Rock, Paper, Shotgun

PC’s Batman Arkham City Slips To November

By John Walker on September 20th, 2011 at 3:27 pm.

This is impressive. The slip is not.

Sigh, the disease is spreading. Batman: Arkham City on PC, formerly set to be released alongside the consoles, has been pushed back a month. The 360 and PS3 versions of Warner’s game are still coming out on the 21st October, but our version has been given the ambiguous and extremely unhelpful date of “November”. Absolutely no reason is given, so we’ve contacted Warner to find out what’s up.

Meanwhile, four new colourful screenshots don’t exactly make us feel much better about it. They’re below.

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122 Comments »

  1. 20/09/2011 at 15:29 mikmanner says:

    FFFFFFFFFFFFFUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUKKK

    • 20/09/2011 at 15:31 furiannn says:

      pretty much

    • 20/09/2011 at 15:31 Isometric says:

      FAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

    • 20/09/2011 at 15:56 Njordsk says:

      What a shame.

    • 20/09/2011 at 17:19 Bughunter says:

      Ok but seriously, are you really baffled as to why? I mean everyone here gets that holding off for a month allows the studio to get one solid month of sales in before the thing is cracked and seeded to bit-torrent.

      We all get that right? Do we really have to ask the studio why? Being in the software business I for one totally understand.

    • 20/09/2011 at 17:33 Dolar says:

      Eh, not really mate. It is pirated nearly as much on consoles. It gives the false appearance of that however.

    • 20/09/2011 at 17:35 Emeraude says:

      I keep hearing that theory Bughunter. It is not corroborated by experience as far as I can see.

      Hell, Deus Ex was available to 360 pirates before the game was even released, and it seems to be how things generally go.

      Disappointing news, but not unexpected.

    • 20/09/2011 at 17:39 Bughunter says:

      Actually, that’s not true at all Dolar (not to be contrary). Console piracy rates are substantially lower due to the hardware constraints involved. That’s why publishers frequently delay PC titles to recoup first month earnings. PC releases have extremely high seed counts on bit-torrent, there’s no comparing the two really.

      But my question is this; do we REALLY care if the publisher delays for one month so that they can recoup their investment? I mean even the file sharers among us…do we honestly care if a title is 30 days late so that the people working on it actually stand a chance of continuing to make games?

    • 20/09/2011 at 17:52 Emeraude says:

      I’d argue that piracy rates – even if they happen to *be* lower – on consoles generate a far higher ration of lost sales per download. If only because of the difficulty you mention, but also because PC has come to the point where legitimate buyers have to pirate their games. But that’s just a hunch.

      And I don’t think most of us are that mad about the fact that the game is released one month after on PC, but about the one it’s been *delayed*. Which is all the more infuriating for people who pre-ordered when you happen to tell them it’s a normal strategy that should have been expected.

    • 21/09/2011 at 03:24 Jerykk says:

      Holy misinformation, Batman! Firstly, delaying the PC port for a month isn’t going to “recoup” piracy losses. If anything, it’ll hurt PC sales. Delayed ports typically don’t sell well because the hype has died and/or everyone has already played the game on consoles. In fact, people are even more likely to pirate delayed PC ports because they don’t want to spend an additional $50 when they’ve already played the console versions.

      Bottom line: delaying a SKU in order to avoid piracy is retarded. Piracy is inevitable. Focus on your customers instead of pirates because your customers actually pay you. If you really want to avoid the game being pirated before the official release date (ironically, this happens to console games on a regular basis), use Steamworks. There are very, very few Steamworks games that have been pirated before launch.

  2. 20/09/2011 at 15:31 Patches the Hyena says:

    Terrible, terrible news. However, this may just have prevented me flunking all of my end of semester exams and having to waste summer doing them again.

  3. 20/09/2011 at 15:31 JonClaw says:

    Bad week for PC gaming so far…

    Let me guess, this is to “optimize the PC version”…

  4. 20/09/2011 at 15:31 DanPryce says:

    Wishful thinking:

    - Purging GWFL, adding Steamworks
    - Pumping DLC back in as a ‘Special Edition’
    - Working out an even more devious anti-piracy measure than no-glide

    Realistic thinking:

    - Arbitrary hold back to get PC users to buy console versions. Shit, I’m considering it.

    • 20/09/2011 at 15:44 skinlo says:

      Have some willpower, its really not that hard to wait a month.

    • 20/09/2011 at 15:49 Torgen says:

      Dan, with the whole “PC piracy makes us poor” thing the publishers push, along with this happening so often, I think this really has become a deliberate standard procedure to “offset PC piracy.”

    • 20/09/2011 at 15:49 GenBanks says:

      I waited a whole year to buy Red Dead Redemption on console, because I had the mad hope that it would be announced for PC. You know you only have to wait a month for the PC version, stay strong!

    • 20/09/2011 at 15:58 V. Profane says:

      I really wouldn’t give a fuck if all publishers decided to hold back multi-platform games from the PC for month or two to encourage those with no will power to pay twice as much for the console version so long as they stop pretending that they intend to have a unified release.

    • 20/09/2011 at 16:09 Grygus says:

      Funny thing is that Human Revolution was cracked and out there for Xbox a good week and a half before the PC version.

      …or so I have heard. I wouldn’t actually know, of course.

    • 20/09/2011 at 16:12 Kdansky says:

      As Dragon Age 2 and DXHR made me realize, I am more prone to impulse-buy expensive games if I can get them when they are still fresh. If they are half a year old, I am likely to not be interested much in them any more because the hype is gone.

      I believe they lose money like this.

    • 20/09/2011 at 16:27 Ysellian says:

      @Genbanks Im still waiting XD

    • 20/09/2011 at 16:31 DanPryce says:

      Relax, I won’t really. In fact, now it’s a November release, that means I can ask for it for my birthday!

    • 20/09/2011 at 16:33 Khemm says:

      If you want to purge GFWL, then I sure as hell do not want it replaced with even worse bloatware. How about no third party service tied to the game at all?

    • 20/09/2011 at 17:00 Cryotek says:

      The problem with this logic is that they make more money on a copy of the PC version than they do on a copy of the console version.

      I’m pissed because I pre-ordered, thinking the release date was solid at this point. I’d still rather wait, though. I’m sure the PC version, like with Arkham Asylum, will destroy the console versions – “port” or not.

    • 20/09/2011 at 17:38 Emeraude says:

      “Purging GWFL, adding Steamworks”

      How about purging GFWL and adding nothing (or keep the use of both optional) ?

      I’m tired of all those DRMs being imposed on me.

    • 20/09/2011 at 17:48 Mark says:

      I’m considering cancelling my preorder and simply renting the game. Great tactic, WB.

  5. 20/09/2011 at 15:32 Flukie says:

    Im as hyped for this game as anyone else, but if they need the time to polish this up then go ahead.

    I swear if they are doing exclusive nvidia features like anti aliasing again i’ll be pissed off.

    Its not like I have a big enough back log atm. Surprised I got through Deus Ex, oh wait I was hooked as I will be with this.

  6. 20/09/2011 at 15:32 deanb says:

    It’s not like I’ve pre-ordered both this and Skyrim with the hopes of playing Batman then moving onto Skyrim when I was done. Now I guess I won’t be able to play Batman AC at all unless it’s before November 7th.

  7. 20/09/2011 at 15:33 Kdansky says:

    Are they late for Talk Like A Pirate Day?

  8. 20/09/2011 at 15:34 StingingVelvet says:

    Since the first Batman game from them was amazing on PC I am completely willing to wait for another gem of a port.

    I guess people who console game too are suddenly conflicted though, and that sucks.

  9. 20/09/2011 at 15:38 Nemon says:

    People don’t understand that it takes time implementing an half assed arbitrary anti-piraty system that will fuck your paying customers over. Also, the shipment of GFWL-stickers from China got delayed.

  10. 20/09/2011 at 15:38 Bull0 says:

    Least they could do would be to offer us some explanation. Otherwise they’re just treating us like second-class customers, and that’s deeply unfair.

  11. 20/09/2011 at 15:39 KillahMate says:

    Woo, a delayed Games for Windows Live game. Lovely.

    • 20/09/2011 at 16:21 Khemm says:

      GFWL is not perfect, but the hate it gets has gotten out of hand. Seriously… It’s fine and should get a lot better if it becomes part of xbxlive for Windows 8. Just hoping it’ll make its way to Win 7, too.

    • 20/09/2011 at 16:25 Bull0 says:

      Alec should probably write a disclaimer about posting arbitrary one-liner moans every time a GFWL game is mentioned

    • 20/09/2011 at 21:47 KillahMate says:

      “should get a lot better if it becomes part of xbxlive for Windows 8″
      The name of the service is XBox Live. That should tell you enough about how much PC gamers matter to Microsoft.

      Much wishful thinking has been had after MS announced XBL for W8, but let’s all be realistic – this is a service to keep XBox gamers in touch with their console while they work on a PC. This is *not for us*.

  12. 20/09/2011 at 15:39 cqdemal says:

    They did this last time too, so it’s not that big of a surprise. Arkham Asylum was released on August 25 for consoles and September 15 for PC.

  13. 20/09/2011 at 15:41 Spookie says:

    Whelp. At least I got it for free. I guess I can’t complain.

    • 20/09/2011 at 16:05 Koozer says:

      I don’t understand this recent usage of ‘whelp.’ Someone explain!

    • 20/09/2011 at 16:14 TillEulenspiegel says:

      It’s spelled “welp”, unless you’re talking about puppies. Are we talking about puppies? Because they’re awesome.

      well : welp :: no : nope

    • 20/09/2011 at 16:29 hilltop says:

      well : welp :: no : nope

      You are serious? When did this happen?!

    • 20/09/2011 at 16:37 Koozer says:

      *Googles welp*
      *Sees urban dictionary link*
      *Doesn’t see wikipedea or real dictionary link*

      Well, nothing to see here. Phew. I’ll be on my way, and take my whelps with me.

    • 20/09/2011 at 17:24 dorkus1218 says:

      This is something I’ve been hearing people say out-loud my whole life (I’m in the Americas) so I wouldnt blame it on wacky internet kids.

  14. 20/09/2011 at 15:43 woodsey says:

    “Sigh, the disease is spreading.”

    Arkham Asylum was delayed by a few weeks on the PC too.

  15. 20/09/2011 at 15:44 Isometric says:

    I would have liked it to be on Steam at least. I can cope with a delay easily but an explaination is always preferred. It’s a shame companies think they can be vague like this and that applies to a helluva lot of games companies.

  16. 20/09/2011 at 15:49 thegooseking says:

    It might be later than anyone with any kind of semblance of awareness of half of what’s going on expected it to be, but it’s sooner than I thought it would be, so this is good news to me.

  17. 20/09/2011 at 15:57 rocketman71 says:

    Probably some Ubi douchebag moved to Warner and is applying his “wisdom” there.

    Oh, well, since this comes with Games for Windows Shit I wasn’t gonna buy it anyway.

  18. 20/09/2011 at 15:59 kyrieee says:

    Bummer, it’s the only game out of the big fall releases that I’m buying this year

  19. 20/09/2011 at 15:59 Squirrelfanatic says:

    So what’s the problem?

  20. 20/09/2011 at 16:01 el_murph says:

    I suspect Calendar man is behind this!

  21. 20/09/2011 at 16:05 DeathHamsterDude says:

    Bane looks like he is doing a cue little dance in that screenshot.

    Also! Damn you delay! Although I didn’t get around to finishing the first one yet because half way through the first game last year my hard-drive gave out and I lost everything! But I will!

  22. 20/09/2011 at 16:14 Khemm says:

    On the one hand, that’s terribly disappointing. Mostly because that might negatively impact the sales of the PC version because some people haven’t grown up, explanation below.
    On the other hand, a two-three week long delay is hardly an issue if you do something more in life than sit in a basement and do nothing but play games. Which is why posts like “waaaaah, I’ll get a console version now” are beyond dumb.

    I mean, I still have games from a few months ago I have yet to finish.

    • 20/09/2011 at 16:18 Grygus says:

      I am having trouble reconciling a thing being “terribly disappointing” and disappointed people being basement-dwelling losers. Can you elaborate?

    • 20/09/2011 at 16:28 Khemm says:

      @Grygus
      Principles. Delaying the PC version is not something anyone should be happy about. Simply as that.
      As for basement-dwelling losers, that’s your OVERinterpretation of what I’ve said. My words weren’t as harsh. Edited the original message to better reflect what I had in mind.

    • 20/09/2011 at 16:56 skinlo says:

      I’m a student, I might not sit in a basement, but all I do is play games.

    • 20/09/2011 at 22:47 Thants says:

      Khemm: You forgot to throw the world “entitled” in there somewhere. If you’re going to troll, do it right!

    • 21/09/2011 at 08:33 Khemm says:

      What’s the definition of “trolling”? Seriously, can’t I tell anything here without being labelled as a troll by certain folks who think THEIR opinion is right and mine is wrong?

    • 21/09/2011 at 10:37 Saiko Kila says:

      I don’t see any trolling here. Also, I agree that “waaaaah, I’ll get a console version now” are beyond dumb. Honestly, knowing how superior was the PC version of previous installment, I don’t understand how any PC player can consider console versions at all. Unless he has a high-school mentality, and want’s to “discuss” the game with his console peers.

  23. 20/09/2011 at 16:15 mana says:

    Seriously, another bait and switch? Get everyone hyped, allow preorders, then push back the release date? At least it isn’t Ubiwanks “a few days before the release”… I guess…

  24. 20/09/2011 at 16:16 Nameless1 says:

    Another reason to not buy it, alongside gfwl

  25. 20/09/2011 at 16:16 db1331 says:

    Obviously the delay is due to the fine-tuning of all that extra street clutter, like floaty scraps of paper, that was announced for the PC version a little while back.

  26. 20/09/2011 at 16:27 Seafort says:

    I’m getting used to this now :) With no explanation from any of these console-centric companies you wonder why PC gamers are getting annoyed by these delays when the console version isn’t delayed?

    It’s why I’ve cancelled both Batman and Assassins Creed preorders and will get them when I know they are out in stores for the PC.

    I still have Skyrim preordered but will cancel that preorder too if its delayed.

  27. 20/09/2011 at 16:32 Seafort says:

    Not yet but its a Ubisoft game so it will be :P

    • 20/09/2011 at 17:16 Khemm says:

      Good point. I think every single AC game was supposed to be released alongside console versions, but got delayed at the last minute.

  28. 20/09/2011 at 16:34 hatseflats says:

    I just took the effort to register just to say that this, in combination with GFWL, has made me decide not to buy this game. When they announced B:AC would be using GFWL I thought “I should boycot this game” but I thought I might be weak and buy it nonetheless, if only after a while when the price has come down. But this has sealed its fate for me. There is no bigger middle finger to one’s customers than the combination of using GFWL and releasing a game later on PC than on consoles.

  29. 20/09/2011 at 16:42 Valdyr says:

    I don’t understand why any company still uses Games for Windows Live. Even the ones who started out with it, like Relic, have abandoned it. The second Dawn of War II expansion and Space Marine are Steamworks instead of GFWL.

  30. 20/09/2011 at 16:46 Xercies says:

    Well it gives me time to complete the first one at least :)

  31. 20/09/2011 at 16:46 Bobsy says:

    So, as I understand it, they’ve missed their deadline for a multiformat release. Something has gone wrong and they can’t release their game on time. So how come the other platforms’ releases haven’t been delayed?

    • 21/09/2011 at 11:35 adonf says:

      Dedicating more people to the more lucrative versions, I guess.

      Or maybe not just more lucrative, but console manufacturers give publishers a launch window for each title so delaying a console game can cause all sorts of problems (like the factory being booked for the next few weeks, and you have to use MS or Sony’s own factories)

  32. 20/09/2011 at 16:46 The Sombrero Kid says:

    The only way I will accept this is if it comes out in November without Games shit for shit Windows Live shit.

  33. 20/09/2011 at 16:56 MadTinkerer says:

    How terrible. A game on the PC was delayed. And the console versions weren’t.

    How shocking.

    My misery is magnified a thousandfold.

    There is clearly no worse thing in the entire world than the Arkham City delay.

    I bet the Warner Brothers themselves are spinning in their graves.

  34. 20/09/2011 at 16:57 AMonkey says:

    I’m glad I stopped caring about the PC version once I heard it had GFWL.

  35. 20/09/2011 at 17:00 BobsLawnService says:

    May I ask why it is always treated as such a big deal when PC games are delayed a bit? Testing generally takes quite a bit longer when you have such a large variety of hardware to cater for.

    • 20/09/2011 at 17:02 Cryotek says:

      I think that’s a fair assessment, too.

    • 20/09/2011 at 17:27 Christian says:

      Well as long as they really use that extra time for optimizing and testing and making if feel like a pc-game instead of a lazy port, it’s quite fine I guess.
      If they just delay it to justify some exclusive contract with MS and/or Sony regarding early release or DLC or something..this would be something to be angry about.

    • 20/09/2011 at 18:35 Koozer says:

      It’s a big deal because it makes the publisher look enormously inept at planning ahead, or sneaky and using these PC delays to let their dev focus on the console version for a month.

    • 20/09/2011 at 19:31 Hindenburg says:

      @koozer: can you think of a single major softhouse that’s existed for more than a decade and never delayed a title? Because i’m having quite a hard time coming up with names that would fit such a description.

      I mean, Blizz, Valve, id, and Raven are a few of the ones that managed to last that long and all of them have delayed games several times. Par for the course in the vydjagaemz software industry.

  36. 20/09/2011 at 17:00 Danny says:

    Maybe they’ve delayed it in order to make it shinier and most impressive to look at than the console versions?

  37. 20/09/2011 at 17:01 elfbarf says:

    At least now I can cancel my pre-order if the game somehow turns out to be crap.

  38. 20/09/2011 at 17:01 Cryotek says:

    I’d also add that several years ago a game like this wouldn’t have a snowball’s chance in hell of coming out on PC at all. 3rd person stealth/action is very much a console-oriented genre. It’s awesome that we get most these on PC now, too, and a testament to just how well the platform is doing.

  39. 20/09/2011 at 17:17 Demiath says:

    Despite owning both relevant consoles I will wait for the PC version (lower price, better graphics, stupid PhysX support etc.), but it sure is annoying that poor old Batflap is getting squeezed into an even more crowded release window together with Generic Open World RPG No 5, Nolan North’s Action Adventure 3, Historical Parkour Lite 4 and The Third Gangsta.

  40. 20/09/2011 at 17:22 Vandelay says:

    I think this is one of those moments that deserves an “I’m not angry, just disappointed,” accompanied by a slow, sad shake of the head. It wouldn’t be so bad if they just said early on that the PC version would be later. It makes sense that it would, given the far greater amount of testing that needs to be done before a game is fit to be sold than in the console world. It is the leaving it until it has already had a release date for months and all the preorders are in before announcing the delay, with no explanation to go with it.

    It’s not a boycott worthy discretion, nor even particular unexpected and they are certainly not the worst offenders. Still disappointing.

  41. 20/09/2011 at 17:54 Jahkaivah says:

    Looks like Bane and Bats are working together in that first shot.

  42. 20/09/2011 at 18:05 kament says:

    Bats fighting side by side with… hell, I forgot the guy’s name. Is it Bane? Anyway, afaik he’s supposed to be a villain, isn’t he? Did I miss something? Or just misinterpreted?

  43. 20/09/2011 at 18:10 deadstoned says:

    Too many other epic games in November, sorry Batman but your now a causality of lost sales delayed gfwl bullshit syndrome. LSDGFWLBS its quite common these days e.g. Fable 3, Batman AA, street fighter IV AE, etc

  44. 20/09/2011 at 18:31 Nim says:

    Booh!

    Arkham city was heading straight for a in-between university periods study break and now ends up in the middle of the November-December cramming.

  45. 20/09/2011 at 19:29 kud13 says:

    well, this has now been officially relegated to a steam sale purchase.

    I was wavering before, because i’ve quite enjoyed AA, and out of all the games coming out this fall, this seemed to be the one I was most likely to spend money on (i’m not a fan of manshoots, and I STILL have to play Morrowind before I even think about purchasing Skyrim, Also, I refuse to touch Asscreed, b/c it’s Ubisoft).

    with SR3 being a GOTY purchase once the 40 weeks of DLC are over, and Arkham City relegated to a Steam Xmass sale, my wallet can rest easy for a few months

  46. 20/09/2011 at 19:33 Hindenburg says:

    Y’know, all they’d have to do to turn this ill will around is say “yes, it will be delayed…. and released drm-free”.

    And there would be much rejoicing.

  47. 20/09/2011 at 20:12 UnravThreads says:

    No Collector’s Edition, no Arleen Sorkin and now a delayed release?

    Wow. I think I might just wait for this to drop in price.

  48. 20/09/2011 at 20:17 WrongThinker says:

    I don’t know why people are being grumpy over this. Rocksteady did a great job with the first game on PC and I see no reason why we shouldn’t expect similar greatness this go around. They’ve already promised it will include high-res textures, Physx, and 3D Vision.

    I’ll gladly wait the extra month for the definitive version of the game.

  49. 20/09/2011 at 20:31 Hardtarget says:

    FUCK NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO :(

    Had already pre-ordered this on GMG for 33 bucks :(

    This was supposed to be my October game!

    :( :( :(

  50. 20/09/2011 at 20:54 JohnnyMaverik says:

    As long as its as good a pc port as Arkham Asylum was, GFWL issues (which I experienced some of) aside, I don’t really mind.

  51. 20/09/2011 at 22:18 Matt7895 says:

    There’s lots of games coming out in the next few months that I’m eagerly anticipating… this, Rage, Assassin’s Creed: Revelations, and Uncharted 3 for the PS3. My bank account is going to be horrible to look at.

  52. 20/09/2011 at 23:10 DickSocrates says:

    Only hope is Warner aren’t so stupid as to try and release this at the same time or after Skyrim, meaning it comes out early November and we aren’t forced to wait longer than 2 weeks.

    I was very annoyed at first, but ultimately, whatever. I understand their reasons and piracy is a problem so fair enough. We found out just far enough in advance to make it less of an issue, but from what I understand they had planned to announce it officially much closer to release date to catch people off guard and bounce them into buying on console rather than taking the easy piracy route; this news leaked out. Not sure how much crossover there is between console gamers that have a PC capable of running Arkham Asylum/City properly who don’t also buy their games.

    Maybe this tactic works (maybe it doesn’t), but it shows complete disregard for loyal fans that fully intend to purchase the game. Now instead of being able to join in with the launch period buzz, we have to sit on our hands like lemons (the type of lemon that has hands). Avoiding spoilers is going to be harder, going to have to stay miles away from any forums.

    Anyone hoping for some sort of compensation DLC should put that out of their minds, Warner, like any big company would rather cut you if it meant they could get your money than do anything nice. Rocksteady themselves may feel some compunction, but who knows, maybe they support this action. Maybe they’ll throw in a free pointless skin. I doubt it.

    Time to move on. Wake me up in November.

  53. 20/09/2011 at 23:12 MonkfishEsq says:

    Who else thinks that there’s going to be a fucking shit load more people who would have bought it pirating it out of spite now? It’s not beyond the realm of possibility.

    Treat people like criminals and they start acting like criminals.

  54. 20/09/2011 at 23:18 Ridnarhtim says:

    Uh-Oh. That’s treading dangerously close to Zelda time.

  55. 21/09/2011 at 01:52 Shooop says:

    Bah!

    Well, at least Rage is out at the beginning of October.

  56. 21/09/2011 at 03:56 Grayvern says:

    This shit has to stop.

    It’s either a false conception of piracy or If I was being cynical it’s a plot to stop a migration to pc given the long life of this console generation.

  57. 21/09/2011 at 08:07 elnalter says:

    8 hour game, i don’t care.

  58. 21/09/2011 at 09:19 Milky1985 says:

    So if they are delaying by a month then the PC verison gets the Pre-Order DLC thrown in with all purchases for the delay right?

    Havn’t we reach the point of fraudenlent release dates been given out for pc games yet, this mysterious 1 month delay has happened enough times to be an obvious pattern so any company that waits untila month before release to annouce a month delay shoudl be hit with a fine for false advertising

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