Batman: Arkham Shadow VR is the latest in the hugely popular Arkham series and will take immersion in the franchise to new levels by shifting it into virtual reality.
This all-new title, exclusively developed for Meta Quest 3, will reshape Gotham anew, quite literally, by putting players in the shoes of the Dark Knight in a first-person perspective.
What is New in Batman: Arkham Shadow VR?
In Batman: Arkham Shadow VR, you will experience Gotham City from Batman’s vantage point as never before. This game will introduce some rather big, core changes to the gameplay mechanics fans have grown to love from previous Arkham titles such as Arkham Asylum, Arkham City, Arkham Origins, and Arkham Knight.
These changes do not go against its heritage, though the game brings back such classic gadgets and moves as the Grapple Gun, explosive gel, and the critical strike meter, and many more like the Detective Mode or glide kick.
The Shock Gloves from Arkham Origins will also make a return, although you will get to experience it in first-person VR this time.
A New Villain and Familiar Faces
The plot of Batman: Arkham VR focuses on a new villain, the Rat King, who is terrorizing Gotham with his mystifying Rat Cult. Batman will not fight this battle alone but rather join forces with Commissioner Jim Gordon to fight back against this new evil.
Along the way, iconic DC characters like Dr. Harleen Quinzel, before she dons her mantle as Harley Quinn, and Dr. Jonathan Crane (Scarecrow) will cross players’ paths. The game is set at an early part in Bruce Wayne’s career in fighting crime, making it an interesting perspective for the Dark Knight’s journey.
Click here to know more.
Release Date and Availability
Batman: Arkham Shadow VR’s official release window is October 2024. The actual day, however, is not yet affirmed, but it will likely be advised in the release window. This is to be a direct follow-up to Batman: Arkham Origins and a prequel to Arkham Asylum.
Unfortunately for console and PC gamers, Batman: Arkham Shadow VR is a Meta Quest 3 exclusive. It will not be available on older Meta headsets like the Quest 2 or Quest Pro or on any of the consoles or PC platforms. The move is significant, especially considering that previous VR titles in the Arkham series were multi-platform.
How About Pre-Orders and Pricing?
Pre-orders for Batman: Arkham Shadow VR are not available now, which is quite normal since the exact release date has not been confirmed yet. However, when the date is finally disclosed, information on pre-ordering processes may follow shortly afterwards.
You can be sure to add the game to your Meta Quest 3 wishlist as of now; doing so will alert you immediately once pre-orders go live.
As is usual with these things, there are no official numbers yet for the game. Normally, Meta Quest 3 games are advertised at $49.99, and given the high-profile nature of this title, it is likely to be on the higher end of that range. Of course, that is speculation; we will have to wait for an official announcement.
Also Read: Garena Free Fire MAX Redeem Codes for August 23: Unlock Exclusive Rewards Today
Trailers and Gameplay Insights
Three trailers have been released for Batman: Arkham Shadow VR so far, all showing a vague notion of what players can look forward to.
Teaser Trailer (May 2024): In this cinematic first-person trailer, we perceive Gotham through the eyes of Batman as he chases a rat that is running from him. It transforms into a horde of them in a dark alleyway, an eerie and ominous setting that is supposed to trigger some suspense in its audience, which the game wants to capture.
Story Trailer – June 2024: We meet with the story trailer, which introduces us to the Rat King and his insidious plans to take over Gotham. The city is shown in disarray while Batman ponders how far he will go in stopping this new threat.
Gameplay Trailer August 2024: The latest trailer for the game takes you deep into the gameplay with first-person views of Batman grappling, gliding, and fighting his way through Gotham’s dark corners.
We see him using various gadgets against various enemies and combat styles in different places: sewers, Monarch Theatre, and Botanical Gardens.
What to Expect from the Gameplay
Batman: Arkham Shadow VR really looks to take the very core of the Arkham series and drop it into a VR setting which certainly is not any small task. It is going to give fluid combat, detective work, and gadget usage that fans love, but adds in the heightened feeling of first-person VR.
You will be able to look around physically, interact with the environment, and engage enemies in a way traditional games just cannot match.
The game will also allow players to step out of the Batsuit and play as Bruce Wayne in certain sequences, thus adding another layer to the experience. In this way, switching from Batman to Bruce Wayne and back again will afford a dynamic and immersive storytelling that will engage fans of this series.
Final Thoughts: Is It Worth the Wait?
Batman: Arkham Shadow VR certainly is not the open-world experience some fans may have desired since the long wait following Arkham Knight, but it is shaping up to become an exciting addition to the Arkhamverse.
Using an interesting storyline, the return of a few popular characters, and a fascinating way to experience VR gameplay, this will be one title to place on your radar if you happen to own a Meta Quest 3.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: On what devices will Batman: Arkham Shadow VR be launched?
A: Batman: Arkham Shadow VR will be specifically made for Meta Quest 3. It will not support consoles, PCs, or older Meta headsets like Quest 2 and the new Quest Pro.
Q: What is the plot of Batman: Arkham Shadow VR?
It will introduce a new nemesis, the Rat King, who is the lord and ruler of the Rat Cult. He is rumored to threaten Gotham City, and Batman is forming an alliance with Commissioner Gordon to defeat this new evil before he invades the city.
Classic characters from the Dark Knight universe are also ready to take on the caped crusader in the form of Dr. Harleen Quinzel and Scarecrow.
Q: Will Batman: Arkham Shadow VR be playable only in virtual reality?
A: Yes; hence, it is specifically made for VR and, therefore, playable only on the Meta Quest 3.
Q: Is Batman: Arkham Shadow VR releasing on Quest 2?
A: Batman: Arkham Shadow VR has been confirmed to come out for Meta Quest 3. There is no sign that this game is coming to the Quest 2, or any other platforms for that matter.
Q: Who voices Batman in Batman: Arkham Shadow VR?
Q: Roger Craig Smith, who did the voice of Batman some time ago for Arkham Origins, is back to reprise his role in Batman: Arkham Shadow VR.
Q: Is Batman: Arkham Shadow VR a sequel?
A: Yes, this is a direct sequel to Batman: Arkham Origins and a prequel to Arkham Asylum.
Q: Is Batman: Arkham Shadow VR part of the official Arkham canon?
A: Yes, the game is part of the official Arkhamverse and fits within the established timeline of the series.
Q: Will Batman: Arkham Shadow VR pay tribute to the open-world environment?
A: It will not feel open-world in the usual sense. Still, it is going to provide players with rich, detailed, entirely fleshed-out environments within a VR experience.
RELATED ARTICLES
- Second Human with Neuralink Brain Chip Uses It to Play Counter-Strike 2: Here’s What We Know
- Genshin Impact Xbox Series X/S Release: What We Know So Far
- Garena Free Fire MAX Redeem Codes for August 23: Unlock Exclusive Rewards Today
- Black Myth: Wukong Sells Over 10 Million Copies in 3 Days: A Record-Breaking Launch
- Type Soul Codes (August 2024)
