While Batman: Arkham Origins may still be months away, fans have suspected for some time that the dark knight wouldn't be the only comic book character made available to players. Rumors of a playable Robin being featured in the game have been surfacing, but thanks to a leak from an online retailer, the mystery may be over.
This time around, pre-ordering a copy of Batman: Arkham Origins won't be earning fans a chance to play as Catwoman in the game's campaign - or any of Batman's allies or sidekicks, for that matter. Instead, players can step into the boots (and mask) of one of DC Comics' most deadly assassins: Deathstroke the Terminator.
The reveal comes thanks to a listing on Amazon, claiming that a pre-order through the website would offer buyers not only a $10 credit on the site, but 'Playable Deathstroke DLC.' No further details were given on how substantial the gameplay would be, and the offer image has since been pulled, promising only the $10 credit. But the cat is already out of the bag, and sure to spark some heated debate given the series' previous run-ins with locked content.
Rocksteady ran into some serious customer service issues by locking the now-infamous Catwoman DLC, redeemed by entering codes printed inside boxed copies (at least, that was the plan). The playable DLC - sewn throughout the Batman campaign in stages - kicked off a lengthy micro-transaction strategy that saw unique singleplayer skins, Challenge mode characters and alternate costumes and more dribble out based on which retailer the game was purchased through.
It's not shocking to see signs that Arkham Origins would implement the same plan, but we certainly hope Warner Bros. is better prepared for the possible backlash and complaints this time around. At this point all we've seen of Deathstroke is his new (and stunning) design, and an all-too-brief fight between he and Batman in the first teaser trailer for the game.
So far it's unclear if the DLC refers to an unlocked skin for the still-unannounced multiplayer, Challenge modes, or that Deathstroke will play a part in the larger campaign. Whatever the case, this leak is sure to get fans and cynics talking.
What do you think of the decision to once again include playable characters only unlocked through pre-order or retail purchase? Would the restriction of Deathstroke to Challenge modes, and not the singleplayer campaign sway you to one side of the debate or the other?
Are there any other characters you now hope to see receive the same treatment? Share your thoughts in the comments.
Batman: Arkham Origins will be available on Wii U, Playstation 3, Xbox 360, and PC October 25, 2013.
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Source: Amazon (via AGB)