DC fans are familiar with the Batman: Arkham video game series, but not a lot of people know that a game based on the 2018 animated movie Gotham by Gaslight was initially planned. Day 1 Studios (now known as Wargaming Chicago-Baltimore) was working on the game, and even a clip of the game’s prototype was shared on YouTube 12 years ago. Unfortunately, this project was scrapped and hasn’t been touched since then.
Gotham by Gaslight is an alternate-reality Batman graphic novel that was published in 1989, featuring an Elseworlds Batman. The game was supposed to feature a steampunk take on Batman’s world and gadgets. The game would’ve been released around 2014-2015, providing stiff to popular action-adventure games of that year like Assassin’s Creed Syndicate.
DC fans almost got a game based on Gotham by Gaslight with a Steampunk-styled Batman
Gotham by Gaslight (2017) was an animated loose adaptation of DC Comics’ one-shot that was released in 1989. The one-shot featured a 19th-century version of Bruce Wayne as Batman taking down Jack the Ripper in Gotham City. This wasn’t the first form of media that DC wanted to create using the Gotham by Gaslight book series as they initially planned to create a game based on it.
In 2012, fans got a glimpse of a prototype Batman game created by Day 1 Studios (now known as Wargaming Chicago-Baltimore). This prototype was for a Gotham by Gaslight game as the Batman: Arkham video game series was gaining traction at the time. A 2-minute footage of the prototype is still available on YouTube, giving fans an idea of what the game could’ve been.
The Gotham by Gaslight game was canceled
Unfortunately, Day 1 Studios was not able to save Gotham by Gaslight. In fact, they even approached THQ at the time to publish the game, but nothing seemed to work. Eventually, the game was canceled, and fans were left disheartened.
As per SiliconEra, the game was designed to have a foggy environment, and Batman would also have the ability to see in the dark. The game was reportedly developed between 2009 and 2010 and was expected to be released for PS3 and Xbox 360. The gaming industry has drastically changed since then, and fans would love to try out this different iteration of Batman in the form of a video game. Gotham by Gaslight was well-received by the fans, so it’s safe to say that the game would also be successful.
