When Batman: Arkham Shadow Takes Place On The Series’ Timeline

Summary Arkham Shadow may take place between Arkham Origins and Asylum, with Ratcatcher as a central villain.

The game's trailer hints at a timeline placement after Origins, building lore for the Arkhamverse.

Batman: Arkham Shadow will be fully unveiled at the Summer Game Fest and is anticipated to be a standout game in 2024.

Batman: Arkham Shadow has recently been announced as an exclusive for the Meta Quest 3, and the intriguing teaser trailer has been quickly making the rounds online. Outside of the core four Arkham titles, the lore of the Arkhamverse has been expanded in numerous spinoff games and other forms of media. Even with Arkham Shadow being exclusive to Meta Quest 3, excitement is building over what a new entry to the series may bring to the celebrated franchise. There is endless source material for the game to draw from, meaning fans of the series could be in for almost anything.

One of the biggest questions surrounding Arkham Shadow is where the game will fit in the overall Arkham timeline. Suicide Squad: Kill The Justice League vastly underperformed both critically and financially, with one of the biggest complaints being the game’s treatment of Batman's death. Batman: Arkham Knight laid the groundwork for what could have been an interesting sequel despite Suicide Squad's failings. While the clues in the game's trailer don't seem to suggest that Bruce Wayne’s underwhelming demise in Suicide Squad will be retconned from the Arkhamverse, they do seem to indicate a particularly interesting placement in the Arkham timeline.

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The Time Between Arkham: Origins And Arkham: Asylum Could Be A Great Setting

Much Is Unknown About The Events Between Arkham Origins And Arkham Asylum

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There are clues in the trailer suggesting that Arkham Shadow takes place between the events of Batman: Arkham Origins and Batman: Arkham Asylum. It is believed that the length of time between the two games is about five to seven years, and if the game really is set within that timeframe, it offers ample opportunities to build out the lore of the Arkhamverse. The newest installment is being developed by Camouflaj Games in partnership with Warner Brothers Interactive, and is likely to see Roger Craig Smith return to the role of Batman. Smith first voiced the role in Arkham Origins.

One of the biggest clues placing Arkham Shadow after the events of Arkham Origins is the "Vote Dent" button. This naturally seems to imply that Harvey Dent has yet to undergo his villainous transformation, one that he has already undergone by the start of Arkham Asylum. Secondly, an Arkham ID badge featuring the name and photo of Harleen Quinzel indicates that she, too, has not yet turned bad. With Batman first encountering the Joker in Arkham Origins, Arkham Shadow would be a likely time for her turn. While these villains are hinted at, one in particular seems very much likely.

The teaser all but confirms that Ratcatcher (aka Otis Flannegan) will be a central antagonist in the new game. The short trailer features rats running through the rainy alleyways of Gotham, pursued by the spectral shadow of Batman. A brief shot shows a rat passing through the eye of a gas mask, a prominent feature of Flannegan’s costume. Batman then encounters a massive swarm of red-eyed rodents, making a quick escape with the use of smoke pellets. Ratcatcher is an often overlooked villain in the pantheon of Bruce Wayne's foes, and Arkham Shadow seems poised to give him his due.

Batman: Arkham Asylum drew inspiration from a classic Batman story, "Arkham Asylum: A Serious House On Serious Earth."

Batman: Arkham Shadow Will Be Fully Unveiled At Summer Game Fest In June

Arkham Shadow Is Poised To Be One Of The Most Talked About Games Of 2024

The most telling evidence that Arkham Shadow will take place after Arkham Origins is the Bat-Signal featured in the teaser, a piece of lore that was not established until the end of Batman: Arkham Origins Blackgate. This may mean that Arkham Shadow could very well lead right up to the events of Arkham Asylum. If so, that would mean the game will likely feature the birth of both Two-Face and Harley Quinn. The game could even conclude with the capture of the Joker, who is then taken to Arkham Asylum, leading right into the opening minutes of Batman: Arkham Asylum.

Until more information is released this summer, there will be speculation as to what Arkham Shadow will bring to the overall Arkhamverse. Given that Arkham Shadow is a VR game, it may be a long time until another Arkham game makes its way to consoles. This is the second Arkham game to be made in VR, following Batman: Arkham VR in 2016. Given how much the technology has advanced in those eight years, Arkham Shadow is sure to be an immersive experience. Regardless of where Batman: Arkham Shadow fits in the timeline, excitement for the franchise is alive and well.