Highlights
- An exciting Damian Wayne-led Batman game, Project Sabbath, was canceled due to leaks, and its darker take on Gotham City was very promising.
- Leaked concept art showed a crime-riddled wasteland Gotham City, with villains like Poison Ivy and Black Mask's daughter planned to appear.
- Fans missed out on a potentially groundbreaking Batman game, as Project Sabbath's cancelation is one of the biggest losses in modern gaming.
WB Games Montreal once worked on an ambitious Batman game that could have offered fans a completely new and exciting take on the caped crusader, but a series of leaks and a mysterious cancelation caused the project to be scrapped for good. Concept art and plot leaks promised a bleak and grisly take on Batman and Gotham City, mirroring another upsetting cancelation; Star Wars 1313. The two games were darker takes on beloved franchises, and with both titles seemingly getting canned, these games are sad reminders of what could have been.
There is a long list of great sounding games that have faced abrupt cancelations, but the untitled Batman project from WB Games Montreal is one of the most upsetting. The once-in-development game, nicknamed Project Sabbath, was set to bring to life a version of Batman that many fans had been hoping to see for years, but everything came crashing down without any clear reason why.
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Project Sabbath's Exciting Take On Batman
One of the most exciting aspects of Project Sabbath was that it was set to star Damian Wayne. The game was planned to feature an older Bruce Wayne, possibly mentoring Damian, as he took over the mantle of protecting a rapidly deteriorating Gotham City. Many fans have been asking for an older version of Bruce Wayne, a-la The Dark Knight Returns, for a long time, and leaks suggested that Project Sabbath was set to do just that.
Leaks Plagued the Damian Wayne Game's Development
Leaked material about the game's plot details and characters hit the internet, giving gamers an insight into what to expect, but these leaks could have ultimately been the game's demise. Josh Keaton, Robin's voice actor in Arkham Origins, claimed that these leaks were what eventually caused the project to be shut down. During a recent live stream, Keaton alleged that he was set to play Damian Wayne, even completing several voiceover sessions, but the amount of Project Sabbath leaks revealed online caused development to cease.
Although Keaton's claims of leaks killing the game have yet to be confirmed by WB Games Montreal, it's no secret that early leaks have been plaguing the industry for years. Keaton also stated that the version of Batman he was set to voice was not Bruce Wayne, further pointing at Damian Wayne leading the story. As the son of Bruce Wayne and supervillain Talia al Ghul, Damian Wayne's unique background would have been the perfect lead for a grittier Batman title thanks to the character being raised by the League of Assassins in the comics. Seeing a version of Batman with a warped moral compass could have made for some incredibly compelling moments.
Gotham City As a Crime-Riddled Wasteland
It goes without saying that Gotham City is a playground for villains and criminals, but leaked concept art of Project Sabbath shows an even darker, rundown interpretation of Gotham City that is quickly giving into decay. Leaks also showcased a diverse list of villains that were planned to make an appearance.
- The Judge
- Gorilla Grodd
- Black Mask (Roman Sionis' daughter)
- The Penguin
- White Rabbit (an older version)
- Poison Ivy
A Damian Wayne-led Batman game showing a morally gray protagonist taking out the many iconic villains that are spreading over Gotham City like an extra nasty plague could have been the beginnings of the next great Batman series. After the lackluster reception of Gotham Knights, fans deserve a take on Batman that rivals the genius of the Arkham trilogy. A significant portion of Batman fans have been asking for a game like Project Sabbath for a long time, and its cancelation is one of the biggest losses in modern gaming. Where there is still an inkling of hope for Star Wars 1313, Project Sabbath seems to be scrapped for good, but hopefully, fans will some day get the new Batman story they deserve.
