It seems like the wait for Rocksteady's next Arkham game is never-ending, especially since Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League got delayed again. The game was originally slated for a 2022 release, but it got pushed back to 2023 for various reasons. An in-depth gameplay preview was finally shown off at the most recent PlayStation State of Play, but it was met with severe backlash from the fans over its many live-service elements. Warner Bros. has now decided to delay Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League again, but the new release date has not been announced yet.
This new Suicide Squad delay is allegedly because of negative feedback from the Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League gameplay showcase, and that should be a good thing. If that is true then it means that Warner Bros. is listening to the fanbase, and it wants to make the game as good as it can be. However, the game is too far in development that the live-service mechanics will likely not be removed. While this delay may mean the game has fewer bugs, it is unlikely that it will fix most fan concerns.
Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League Received Immense Backlash
Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League is supposed to mark the grand return of the Batman: Arkham series with a brand-new set of protagonists. Rocksteady Studios has been quiet since the release of Batman: Arkham VR in 2016, and fans were excited to see what the studio had in store. After months of anticipation and multiple delays, Rocksteady finally showed off an extended gameplay preview at the February 2023 PlayStation State of Play, and fans were very disappointed.
The preview seems to have hit all the wrong notes. The game looks like DC's version of Marvel's Avengers instead of the epic next chapter of the Arkham series. There seems to be loads of live-service mechanics including a Suicide Squad battle pass, hordes of the same robotic enemies, multiple different currencies, and mandatory online pl. The cutscenes and story look strong, but the gameplay looks bland and forgettable. It looks like it is repeating the same exact pitfalls of previous AAA superhero ensemble games, and that is not what the fanbase wanted.
The Suicide Squad Delay Will Not Fix Everything
In response to this backlash, Warner Bros. has apparently decided to delay Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League again. The new release date has not been announced yet, but it is supposedly still launching this year. While some fans were excited about what this delay could mean, it will probably not mean much. The studio is looking to polish the game so that it can have a strong launch, but the core Suicide Squad gameplay will not be overhauled.
Unless the game gets delayed again, Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League will still be filled with its live-service mechanics. It is too far in development to overhaul the core gameplay loop, and a short delay will only give the studio enough time to polish what is already there. Fans who were hoping for Rocksteady to listen to all the backlash will still be disappointed, and those looking for another singleplayer Arkham game may want to look elsewhere. The most that the studio could do at this point is limit the currencies, add a couple ways to get cosmetics for free, and remove Suicide Squad's online only requirement.
There is a chance that Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League is actually a really strong game, and the live-service mechanics may finally work. There is also a chance that it will just be another Anthem, Marvel's Avengers, or Gotham Knights. If anything, this delay should ensure that the game has a stronger launch than its predecessors, as long as the polish goes to the right places.
Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League will be available in 2023 for PS5, PC, and Xbox Series X/S.
