The Batman Arkham Trilogy, comprising Batman: Arkham Asylum, Batman: Arkham City, and Batman: Arkham Knight, is one of the best-selling and most highly praised superhero game franchises of all time. While superhero games are hardly new or uncommon, many fans feel the series has yet to be beat. The games throw players into the dark, gritty world of Arkham as Batman, the Caped Crusader, pitting them against show-stopping antagonists like Scarecrow, Harley Quinn, and the Joker.
Given this franchise's success, it was only a matter of time before the games were released on the increasingly popular Nintendo Switch. During June 21, 2023's Nintendo Direct, Nintendo officials announced that the beloved trilogy of DC games were finally going to be released as a Switch Bundle in Fall 2023 (though a specific date is yet to be determined). This is exciting news for both old fans of the trilogy and DC fans that primarily play on Switch, and it could open up new doors for future DC game releases in the future.
The Arkham Trilogy's Past of Limited Console Releases
Worldwide, the Arkham games have boasted sales of over thirty million copies, which is substantial considering the limited number of consoles all three games were and still are available on. Originally, Arkham Origins, a prequel game to the trilogy, and Arkham City were released on Nintendo's WiiU, but Arkham Knight and Arkham Asylum weren't treated to the same privilege. This drawback likely kept many players from enjoying all three games.
DC games are still facing this restricted console availability, since most games remain exclusive to Xbox or PlayStation. Because so many games are getting Switch ports, the Arkham Trilogy's Switch release was the blessing many Nintendo and DC fans were waiting for. Now, the games will all be available in one place for fans of the franchise to enjoy. Perhaps more DC games will get the same treatment, especially if the trilogy's sales go well in the months following its release.
The Downside to the Arkham Trilogy's Switch Release
While the news of the Arkham Trilogy's release is exciting for many, there is one aspect of the launch that some find questionable or downright disappointing. The Switch cartridge will only feature Arkham Asylum. Arkham City and Arkham Knight will have to be downloaded upon purchase of Arkham Asylum and can only be played with the cartridge inserted.
While this isn't necessarily a turnoff for most prospective players, there are those who would prefer all or nothing regarding cartridge versus digital download. It's speculated that the three games wouldn't fit well on one cartridge, especially with the DLC content that's been promised by the developers. Making two of the games digital saves players from having to carry around two extra cartridges. Despite this drawback, fans are buzzing with excitement over the upcoming DC trilogy, and its success could be enough to launch the genre into a heroic future on Switch.