It seems like the wait for Rocksteady’s nextArkhamgame is never-ending, especially sinceSuicide Squad: Kill the Justice Leaguegot delayed again.The game was originally slated for a 2022 release, but it got pushed back to 2023 for various reasons. An in-depth gameplay preview was finally shown off at the most recent PlayStation State of Play, but it was met with severe backlash from the fans over its many live-service elements. Warner Bros. has now decided to delaySuicide Squad: Kill the Justice Leagueagain, but the new release date has not been announced yet.
ThisnewSuicide Squaddelayis allegedly because of negative feedback from theSuicide Squad: Kill the Justice Leaguegameplay showcase, and that should be a good thing. If that is true then it means that Warner Bros. is listening to the fanbase, and it wants to make the game as good as it can be. However, the game is too far in development that the live-service mechanics will likely not be removed. While this delay may mean the game has fewer bugs, it is unlikely that it will fix most fan concerns.
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Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice Leagueis supposed to mark the grand return oftheBatman: Arkhamserieswith a brand-new set of protagonists. Rocksteady Studios has been quiet since the release ofBatman: Arkham VRin 2016, and fans were excited to see what the studio had in store. After months of anticipation and multiple delays, Rocksteady finally showed off an extended gameplay preview at the February 2023 PlayStation State of Play, and fans were very disappointed.
The preview seems to have hit all the wrong notes. The game looks like DC’s version ofMarvel’s Avengersinstead of the epic next chapter of theArkhamseries. There seems to be loads oflive-service mechanics including aSuicide Squadbattle pass, hordes of the same robotic enemies, multiple different currencies, and mandatory online pl. The cutscenes and story look strong, but the gameplay looks bland and forgettable. It looks like it is repeating the same exact pitfalls of previous AAA superhero ensemble games, and that is not what the fanbase wanted.
In response to this backlash, Warner Bros. has apparently decided to delaySuicide Squad: Kill the Justice Leagueagain. The new release date has not been announced yet, but it is supposedly still launching this year. While some fans were excited about what this delay could mean, it will probably not mean much. The studio is looking to polish the game so that it can have a strong launch, butthe coreSuicide Squadgameplaywill not be overhauled.
Unless the game gets delayed again,Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice Leaguewill still be filled with its live-service mechanics. It is too far in development to overhaul the core gameplay loop, and a short delay will only give the studio enough time to polish what is already there. Fans who were hoping for Rocksteady to listen to all the backlash will still be disappointed, and those looking for another singleplayerArkhamgame may want to look elsewhere. The most that the studio could do at this point is limit the currencies, add a couple ways to get cosmetics for free, andremoveSuicide Squad’s online only requirement.
There is a chance thatSuicide Squad: Kill the Justice Leagueis actually a really strong game, and the live-service mechanics may finally work. There is also a chance thatit will just be anotherAnthem,Marvel’s Avengers, orGotham Knights. If anything, this delay should ensure that the game has a stronger launch than its predecessors, as long as the polish goes to the right places.
Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice Leaguewill be available in 2023 for PS5, PC, and Xbox Series X/S.
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