Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment launches Batman: Arkham Origins and Batman: Arkham Origins Blackgate

Play as Batman as He Meets And Takes on DC Comics' Most Notorious Villains

BURBANK, CA, Oct. 25, 2013 /CNW Telbec/ - Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment and DC Entertainment today unleash some of DC Comics' most deadly villains upon Gotham City with the launch of Batman: Arkham Origins. The next installment of the blockbuster Batman: Arkham video game franchise is available for the PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system, Xbox 360 games and entertainment system from Microsoft, Wii U™ system and Windows PC.  Also available today is Batman: Arkham Origins Blackgate for the PlayStation®Vita handheld entertainment system and Nintendo 3DS™ handheld system.

Developed by WB Games Montréal, Batman: Arkham Origins is based on DC Comics' core Batman license.  The game features an expanded Gotham City and introduces an original prequel storyline set several years before the events of Batman: Arkham Asylum and Batman: Arkham City, the first two critically acclaimed games of the franchise.  Taking place before the rise of Gotham City's most dangerous criminals, the game showcases a young, unrefined Batman as he faces the defining moment of his early career and sets his path to becoming the Dark Knight.

Batman: Arkham Origins Blackgate, a companion game to Batman: Arkham Origins, is a 2.5-D handheld game developed by Armature Studio, which brings the core Batman Arkham pillars, such as FreeFlow combat and Batman's infamous gadgets, to the PlayStation®Vita handheld entertainment system and Nintendo handheld format for the first time. Batman: Arkham Origins Blackgate allows players to continue the storyline of the console version and discover more details of the Dark Knight's past.

"It's a big responsibility taking on the Batman: Arkham franchise and the WB Games Montréal team has dedicated itself to giving players an experience that is worthy of the name," said Reid Schneider, Vice President and Executive Producer, WB Games Montréal.  "Batman: Arkham Origins allows fans to play through a new take on Batman's story while experiencing some enhanced game-play mechanics."

Batman: Arkham Origins features a pivotal tale set on Christmas Eve where Batman is hunted by eight of the deadliest assassins from the DC Comics Universe. Along the way, players will experience a fresh take on iconic Batman characters, including The Joker, Black Mask, Penguin, Deathstroke, Bane, Deadshot, Copperhead and others yet to be revealed.

Also new to the franchise is the online multiplayer mode, which is developed by Splash Damage. Friends and foes can play online in 3v3v2 gameplay that blends traditional Arkham gameplay with third-person shooter mechanics.  Gamers can hunt as Batman or Robin against the most challenging opponents yet - friends and other online gamers - or take a walk on the dark side as a Super-Villain Elite and be part of The Joker or Bane's gang.  Those playing as a Super-Villain Elite will also have a chance to seize control of either The Joker or Bane for a limited amount of time.

Players looking to extend their gameplay experience can buy the Batman: Arkham Origins Season Pass now for $19.99 and receive $30 worth of content.  The Season Pass is comprised of five of the game's upcoming downloadable content packs, which includes two exclusive skins, as well new content from the Batman Arkham Initiation Pack and a separate all-new story campaign.  The Initiation Pack content tests Bruce Wayne's skills of detection, evasion and confrontation among the mysterious temple high in the Paektusan mountains of Korea, where his greatest teacher, Grandmaster Kirigi, is holding a final class.  The Season Pass is available on the PlayStation®Network, Xbox Live online entertainment network from Microsoft, Nintendo eShop and Steam.

The Batman: Arkham Origins free-to-play mobile game, developed by NetherRealm Studios for iPad, iPhone and iPod touch, is available on the App Store and delivers the stunning graphics and quality gameplay fans have come to expect from the team who brought to market fan favorite mobile games Injustice: Gods Among Us and Batman: Arkham City Lockdown.  The title pits players, as Batman, against a number of DC Comics' most deadly assassins as they fight their way through Gotham City's most dangerous locales.  Those who also own the console versions of the game and are registered for a Warner Bros. ID (WBID) account will be able to access exclusive content not available elsewhere.

The PS3™ and Xbox 360 versions of Batman: Arkham Origins are priced at $59.99 suggested retail; the Wii U and Windows PC versions are priced at $49.99.  The suggested retail price for the Batman: Arkham Origins Blackgate handheld game is $39.99.  Also available in limited quantities is the Batman: Arkham Origins Collector's Edition for PS3™ and Xbox 360, priced at $119.99 SRP.

Batman: Arkham Origins and Batman: Arkham Origins Blackgate are rated "T" for Teen by the ESRB.

For more information and the latest updates, visit www.batmanarkhamorigins.com or find us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/BatmanArkham.

About DC Entertainment
DC Entertainment, home to iconic brands DC Comics (Superman, Batman, Green Lantern, Wonder Woman, The Flash), Vertigo Sandman, Fables and MAD, is the creative division charged with strategically integrating its content across Warner Bros. Entertainment and Time Warner.  DC Entertainment works in concert with many key Warner Bros. divisions to unleash its stories and characters across all media, including but not limited to film, television, consumer products, home entertainment and interactive games. Publishing thousands of comic books, graphic novels and magazines each year, DC Entertainment is the largest English-language publisher of comics in the world.  In January 2012, DC Entertainment, in collaboration with Warner Bros. and Time Warner divisions, launched We Can Be Heroes—a giving campaign featuring the iconic Justice League super heroes—to raise awareness and funds to fight the hunger crisis in the Horn of Africa.

About Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment
Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment, a division of Warner Bros. Home Entertainment, Inc., is a premier worldwide publisher, developer, licensor and distributor of entertainment content for the interactive space across all current and future platforms, including console, handheld and PC-based gaming for both internal and third party game titles.

About WB Games Montréal
Since its launch in 2010, WB Games Montréal has more than 300 employees and continues to grow and recruit additional talent.  Working with some of Warner Bros. Studios' biggest brands, including DC Entertainment, the studio is focused on the most cutting-edge approach to games for the digital space as well as current and upcoming video game consoles.

About Armature Studio
Founded in 2008 by three of the principal members of the Metroid Prime franchise, Armature Studio strives to bring their game design sensibilities to a new audience. Located in Austin, TX, Armature currently has over 30 employees and is working on multiple titles.

About NetherRealm Studios
NetherRealm Studios is a leader in the development of interactive entertainment, and the creator of the billion dollar Mortal Kombat franchise. Mortal Kombat has spawned two theatrical films, multiple television series, and has sold over 35 million games to date. Located in Chicago, Illinois the award-winning NetherRealm team has been working and creating games together since 1992. Additional information about NetherRealm Studios can be found at www.netherrealm.com

About Splash Damage Ltd
Founded in 2001 and based in London, England, Splash Damage® Ltd is an independently-owned developer dedicated to AAA multiplayer experiences. The studio has won over 300 awards and nominations around the world, achieved 'Best Independent Developer' at the Develop Awards, and was listed in The Guardian's 'TechMedia Invest 100'.

BATMAN: ARKHAM ORIGINS, BATMAN: ARKHAM ORIGINS BLACKGATE software © 2013 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc
BATMAN and all characters, their distinctive likenesses, and related elements are trademarks of DC Comics © 2013. All Rights Reserved.
WB GAMES LOGO, WB SHIELD: ™ & © Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc.
(s13)  

Nintendo trademarks and copyrights are properties of Nintendo
"PlayStation" is a registered trademark of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.
SPLASH DAMAGE is a registered trademark of Splash Damage Ltd in the United Kingdom and/or other countries.

SOURCE: Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment

For further information:

Kehau Rodenhurst
Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment
818.977.3340
[e-mail]    

Craig Sinel
fortyseven communications
323-658-1200
[e-mail]