Batman Arkham Knight delayed – again – but I can wait a bit longer for some Batmobile action

Warner Bros announced this morning that much-anticipated Batman Arkham City has been delayed – again – a few weeks until June 23.  It had been previously delayed until June 2.

I have to say I was a little miffed about the latest delay as Arkham Knight is probably one of the few games I’m looking forward to this year. The Witcher 3 is the second one.  After watching the latest trailer, though, which could be seen as a “Sorry for the delay. Here’s some awesome Batman action to make up for it” apology from developer Rocksteady, I’m prepared to wait until June 23. Oh, God, I’m prepared to wait.

My jaw literally dropped as I was watching the trailer and I heard an audible “Wow” escape from my mouth. I think it was an involuntary “Wow”. I just couldn’t help myself.

I also think I stopped breathing for a split second when the Batmobile arrived on the scene (about the 3:40 mark) after Batman had decided to “Even the odds” after taking out a multitude of bad guys. OK, I didn’t really stop breathing but it was a mightily impressive scene. Watch it and tell me you’re not impressed.

If the latest trailer is indicative of the final game, then Rocksteady can delay it for as long as it likes. Well, not as long as it likes, I’d like it out by June 23 please and I’ve yet to decide whether I’m going to pick it up on PS4, Xbox One or PC (I have to check whether my PC can run it, though).

If the game was out today, I’d be throwing my money to Warner Bros and Rocksteady right now but it’s not so I’ll have to wait. Oh, yes, I’m prepared to wait.

Oh, shit, I also just realised that The Witcher 3 will only have been released the month before Batman Arkham Knight. OK, I’m going to have to start convincing the wife right now that she needs to watch TV in the other room during May and June.

Wish me luck. I’m not sure how successful I’ll be. Perhaps some flowers are in order …

Disappointment alert: Batman Arkham Knight delayed

If there was one game that I really looking forward to this year it was Batman Arkham Knight. I was counting down the days until it’s release on [Xbox One, PlayStation 4, PC] in October (well, I wasn’t actually counting the days physically, you understand).

I was even getting ready to pre-order a collector’s edition (when one was announced) because a) I don’t own a collector’s edition of any game and b) If the collector’s edition had a replica model of the new Batmobile, well, let’s just say that would be awesome (hint, hint Rocksteady and Warner Bros Interactive).

Well, sadly, I’m going to have to put my dreams about pre-ordering a Batman Arkham Knight collector’s edition until probably later this year: Rocksteady has delayed the game until next year. Yep, 2015.

Talking to The Escapist at an Arkham Knight press event recently, Rocksteady’s Guy Perkins said with such as “super ambitious project” in development, more time is needed.

“We just want to make the best experience we possibly can and we need more time to do that,” said Perkins. “I think what we’ve shown so far is a super ambitious project and we just want to make sure we are giving Batman fans and gamers the best Batman experience that we can possibly deliver and that just takes time.

“I think we would be doing fans a disservice if we didn’t spend the time on the title. We just want it to be really great.”

Personally, I’m all for games being delayed so they’re polished within an inch of their lives. I don’t want a buggy, glitchy mess that launches with a 8GB patch (sorry, “update”) that fixes all the stuff that should have been fixed in the first place.

Really, though, does this delay come as any surprise? The game was only officially announced a couple of months ago so I wonder whether the October release date was made after pressure from the publisher. Who knows but if this delay makes the game better, then I’m all for it. Besides, Arkham Knight will be hyped to high heaven until it’s out so best it’s the best it can be. Right?

So, I guess as a means of appeasing the restless and disappointed fans,  Rocksteady has released a new trailer that shows off the Batmobile’s Battle Mode, which apparently is going to be shown in more detail at next week’s E3.

Disappointed like me at the news?