Because Gotham Knights operates under its own original narrative umbrella, it is uncertain what events and lore from Batman's franchise mythology have already unfolded by the time of the game's story. It is evident that Bruce Wayne has been Batman for an extensive period in Gotham Knights due to the established Bat Family, but other key details are only assumed or speculative.
Gotham City Police Commissioner Jim Gordon may not be the most exciting character when put next to Batman or any other colorful crimefighters, but his presence has always played an integral part in depicting Gotham City's cesspool. However, Gotham Knights' Gordon is apparently dead, which beckons questions as to how and why this may be important to WB Montreal's narrative.
Unpacking Jim Gordon's Surprising Fate in Gotham Knights
Bruce Wayne reminds the Bat family that Jim Gordon is deceased and that they are alone now in his own sendoff video. Because Gotham Knights' narrative is wholly original, Gordon's death could have been the result of any number of incidents, whether it was a failed attempt to thwart petty crime or a tragic circumstance authored by one of Gotham Knights' myriad supervillains. Regardless, the announcement of Gordon's death provides implications about what Gotham Knights has in store for players and what they should expect from the story.
Gotham Knights' original continuity also leaves a lapse in whether Gordon has experienced the same landmark story beats as his source material and Batman: Arkham series counterparts. The little of Gotham Knights that has been shown through cinematic trailers and gameplay presentations spell out familiar histories and character developments, so it may be inferred that the events that led to Gotham Knights are similar to those from iterations before it.
It can only be assumed at this point that Gordon was still the catalyst of righteousness in Gotham's corrupt precincts and that his partnership with Batman held a light to criminal activity in Gotham. It is also presumed that Batman was not alone in his efforts to fight crime in Gotham for the last while if Nightwing, Batgirl, Robin, and Red Hood are around and composed as distinct characters. But with Gordon and now Batman out of the picture, Gotham Knights would be able to focus solely on its four playable protagonists without fans' lingering expectations.
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Rocksteady's Batman: Arkham franchise, on the other hand, centered a lot of attention throughout each game on Gordon's importance to the story. Batman: Arkham Knight rehashed Batman: The Killing Joke's key narrative themes in order to emotionally compromise Gordon, while WB Montreal's own Batman: Arkham Origins shared a prequel narrative for Gordon as much as it did for Batman. Instead, Gotham Knights could be actively attempting to distance itself from that seminal franchise with Batman and Gordon's deaths.
An intriguing Gotham Knights fan theory has previously noted an owl as part of Gordon's Gotham City Police Department badge shield, and how that could potentially signify the Court of Owls' control over the city. If true, Gordon's death may have been the result of more sinister and orchestrated means, rather than a random tragedy or other happenstance. For now, it is unclear how important or relevant Jim Gordon even is to Gotham Knights overall, but his death's impact should naturally be felt by Gotham Knights' lone female protagonist.
What Jim Gordon's Death Means for Gotham Knights' Protagonists
While Jim Gordon's death must be felt throughout Gotham if he inherits the same character traits from other iterations, his death must surely have the greatest impact on his daughter, Barbara. Gotham Knights' Barbara Gordon has some curious character developments to explain as well, such as how Oracle's wheelchair is spotted in Gotham Knights' cinematic reveal trailer, though she is able to walk and is Batgirl in the present day. It would then seem that Gotham Knights is adapting Batgirl's New 52 comic continuity and the surgical procedure that reverses her paraplegia.
It is not stated how long it has been since Gordon's death, but it could still be a plot device in Gotham Knights for the tired narrative trope of having Barbara thrust into action as a result of her father's demise. Gotham Knights' reveal trailer highlights a snapshot of Gordon piggybacking a younger Barbara besides the GCPD badge as mementos that Barbara keeps. With Barbara's roles as Batgirl and Oracle seemingly married in Gotham Knights, it will be interesting to see if her father's death becomes a larger narrative thread for her to follow.
Bruce Wayne makes an interesting point of noting that the GCPD has not trusted the Bat family's vigilante efforts since Gordon's death. This suggests that Gordon's death could have been averted somehow and that either Batman or another Bat family affiliate is held publicly accountable for his death in particular. Rather, it could suggest that Gordon was the only connective tissue that allowed the Bat family to operate as vigilantes and now that he is dead the GCPD has reverted back to an inherent lack of trust.
Ultimately, Gordon's death means that there will be no official support from Gotham's finest, though the four playable protagonists seem capable on their own. The GCPD may not end up being largely involved in terms of Gotham Knights' gameplay anyhow, so Gordon's death and the refusal of GCPD services may not be significant altogether apart from narrative beats. Gotham City is sure to be rife with criminal activity in Batman's absence, but the lack of GCPD assistance will likely feel inconsequential to players in Gotham's open world.
Jim Gordon's death may or may not be expanded upon when Gotham Knights releases next year, but time will tell if his death is simply a plot device engineered to isolate the Bat family as Gotham's sole saviors. Indeed, Batman and Gordon's deaths being legitimate and irreversible could truly make way for Nightwing, Batgirl, Robin, and Red Hood to fully receive the spotlight in Gotham Knights.
Gotham Knights releases in 2022 for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.