One of the most anticipated games of the year, Gotham Knights is finally live for pre-orders. In a brand-new gameplay trailer, WB Games Montreal finally confirmed an official release date for the game: October 25, 2022. During the trailer, fans got a close look at how Red Hood and Nightwing will play, showing off 13-minutes of combat, traversal, and a little smattering of plot to keep fans speculating for the next few months.
With a release date now officially confirmed, and more gameplay being shown, the hype train can now depart the station, after remaining at a standstill since its 2020 announcement. Before fans rush out to pre-order their copy of Gotham Knights, there are a few things they should know first. Namely, what version of the game they might want to secure, and what pre-order bonuses are available with each edition of the game.
Gotham Knights' Pre-Order Bonus
Regardless of which version of the game fans pick up, they should be able to secure the exact same pre-order bonus, regardless of platform or edition. Pre-ordering Gotham Knights will land the player with a unique skin for the in-game Batcycle. Titled the "233 Kustom Batcycle Skin," this cosmetic is based on the bike's first appearance in Detective Comics #223, giving the Batcycle a dark brown tint on its seat and chassis, while the wheels remain black.
While the recent gameplay trailer showed that each member of the Bat-Family will have their own unique method of traversal — Nightwing uses a glider while Red Hood uses a spectral jump — each playable character will also have access to the same Batcycle. Each hero can use it to traverse Gotham at street-level, drifting around corners with ease a la The Dark Knight. It isn't the most impressive pre-order bonus, but it's at least a nice bonus for those who are going to purchase the game regardless.
Gotham Knights Standard Edition
There are three editions of Gotham Knights currently up for pre-order on most sites. The least expensive of which is the Standard Edition. As the name implies, Gotham Knights Standard Edition is simply the base game with no extra frills or bonuses. Much like every version of Gotham Knights, the Standard Edition will only be available for Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 5, and PC, as previous gen versions of the game have been scrapped altogether.
It should also be noted that Gotham Knights will only feature two-player co-op, and that it's restricted to online play, and only for those on the same console. No cross-platform online play has been confirmed at this stage, meaning that PC players won't be able to play with PlayStation or Xbox users, and vice versa, so players should keep that in mind when buying the game.
The Standard Edition of Gotham Knights will be available in both physical and digital forms, where it currently costs $69.99 for the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S versions at the vast majority of retailers, and $59.99 for the PC version. If fans are just looking for the cheapest way to play the game, then the Standard Edition is the right choice.
Gotham Knights Deluxe Edition
As is the case with the vast majority of big AAA releases nowadays, Gotham Knights is also set to receive a Deluxe Edition. The Deluxe Edition will set the player back $89.99 for the console versions of the game, and $79.99 for the PC version. Like the Standard Edition, the Deluxe Edition is also available as a physical disk, or digital download.
What sets the Deluxe Edition apart from the regular version of the game is that it comes packed with a range of cosmetics. The Deluxe Edition includes a Knightwatch transmog, designed by the legendary comic artist Jim Lee, a "Beyond" suit, inspired by the futuristic Batman Beyond animated show and comic, and some Salvage, which will let players craft gear in-game.
The Deluxe Edition also includes some boosted gear, an emote, and three Suit Colorways. While the Beyond suit, the boosted gear, and the salvage can be earned by playing the game normally, the Knightwatch transmog, emote, and Colorways are all exclusive to those who have purchased the Deluxe Edition of Gotham Knights.
For those that are expecting to put a lot of time into Gotham Knights, the Deluxe Edition might be worth the extra $10. For those who aren't overly fussed on in-game cosmetics, there aren't a lot of reasons to invest the extra money in this particular version of the game, as there are no extra physical goodies for those who purchase the physical version.
Gotham Knights Collector's Edition
For the die-hard Batman fans, and those with cash to burn, the Gotham Knights Collector's Edition may just the option for them. Priced at an eye-watering $299.99, or $289.99 for the PC version, the Gotham Knights Collector's Edition gives fans plenty of bang for their buck, with a plethora of physical goodies to go alongside some cosmetics.
On top of everything included in the Deluxe Edition of Gotham Knights, the Collector's Edition also includes a few exclusive cosmetics of its own. Called the "Promethium New Guard Transmogs," these skins give each of the Bat-Family a sleek new look, with Batgirl's being a standout as it really accentuates the yellow in her costume.
A beautifully-designed game case is also included, lined with LEDs and packed with a 16-page art book filled with concept art for the game. A small Augmented Reality Talon Key pin is also included, along with an impressively detailed folding map of Gotham City.
However, the centerpiece of the Gotham Knights Collector's Edition, and by far the most impressive aspect of this version, is the large exclusive statue. Depicting all four members of the Bat-Family, this statue looks incredibly detailed, with each character receiving a full model, weapons and all. The stances of the characters may not be the most dynamic, but there's enough implied action to make it an impressive shelf-piece.
To top everything off, the Collector's Edition also comes with a certificate of authenticity, signed by Jim Lee himself. For many, the staggering price point of this edition will just simply be too much, but for those fans that already have a deep connection with these characters and setting, the $300 might be worth it. Though, it should be noted that for Xbox Series S users, they'll need to pick up a digital copy of Gotham Knights on top of this, as the Collector's Edition comes with a physical copy of the game.
Gotham Knights is set to release October 25, 2022, for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S