Author: by Staff

Publisher Eidos (Tomb Raider) has announced that it is working on a new Batman game named Batman: Arkham Asylum in association with UK developer Rocksteady Games (Urban Chaos: Riot Response), according to new media reports. The latest issue of the GameStop-owned Game Informer magazine features the game on its cover, and an online summary of the cover feature on GameInformer.com reveals: "This completely original title explores Gotham City’s darkest location, the infamous Arkham Asylum. But as a routine prison transfer goes wrong, the Joker sets his demented plan into action and Batman comes face to face with an army of his worst enemies. In a dark and gritty setting reminiscent of Bioshock (with a story co-written by Paul Dini), Arkham Asylum is setting the stage for a true-to-character Batman game." Eidos parent SCi has close links with Batman and DC Comics owner Warner Bros, with WB Entertainment Group president Kevin Tsujihara appointed to the SCi board following a $30 million investment in the company from WB. In fact, licensing deals between Eidos and Warner Bros have been in place since late 2006, with this newly announced Batman title being a notable result of the December 2006 agreement in which SCi gained rights to a number of classic and recent Warner Bros. properties, including Batman, Looney Tunes, and many Hanna-Barbera titles. This newly announces game is not to be confused with the recently discussed Batman game allegedly in development at Pandemic for publisher Electronic Arts, and which is apparently an open-world title based on The Dark Knight movie.