Rocksteady Archives

AppWizard

May 6, 2025

GTA 6’s preposterously-gorgeous second trailer has me thinking ‘no-one does it like Rockstar’ isn’t just a compliment, but an omen

The trailer for Grand Theft Auto 6 has been released, showcasing impressive graphics and attention to detail. The game is set for release in 2026 and is expected to be one of the most successful video games in history. Rockstar Games is in a strong position, with GTA Online generating significant revenue, allowing for a lengthy development period. Despite challenges in the gaming industry, including layoffs and the struggles of several studios, major projects like GTA 6 and others from prominent developers are underway. The development of Red Dead Redemption 2 faced issues related to crunch periods, but Rockstar has committed to improving working conditions.

AppWizard

March 28, 2025

Warner reportedly axes Hogwarts Legacy expansion

Warner Bros has halted the development of an expansion for Hogwarts Legacy due to concerns that the amount of content did not justify the proposed price. The expansion was being developed by Avalanche Software in collaboration with Rocksteady Studios. Rocksteady has faced challenges, including layoffs and ceasing support for Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League, which contributed to Warner Bros' admission of underperformance in its gaming division. The company also decided to close three studios, including Monolith Productions, and experienced a leadership change with the departure of gaming division head David Haddad.

AppWizard

February 26, 2025

Warner Bros. is closing Monolith, Player First Games, and WB San Diego, and has cancelled its Wonder Woman game

Warner Bros. Games has announced the closure of several studios, including Monolith Productions, Player First Games, and WB San Diego, following the resignation of David Haddad, the chief of Warner Bros. Games for 12 years. The closures include the cancellation of the Wonder Woman game, which was first unveiled in 2021. Player First Games, known for Multiversus, has left its team with a sense of loss, as expressed by game director Tony Huynh. Monolith Productions, recognized for titles like Blood and Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor, has also shut down. Warner Bros. Games is facing financial difficulties, including a 0 million loss from Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League and a 0 million writedown due to Multiversus' underperformance. CEO JB Perrette aims for the company to return to profitability by 2025, acknowledging it will take two to three years to rebuild. Rocksteady is reportedly developing a new single-player Batman game, which could signify a positive direction for the company.

AppWizard

February 20, 2025

Batman Arkham Origins fan remaster looks like a whole new game

Rocksteady Studios is working to reclaim its reputation after the disappointing launch of Suicide Squad: Kill The Justice League, which marked a shift from its traditional single-player narrative experiences to a live-service model. The game's servers have closed, but its final content update revealed that the heroes were not truly eliminated, as the narrative involved the demise of clones. Rocksteady is reportedly in the early stages of developing a new Batman experience, though it is unclear if it will continue the Arkham Trilogy or explore new directions. Additionally, PC players can enhance Arkham Origins with a fan remaster mod called Marvel 1943: Rise of Hydra, created by modder Jb0238177, which improves visual fidelity by disabling motion blur and fog, and enhancing textures and shadows. The mod is available for free on NexusMods.