (just) even with their financial issues.


Forum Posts: 262
Comment #6 by II M1CK3H II
Tuesday, February 23, 2010 @ 05:30:21 AM
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Midway were always doomed. I don't think they made 1 playable game.


Forum Posts: 30
Comment #7 by Astrex
Tuesday, February 23, 2010 @ 05:34:05 AM
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I don't undertand how Arkham 2 will work if your running around Gotham?


Forum Posts: 0
Comment #8 by Munchen
Tuesday, February 23, 2010 @ 05:35:46 AM
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Looking sooo much forward to Arkham Asylum 2 :)


Forum Posts: 1353
Comment #9 by Emfulz
Tuesday, February 23, 2010 @ 05:57:35 AM
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@#3 & #4, I guess I didn't read that correctly. :) I loved Arkham Asylum besides that it was too short and I really couldn't see replaying it but I can't wait for Arkham Asylum 2. :D


Forum Posts: 40
Comment #10 by Richmyster6907
Tuesday, February 23, 2010 @ 06:05:59 AM
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hope this doesn't become a cash cow franchise but we will see least they started arkham 2 before this


Forum Posts: 2
Comment #11 by Damodar Thade
Tuesday, February 23, 2010 @ 06:12:16 AM
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Hopefully warner leave the game to Rocksteady and dont meddle in what there not good at.


Forum Posts: 313
Comment #12 by Kyanite
Tuesday, February 23, 2010 @ 06:15:29 AM
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@ #6: Stop being stupid.

@ #5: I wasn't aware that Square Enix was having financial issues.

Anyway, a good move on Warner's part. Let's hope they can publish a good Batman game.


Forum Posts: 515
Comment #13 by JuanOrtizSr
Tuesday, February 23, 2010 @ 06:22:13 AM
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#9 - Are you kidding me?! Short?! I don't think so! Replayable? HELL YEAH! I absolutly love this game (too bad DLC Achievements were not available)! I played it on Normal first then after the game was over, I couldn't wait to play it again! I even asked my Friends if they wanted 1000G for this game just to keep playing it! I know some gamers and fans were disappointed with the ending, but TRUE Batman fans know that Batman will NEVER sink to The Joker's level (lesson learned, right, guys?). Can't wait for Arkham 2! Way to rock, Rocksteady! BEST. SUPERHERO. GAME. EVER.


Forum Posts: 2084
Comment #14 by mjc0961
Tuesday, February 23, 2010 @ 06:31:34 AM
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I don't care if EA buys the rights to publish the game. Rocksteady clearly knows what they are doing and BAA2 is a day one purchase.


Forum Posts: 8
Comment #15 by Thrall320
Tuesday, February 23, 2010 @ 07:01:23 AM
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As long as Rock Steady isn't effected poorly by this, I'm good.


Forum Posts: 1224
Comment #16 by CunningFox
Tuesday, February 23, 2010 @ 07:08:51 AM
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#12 He said Eidos not Square Enix

This is going to be interesting to see how warner affects Arkham Asylum 2.


Forum Posts: 118
Comment #17 by clach plype
Tuesday, February 23, 2010 @ 07:22:08 AM
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#16 Eidos is was taken over by Square Enix Europe last year.
As long as the game is still great to play I'm don't care who has owns Rock Steady.


Forum Posts: 140
Comment #18 by Comatose
Tuesday, February 23, 2010 @ 07:29:35 AM
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@6
If you believe that...then you must have just started gaming yesterday.


Forum Posts: 189
Comment #19 by tsydrown
Tuesday, February 23, 2010 @ 08:01:30 AM
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Doesn't matter who publishes it, provided Rocksteady stays as Devel. of the game. They did a fantastic job of AA! They only issue I had (like many others) was once you've completed it, that's pretty much it! I got it on a weeks rental and only just fell short of my 2nd playthrough (Hard) and the final Fight Challenge. Needs a little more extra stuff to do once the Main Story is completed. I don't mean MP, but more challenges etc would be a start . . . X-D


Forum Posts: 1000
Comment #20 by Dr Popodopolus
Tuesday, February 23, 2010 @ 08:03:33 AM
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Batman Arkham Asylum: Not in Arkham Asylum anymore.


Forum Posts: 1178
Comment #21 by MartyMcFly
Tuesday, February 23, 2010 @ 08:19:52 AM
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@19, there's free DLC that includes new challenge maps if that interests you.


Forum Posts: 1912
Comment #22 by bLaKgRaVy
Tuesday, February 23, 2010 @ 09:06:08 AM
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They saw that Eidos made a bunch of money on the first one so they just had to snatch the license up for themselves, making rich people richer. Shit move.


Forum Posts: 71
Comment #23 by Dark Knight1990
Tuesday, February 23, 2010 @ 09:24:59 AM
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I'm actually happy about this. Warner has a good track record with games releases. I'm interested to see how they handle the rights.


Forum Posts: 46
Comment #24 by Jor-El
Tuesday, February 23, 2010 @ 09:57:02 AM
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Awesome news. I'd love to see Rocksteady do other games with DC Characters. I would love for them to tackle on a Superman game & see what they come up with. Also another Justice League game.

Then another fighting game ala MK vs DCU, but this time let it only feature DC Heroes vs. DC Villains. Big roster with 30+ playable characters plus more as unlockables & then more as DLC.


Forum Posts: 312
Comment #25 by Kronos1982
Tuesday, February 23, 2010 @ 10:13:20 AM
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Maybe we'll see a good Supes or even a GL game now.


Forum Posts: 167
Comment #26 by The Globalizer
Tuesday, February 23, 2010 @ 11:12:42 AM
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I'd like to see WB up their efforts, they could be a real player in cinematic video games.


Forum Posts: 0
Comment #27 by a dying animal
Tuesday, February 23, 2010 @ 01:28:11 PM
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I wonder if this will effect how Arham Asylum 2 turns out.


Forum Posts: 26
Comment #28 by DXBlaze
Tuesday, February 23, 2010 @ 02:00:40 PM
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@24 You've made me think...I'm not into the vs. games, so I don't know if it already exists but if it doesn't, I think what would be great right now is a DC vs Marvel game.


Forum Posts: 46
Comment #29 by Jor-El
Tuesday, February 23, 2010 @ 02:06:54 PM
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DC vs Marvel - no, just no. I don't like Marvel personally as i grew up on DC and til this day, it's all i like.

So i would love to have a DC fighting game using the same engine as the MK vs DCU one, but only have DC Characters in it.


Forum Posts: 10
Comment #30 by ERIKDOTCOM
Tuesday, February 23, 2010 @ 05:54:34 PM
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Hmm, more MK games possibly?


Forum Posts: 583
Comment #31 by doomey
Wednesday, February 24, 2010 @ 05:58:41 AM
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mk vs dc II? ummm, no, maybe not.


Forum Posts: 1
Comment #32 by The Scrump
Wednesday, February 24, 2010 @ 09:54:33 AM
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I'm pretty sure "Arkham Asylum 2" is a working title. It may end up being Batman (some other subtitle). Either way it will be great.


Forum Posts: 173
Comment #33 by Blue Thunder28
Thursday, February 25, 2010 @ 08:12:30 AM
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didn't Warner screw over the Watchmen XBLA games by pricing them way too high. or...


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Game Info
Developer:
Rocksteady Games

Publisher:
Eidos

Genre
Action

Release:

US: August 25, 2009
Europe: August 28, 2009

Collection:5589
Wishlist:522
 
 
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