Batman Arkham Shadow - Developer Interview

[@kouroshnahid4299]

Damn, a company that has more passion for the Arkham-verse than Rocksteady Studios!

[@ClydeGKimbrell]

That was on the Publishing side not the Devs.

[@__-ni1kz]

@@ClydeGKimbrellNo. Read Jason Schrier’s report. WB is the reason the game is Suicide Squad and the model is live service. Everything else fell on the mismanagement of development by Sefton Hill and Jamie Walker. Here’s two excerpts: “Staff members sometimes waited weeks or months for Hill, the studio’s perfectionist co-founder and director of the game, to review their work, said the people familiar, creating a bottleneck that further slowed development. He scrapped big chunks of the script and struggled to convey his evolving ideas, they said, confessing that he hadn’t spent much time with competing games such as Destiny. The constant delays hurt morale and led staff to fret that they were discarding too much and failing to make real progress. At one point, Hill pitched an elaborate system of vehicles that would allow players to deck out cars with weapons and navigate through the game’s alien-infested streets. But each of the four playable characters were already outfitted with modes of traveling, leading to more doubts among staffers. Why, they wondered, would players using Deadshot or King Shark bother with a motorcycle when they could just soar through the air? After months of experimentation and prototyping, the vehicle system was scrapped.” “Multiple people who worked on the project say their growing concerns were often met with promises from management that Suicide Squad would eventually coalesce at the last minute, just as the Arkham games had. Several employees adopted the term “toxic positivity” to describe the culture of the company, which discouraged criticism. Leadership didn’t seem worried, they say, even as other traditionally single-player game studios that chased the live-service trend were delivering abysmal results with games such as Anthem (which earned a lowly score of 59 out of 100 on Metacritic), Marvel’s Avengers (67 out of 100) and Redfall (56 out of 100).” After sinking the ship, Hill and Walker both buggered off in 2022 to escape WB.

[@Temple277]

​@@ClydeGKimbrell It was actually on the devs, Jason Schreier has alr explained In his article that it's leaderships fault. Both sefton and the other guy.

[@endlessdark]

This is a foolish comment. Rocksteady had no control over what has happened to them the last 7 years.

[@The_RedVIII]

@@endlessdark People always jump on the defense of devs and blame the publisher, but as we can see in Scheiers article, the leadership of Rocksteady steered Suicide Squad into the direction of what it is today. I'm sure a lot of the team did not want to make the game the way they did, but it's not just Warner Bros fault.

[@GhostShot-mk9tq]

Stupid excited for this. Love VR, love Batman, love the Arkham series and been waiting for this for a while. Looks amazing

[@seasidesandies3334]

Excited to see the gameplay! Fingers crossed the team nails it

[@oscarrenouf]

WOW!! Ryan Payton, thank you. I haven't seen a passionate developer like this since Insomniac with spiderman ps4 back in 2018. Living in a time where developers in studios don't give a shit about the fans, (I'm looking at you Rocksteady), this is a breath of fresh air. This is how passionate developers SHOULD be when going through the creative process on their games.

[@cantsuggestareasonablename9101]

A small development team having passion would ultimately make it have a bright future ahead.

[@Airhockey3000]

Respect for the developers talking directly to the fans! Buying day one :)

[@thehavenexchange]

I will play anything Ryan Payton is a part of. I remember being obsessed with his interviews leading up to MGS4 and seeing how he talks about Arkham Shadow’s combat is getting me just as hyped 🔥🔥🔥

[@guydavidknollcomedy]

This is first time I’ve been excited about a superhero game in a while because the developer actually loves what he does and cares about Batman and his fans. it makes me want to buy a headset for this game

[@Nigel222]

Hey that's the old Metal Gear Solid 4 Podcasts guys.

[@vitterverse]

LOVED this. He was clear and passionate. Can't wait.

[@jakekez9734]

Hate seeing ppl hate on this game just because its VR. These guys are extremely passionate about the franchise and want to bring it back. I can already tell its going to be way better than that suicide squad trash. Im willing to bet this game is gonna be fire

[@HegoDamaskll]

It's a money factor. If they made it normally AND can also be played in VR that's fine. Ppl are struggling to buy basic necessities like groceries, rent, and bills and your are gonna release a game where most ppl need to buy a VR system...really? Plus you have to make a FB account. A lot of ppl don't want it because of the way it tracks and sells your info. It's not gonna sell well as they think. Ppl are just trying to keep their head above water, much less spend $ just on a system to play one game. Most ppl I've talked to get a Quest, play it for a week and never touch it again hardly. Thats why. It's an idiotic choice if you limit who can play the game to that degree in times where money is harder to come by. If they were that passionate they could have released it like the other 4 regular batman games and ppl would be just as excited. If not more.

[@RaySparkz]

@@HegoDamaskllwell you don’t have to make a Facebook acc anymore to play on meta

[@coolertuep]

@@HegoDamaskll Its not more expensive than a Ps5 or Xbox. In the long run its even cheaper because you dont need to pay to play online on Quest.

[@cantsuggestareasonablename9101]

@@HegoDamaskllSo your saying that gaming is a necessity. It’s not and if you have other things to worry about then you shouldn’t be wasting your money on gaming products. Gaming is a luxury not a necessity. Very poor argument.

[@cantsuggestareasonablename9101]

@@coolertuepAlso a much cheaper version of quest 3 is coming out. Rumours say that it will cost about 200$ or slightly more.

[@ToddlerJamees]

Thank you for a great interview. Great insight, so excited to play this game.

[@TrevorMothaFckinPhilips]

I’m happy it’s going to be a longer game

[@GiratinasRisingRenegades]

I love for another one that features Robin and Batgirl!

[@merkaderk8615]

Yall are quick!

[@redHudson8]

Dang this is gonna make me buy a Meta Quest 3 isn’t it?

[@coolertuep]

Well Asgards Wrath 2, Assassins Creed Nexus, Metro Awakenking, Medal of Honor A&B, Resident Evil 4, Breachers, Contractors etc. are compelling reasons as well

[@cantsuggestareasonablename9101]

If you are hesitant on the price just wait for a cheaper Version of that vr headset that is rumoured to be coming soon.

[@Scantronacon]

Just bought a MQ3. Lets Go!

[@murhafyehya6404]

Wow I really like this man! I truly respect and love his passion, and that makes me even more excited for Arkham Shadow!

[@cantsuggestareasonablename9101]

He played Arkham asylum when it first dropped and since then he admired that game. He’s a gamer and he does or have played all the other Arkham games. Dude seriously knows the lore of the Arkham games including comics which he knows that mostly all of it isn’t canon but rather than ignoring the comics he actually took ideas from them. Dude is seriously thinking deeply about developing this game.

[@cantsuggestareasonablename9101]

He was also the producer for metal gear solid 4 and was given a crucial role for the psp game metal gear portable ops . He was the narrative designer for halo 4. My point is that this game isn’t going to flop and it’s going to be very good.

[@murhafyehya6404]

@@cantsuggestareasonablename9101 Agreed!

[@vexxlnc430]

Wish it was on all platforms to get maximum exposure. This game sounds great and hope it does well

[@cantsuggestareasonablename9101]

Blame meta not camouflaj and we all dream about the game being dropped on a traditional flat screen display but if Ryan Payton and camouflaj altogether hadn’t reached out to Wb then we wouldn’t be getting a chance to see a Arkham game for along time maybe indefinitely. All I can say is that the Arkham saga is in the right hands and camouflaj will certainly deliver. Camouflaj and meta are a vr company and it wouldn’t make sense if they publish the game on other platforms. May I remind you that manufacturing consoles like vr headsets are very costly so an Arkham vr game is very beneficial for meta since more of their products will be sold meaning more money and more money means more games and newer consoles.

[@The_RedVIII]

Looking forward to it. Bought a Quest 3 a few months ago and haven't used it enough yet, so this at least is another reason to jump back in.

[@brandonryan8177]

Looking for ward to the story im also hoping they have tye clasic game over screens and character trophies.

[@TheAmazingSpiderGuy_99]

This sounds like he gets these games fundamentally. I got a Quest 3 just for this but I still wish it was on PS VR2 aswell. Being Quest 3 exclusive is so limiting on its reach if it’s a great Arkham game. An Origins sequel is exactly what the fans were asking for and while I wish it was a traditional game, I am looking forward to this quite a bit.

[@coolertuep]

Asgards Wrath 2 is on quest 2 and that game isn’t really limited at all. For userbase, check last years christmas sales of vr headsets. 97% were Quest 2s and 3s and 3% were PSVR2. They reach basically everybody with quest, a quest 2 version could rather make sense to reach way more people

[@cantsuggestareasonablename9101]

I heard that a cheaper meta quest 3 version is going to be dropped relatively soon maybe you should have waited on that.

[@CR00K__Gaming]

To be honest, blame Sony for not buying this studio. They had iron Man. VR exclusive for a good minute and then meta bought them.

[@TheAmazingSpiderGuy_99]

@@CR00K__Gaming I do blame them lol. Sony made a huge blunder in their VR efforts by not acquiring them.

[@joeoneknows1372]

All I need is confirmation of a PC port at some time in the future then I am completely sold on this game.

[@Battinson]

A pc isn’t a quest 3 tho

[@joeoneknows1372]

@@Battinson Key word, “some point in the future”

[@Battinson]

@@joeoneknows1372 does some point on the future also mean never? If so then absolutely!!

[@WilliamSharpe88]

I’m excited for this Game

[@tigermacc8850]

Wb can we get a Arkham Orgins Remaster now

[@cantsuggestareasonablename9101]

It’s going to be unlikely mostly because of the flopped ssktjl.

[@cantsuggestareasonablename9101]

The only reason why this game is going to be released in the first place because meta and mostly camouflaj persuaded Wb to let them create a Arkham vr game.

[@mangafurie7698]

I hope one day there will be a Batman Arkham beyond game. But I'm not gonna lie, even though I don't have a VR, I am happy to see a passionate developer who likes the Arkham universe, i hope this game will please people.

[@Xavier-3o3u]

Im thinking that the combat is a little similar to blade and sorcery, but your actually batman

[@Albert-ru7ob]

Oooh I’m hyped. Gotta make some money to get a quest 3 now

[@cantsuggestareasonablename9101]

If you can’t make up that money then maybe wait for the cheaper quest 3 that is coming soon but it might not give you the definitive experience of the quest 3. Idk.

[@ClydeGKimbrell]

This is a miss putting it on the Highlights channels. Why on here and not the main channel?

[@The_RedVIII]

Agree. Even though I have subscribed to this channel, I missed it under all the videos uploaded currently. Only found out by Greg mentioning it in another video on the main channel.

[@endlessdark]

Great interview, Greggy.

[@thedigiknow]

Cool interview!

[@TheDoctorZeus]

Did this get uploaded to the wrong channel?

[@ROBBINTHEROBBR127]

Well, they sure do make it sound good!

[@elchemyst]

fantastico

[@NadeemShekh-uy9zn]

I want another Iron Man vr game

[@anenbyapparition5650]

so i'm supposed to buy an $800 headset, and then buy the game for probably like $60-$100 i get being excited about new technology, and wanting to implement it, but that doesn't mean you have to ONLY put it on that system

[@DevVRAR]

200-300$ Headset. Wait for Quest 3S launching in a few Months. Won’t be that expensive.

[@riverjayden877]

@@DevVRAR quest 3 is already out and it's 550$

[@DevVRAR]

@@riverjayden877 That’s what I am saying. Quest 3S isn’t out and that will be 200-300$ cheaper. You should wait for that instead of paying 500$ when both can run the Game just as well.

[@cantsuggestareasonablename9101]

What do you even mean by a 800$ headset . Your completely wrong. Do some research.

[@RaySparkz]

Shit I need to get iron man vr game man cause hearing this guy, is very passionate I’m ready, if anyone has a referral code for iron man vr I’m ready.

[@GiratinasRisingRenegades]

Still i wonder if this means Zuckerberg the nuclear apocolypse harbinger bought the rights to the Arkham games for Meta to use.

[@LukeMartin-qi5uh]

Meta approached them with the opportunity, yes.

[@cantsuggestareasonablename9101]

@@LukeMartin-qi5uhWell camouflaj did most specifically.

[@lautarohernandez4998]

This seems like it's gonna be a fun ass game to be honest. It's a shame it's only coming to the Meta Quest, at least they should enable other VR headsets

[@coolertuep]

Last christmas 97% of vr headsets sold on amazon us were Quests. 3% PSVR2. Other vr headset have such small userbase that it doesnt matter

[@Shrewdy1]

Seems like Greg does like VR, that is when Meta sponsor streams and bring by developers for interviews. Lmao

[@redheadnerd96]

Bring it to games consoles please. No one has that kind of money for a VR

[@coolertuep]

Dude millions of people can drive mercedes, porsches and Audis. Its not only children that play video games. And Quest 3 is even cheaper than normal consoles. Same price to buy but free online, better sales and applap/sidequest.

[@jessetate9701]

We need this on console 😢like damnit man

[@GhostShot-mk9tq]

The controls and perspective of VR would not translate to a console game well, even going the other way is a chore. They are just two different animals.

[@jessetate9701]

@@GhostShot-mk9tq but they could’ve gave us the console first then bring out the VR version or have it in the game setting to switch between vr and non vr fans waited for a true Arkham game game for decades now we get this….

[@GhostShot-mk9tq]

@@jessetate9701 What don't you understand about completely different control scheme and perspective?? You will NEED your hands for this game, period.

[@alberteinstein7017]

@@jessetate9701 they couldn't, these are VR game developers, non VR game ask from Rocksteady

[@cantsuggestareasonablename9101]

@@jessetate9701Your missing the point Arkham shadows is a way to sell more headsets and games for metas perspective whereas camouflaj doesn’t care about that too much and are actually incredibly passionate.

[@aludamin]

Oh yes let’s give the Arkham fans what they want!….with VR……

[@coolertuep]

Perfect, another tv game would be pretty lame in 2024

[@imed-ha77]

A disappointment for me, but perhaps this disappointment is the birth of new hope and the continuation of the Arkham series in the future

[@coolertuep]

Yeah they already said in another interview that they would be interested to do more batman arkham vr games in the future

[@cantsuggestareasonablename9101]

After the ssktjl flop , I don’t think so.

[@itsmejack9]

so he basically said he couldve implanted this on console and pc...

[@GhostShot-mk9tq]

uhhh nope

[@itsmejack9]

@@GhostShot-mk9tq lmao yes

[@itsmejack9]

@@GhostShot-mk9tq this company knew how big the arkham series still is and decided to wrap WB around their fingers and create something people would mainly want on console or pc. don't get me wrong, this is good, but it really couldve been better as a non vr game

[@GhostShot-mk9tq]

@@itsmejack9 you do not understand how VR works

[@itsmejack9]

@@GhostShot-mk9tq you clearly read that, and didn’t give a shit

[@HegoDamaskll]

Why in gods name would you make a new Arkham game in VR? It limits your sales. It limits your gameplay. It's just a bad decision to make. Make it were you can play it normally but can also be played in VR. In times where ppl can't afford to buy groceries you are gonna have a game where you have to buy a whole new system for most ppl. Idiotic decision.

[@ConsumingTheChess]

''Limits your Gameplay''? Have you ever played Half Life Alyx? It has shown that when done right it is the superior way of playing games.

[@coolertuep]

Play vr dude. Normal consoles limit your gameplay, as you can do nothing but press buttons. Vr has almot no limitations in comparison

[@cantsuggestareasonablename9101]

Because it wasn’t camouflaj choice and Ryan Payton was certainty not the one to blame. Blame meta for making this game a vr exclusive also if Ryan Payton/camouflaj hadn’t reached out to Wb then we wouldn’t have a Arkham game in the first place. You saw how ssktjl flopped and rocksteady isn’t coming back from that which means no Arkham games.

[@jackdiddley]

Ouch on so many levels. A HUB game entirely inside Arkham with a rhythm mini game for combat. Trying to maintain interest.... 🤷

[@BruceWayne-xw6sg]

Pass

[@baki484]

Cool but I'll just check out story mode.

[@cantsuggestareasonablename9101]

Wdym the only mode will be story mode nothing more. Do you mean cutscenes.

[@theofficefan100]

Such a shame its going to be a vr game. A gimmick game

[@DeeSaxVR]

VR hasn’t been a gimmick for a long time. It definitely started out that way with tech demos and short experiences, but we’re starting to hit a serious stride with new, long, polished experiences. I hate that people aren’t educated about this, but I also blame their first experiences tainting their view on the modern hardware. People still think the controllers are like wiimotes. It’s madness. My hands are 1:1 when embodying the characters I play as in VR. Also, fuck roller coaster simulators for making everyone sick.

[@cantsuggestareasonablename9101]

@@DeeSaxVRExactly

[@JohnFloridaManGAMES]

We don’t care about the story show the damn gameplay

[@jhngrg8132]

Of course we care. Get outta here. Arkham games were always about batman lore

[@JohnFloridaManGAMES]

@@jhngrg8132 so you enjoyed the story trailer

[@JohnFloridaManGAMES]

@@jhngrg8132 bro this story ain’t even close to the other games. The main villain in this one is a guy who controls rats like come on you hyped to hear that😭😭😭

[@jhngrg8132]

​@@JohnFloridaManGAMESand ivy controls plants. Why dont you complain about it? Listen pal, ratcatcher/rat trap is a classic Batman story from the dark age that has horror/thriller vibes and that introduced a villain that is considered a classic among true batman fans. This story is even in my top 10 batman stories of all time. Clearly you haven't read it, and i recommend that you do, but please keep your opinions to yourself. All batman villains can be viewed as lame or goofy at the end of the day. This is comics after all. Think about it. Ratcatcher gets an adaptation. You should be happy

[@SUP-h9d]

​@@JohnFloridaManGAMESshut up child