Gotham Knights is the latest big budget game to be delayed into 2022

Warner Bros. Interactive’s Batman game Gotham Knights is the latest major title to be delayed into 2022.

In a statement published on social media, the company said it was “giving the game more time to deliver the best possible experience for players”. It was previously scheduled for release sometime this year.

“Thank you to our amazing fans for your tremendous support of Gotham Knights,” Warner’s statement continues. “We look forward to showcasing more of the game in the coming months.”

Several other big-budget titles have slipped in recent weeks, as disruption caused by the coronavirus starts to take its toll on production schedules. Last month Bungie delayed Destiny’s next expansion into next year. Lord of the Rings Gollum, Gran Turismo 7 and Hogwarts Legacy have also had their dates slip during the first few months of the year.

Last summer Xbox boss Phil Spencer said that he believed games planned for 2021 were more likely to be affected by the coronavirus pandemic than last year’s releases, due to the stage in which their development cycles were disrupted by last year’s shutdowns.

“Games that were targeting a year from now or beyond? There’ll be some impact, but they’ll be able to react,” he said.

Developed by WB Games Montreal, the studio behind 2013’s Batman Arkham Origins, Gotham Knights is playable either in solo or two-player co-op and will release for PC, as well as PlayStation and Xbox consoles.

The game sees players controlling one of four superhero characters – Nightwing, Robin, Red Hood, and Batgirl – following the death of Bruce Wayne.

Gameplay takes place in a “dynamic and interactive” open-world Gotham City where players take on villains such as Mr. Freeze. They’ll use a variety of abilities, weapons, and unique combat moves to neutralize their foes, Warner said.

Development is being led by creative director Patrick Redding, who previously directed Splinter Cell titles Conviction and Blacklist.