The superhero genre has undeniably skyrocketed in popularity, largely fueled by massive hits like the Marvel Cinematic Universe and blockbuster games such as Marvel’s Spider-Man and Marvel Rivals. Marvel is still riding high, despite a few recent stumbles in its film universe, but DC finds itself struggling to get back on track.
Over the past ten years, DC has experienced a rollercoaster of successes and failures. Sure, they’ve had some commercial successes, but critical acclaim? Those moments have been scarce, particularly in the gaming sector. Since 2018, DC hasn’t really shone brightly in the video game world. However, with the DC Universe undergoing a significant transformation, there’s hope on the horizon that this reboot could rejuvenate DC’s gaming scene.
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Recently, it’s been a tough ride for DC’s video game division. Gotham Knights, launched in 2022, received a mixed response from critics despite some positive fan feedback. Although Warner Bros. hasn’t directly acknowledged whether it fell short of expectations, a drastic 40% price cut shortly after launch was telling.
Moving on to Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League, intended to be Rocksteady’s grand return to the Arkhamverse, it ended up being labeled a notable flop. With lukewarm reviews and unmet sales targets, it entered the annals of recent gaming misfires.
Speaking of a silver lining in this gloomy scenario, Batman: Arkham Shadow managed to sell over a million copies and earned favorable reviews, yet its exclusivity to Meta Quest 3/3S limits its broader success.
In the wake of Suicide Squad’s disappointing performance and the announcement of server shutdowns, Warner Bros. made the tough decision to pull the plug on Monolith’s upcoming Wonder Woman game, closing that studio along with two others. As for what’s next, whispers suggest that a Batman game is in the early stages at Rocksteady. Alas, it might be a while before fans get to see any of that.
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Enter James Gunn and Peter Safran, the fresh force behind the new DCU. Their new venture kicked off with Creature Commandos, marking a brand-new chapter for the DCU. Although far from flawless, it laid promising groundwork for a potentially more connected and compelling cinematic universe.
And Gunn isn’t stopping at just films and television. When revealing the lineup for future DCU projects back at the start of 2023, he hinted at video games becoming intertwined with this universe. More recently, Gunn and Safran confirmed collaborating closely with Warner Bros.’ gaming division, directly engaging with developers from NetherRealm and Rocksteady.
However, fans might need to exercise patience. Gunn mentioned in a ComicBook interview that the first DCU game is still a few years away. So, while it feels like DC has been missing the mark lately with its video game offerings, there’s a distant glimmer of hope on the horizon.
