Batman: Arkham Origins to include separately-developed multiplayer mode; not included in Wii U version

Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment have revealed that British developer Splash Damage are working on a multiplayer mode called Invisible Predator Online for Batman: Arkham Origins. 

Being developed separately from the main campaign — which is in development at Warner Bros. Montreal — the online multiplayer mode will allow players to join one of three teams — Batman and Robin, Joker and Bane — with each one having different strength and weaknesses.

https://youtu.be/EYR9plVWNsY

Batman and Robin will be a team of two, while the Joker and Banes elite thugs will be teams of three. Playing as Batman and Robin will be an experience very similar to the campaign, with one key difference. Where enemies would normally be AI controlled NPCs, in Invisible Predator Online, they’ll be controlled by other players. Like the campaigns of previous Arkham games, the focus for Batman and Robin will be on stealth and takedowns. Armed thugs will make short work of the dynamic duo if they engage them head on. Batman and Robin must make takedowns in order to fill an Intimidation Meter. Once full, The Joker and Bane’s thugs will surrender and retreat.

Playing as either villain’s elite thugs, turns the multiplayer into a third person shooter. The Joker and Bane’s thugs don’t get along, so will must fight amongst themselves, while always looking out for the the Dark Knight and Boy Wonder. At certain points The Joker and Bane will become playable, if players are able to reach them in time. The first player to reach their leader will get to play as either The Joker or Bane until they are defeated.

Polygon spoke with Splash Damage creative director Alastair Cornish who described the multiplayer;

We wanted this tension with the hunter/hunted mechanic. If Batman’s primary method of engagement was to just run in and club people, a) that’s not very Batman and b) it’s not that tense or rewarding.

The whole idea is to instill fear and intimidation into players.

It really came from thinking of the Invisible Predator Online and what that might be like. So the heroes’ perspective was quite straightforward in terms of how they play, [but with the thugs], sometimes you can see things moving behind you just as Batman is about to grab you.

As reported by Vooks, in reading the press release from WBIE, it appears that Invisible Predator Online will not be coming to Wii U. It reads;

The online mode will be available for the PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system, Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft and Windows PC.

It looks like Wii U owners get the raw end of the deal once again.

At Stevivor we are both huge fans of Batman and massive detractors of tacked-on multiplayer, but the concept of Invisible Predator Online has us intrigued so far. If it delivers on everything it promises it will be a very welcome addition to the Arkham franchise. We’ll just have to wait and see.

Batman: Arkham Origins will be available for PC, PS3, Wii U and Xbox 360 on 25 October 2013.