Batman Arkham Origins Multiplayer

Even though Batman: Arkham Origins developer Warner Bros. Montreal is taking over from Rocksteady Studios' lead, they are not afraid to carve their own path. Rather than creating a direct follow-up to Arkham City, WB Montreal is heading in the opposite direction and telling a story that pre-empts both Arkham Asylum and Arkham City.

According to a new rumor, Warner Bros. Montreal is also introducing multiplayer into Batman: Arkham Origins, a first for the franchise. While we've seen Batman go toe-to-toe with DC Comics legends in the online battlegrounds of Injustice: Gods Among Us, this will likely be something different.

The scoop comes courtesy of Kotaku, who have it on good authority that multiplayer will factor into the new game. While there has been no official confirmation from Warner Bros. or the Montreal studio, Kotaku's source seems to have the inside track on all things Arkham Origins.

As it turns out, this source first caught Kotaku's attention with a post about a new game called 'Batman Origins.' The source claimed the game would feature snow and would be set sometime around Christmas. Without any corroboration from Warner Bros, however, it was hard to evaluate the legitimacy of the rumor.

Then came Game Informer's Batman: Arkham Origins reveal, which featured a suspiciously similar game title, snow, and revealed the game would be set on Christmas Eve. Clearly the source was privy to some inside information.

Now that the source has been proven legitimate (more or less), Kotaku is reporting the individual in question also teased a multiplayer offering for this new Batman game. While details are slim, they claim that at one point gamers will play as a member of Joker or Bane's gang as they try and take down Batman AND Robin.

It's unclear if the villains themselves will be playable, or customizable, but that also appears to be a possibility. Some of the other villains mentioned in connection with the multiplayer include Killer Croc, Deadshot, Firefly, Black Mask, Deathstroke, and an "electrified character."

Arkham City - Robin Gameplay

While a lot of fans will likely roll their eyes at the inclusion of multiplayer, it could work within the framework of these games. Imagine one of the self-contained "arenas" from either of the two previous Arkham games. One group of players is in control of the henchman, while a duo plays as Batman and Robin. The goal: take down all the henchmen, or conversely take out Batman and Robin.

Or maybe the multiplayer is a little more expansive than that, and is more of a cooperative campaign featuring Batman and Robin. It's hard to know at this point since Warner Bros. Montreal isn't saying anything, just something to consider.

If multiplayer is part of Arkham Origins, gamers should expect a full reveal is being planned. When that reveal might take place is a mystery, but E3 2013 seems like as good a place as any.

Do you think Batman: Arkham Origins will benefit from a multiplayer offering? How would you like to see Warner Bros. Montreal accommodate multiple players?

Batman: Arkham Origins releases October 25, 2013 for the PC, PS3, Xbox 360, and Wii U.

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Source: Kotaku