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Batman nears 2 million as Warner realigns DC

Production house reorganizes venerable comics publisher to better leverage characters across games, TV, film; Arkham Asylum already double-platinum.

Last week, The Walt Disney Corporation announced its $4 billion acquisition offer for Marvel Entertainment. Pending shareholder and regulatory approval, the deal gives Disney Interactive Studios access to some 5,000 new characters with which to integrate into games. Now, it appears as if Marvel's significant upheaval will be matched by longtime rival DC Comics.

2 million units is no laughing matter.

2 million units is no laughing matter.

Warner Bros. Entertainment, parent company of DC Comics, has announced the establishment of DC Entertainment, a new company designed to better leverage DC Comics' IP across a breadth of media, including games, TV, and movies. No new projects were announced as part of the reorganization.

"Based on the great success we've had working with DC Comics to create some of the most popular and successful superhero films of all time, I've long believed that there was much more we could do across all of Warner Bros.' businesses with this great body of characters and stories," Warner Bros. Pictures Group president Jeff Robinov said in a statement. "The prioritization of DC and the creation of DC Entertainment is a great opportunity that reaches far beyond the film group."

The division will be led by Diane Nelson, who previously served as president of Warner Premiere, a studio-based production company. Nelson's credits also include representing Warner Bros.' interest in J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter franchise. Current DC Comics president Paul Levitz, best known for writing many classic DC characters, including Batman and Wonder Woman, will transition to a role as contributing editor and consultant with DC Entertainment.

The move comes following the success of Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment, Eidos, and Rocksteady's Batman: Arkham Asylum, which debuted to glowing reviews on the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 on August 25. (A PC edition is expected later this year.) According to the Los Angeles Times, Arkham Asylum has sold nearly 2 million units since launching less than a month ago.

The LA Times did not indicate whether Arkham Asylum's sales were on a global basis or if the figure represents units sold through to consumers or shipped to retailers. WBIE had not responded to requests for clarification as of press time.

232 Comments

  • plamberton

    Posted Sep 15, 2009 12:10 am GMT

    definitely in the running for "game of the year". Finally an excellent Batman game.

  • couly

    Posted Sep 14, 2009 12:55 pm GMT

    and the PC version isn't out yet so add on about ooh, 50 to 100 more copies.

  • jer_1

    Posted Sep 14, 2009 9:51 am GMT

    Two thumbs up on this game, its high quality no doubt...

  • Bazz3442

    Posted Sep 14, 2009 5:50 am GMT

    This game has now set a new benchmark for all games and not just 3rd person or Super Hero games to follow. Developers should set about building a loyal fan-base (which this game has easily done, and it's not even out for PC yet) for their games and more will follow. They should give their games a little T.L.C and think a little less about the money, but something tells me all that money is a little too tempting to pass up too have it spent on developing a classic.

  • firehawk998

    Posted Sep 14, 2009 5:10 am GMT

    One of the reasons that arkham asylum did so well was because Rocksteady didnt treat this game like a cash in for some movie. They have created a great IP out of this. Let this be a lesson to all other developers out there who want to create a game based on a superhero. Let the game have its original game playmechanics, dont try to force the game into situations that the superhero would never do and finally dont release a lazydeveloped game and hope its fanbase buys it out of loyalty.

  • MERGATROYDER

    Posted Sep 14, 2009 12:19 am GMT

    Pretty sure it's exclusive play as Joker on the PS3 shankygreat* . This game is great, not only as a comic based titles, but as a 3rd person action adventure all together. Maybe they should cancel the new Dead to Rights title and start from scratch given this games success. Just Saying!

  • funnysplay

    Posted Sep 13, 2009 5:28 pm GMT

    I just beat it today. It's a really great game.
    And the Joker's voice by Mark Hammill (LukeSkywalker)
    Is really well done. The 9/10 was well deserved.

  • V4LENT1NE

    Posted Sep 13, 2009 2:36 pm GMT

    I have only got about 15 minutes in on the Xbox 360 version but its really good so far, I love the animation on Joker =D

  • shankygreat

    Posted Sep 13, 2009 1:13 pm GMT

    this is not only the best comic character game,infact this is one of the best third person action adventure game ever . deserves 10. Also game gives exclusive joker play on xbox360. and nvidia physx graphics enhancement on PC's. Really great. This game is one of the most seriously made games ever. "can touch 4 million sales total as pc release is still there"

  • truck2

    Posted Sep 13, 2009 12:49 pm GMT

    best batman game ever and will be for a long time

  • osiris

    Posted Sep 13, 2009 10:26 am GMT

    DC and Marvel owned by one company? damn...

  • Excedra

    Posted Sep 13, 2009 3:21 am GMT

    best superhero game EVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • Oxymandias

    Posted Sep 13, 2009 2:29 am GMT

    I wonder if DC Universe online will have such a good playable experience? ;-)

    Oink

  • jlevin860

    Posted Sep 13, 2009 2:18 am GMT

    why can't other companies take the hint? if they actually take their time on a game, WE THE CONSUMERS will respond with our dollars.

  • spectrethered

    Posted Sep 12, 2009 9:07 pm GMT

    I agree with shootingrobot. The game was definitely created with the intent to push the envelope of the Batman genre to a higher level of respect.

  • shootingrobot98

    Posted Sep 12, 2009 1:46 pm GMT

    Arkham Asylum was awesome because it was not created by a second-rate developer intent on creating a budget-priced game to coincide with the release of a movie. The developers took their time producing this game, and they intended it to be able to compete with the big guys.

  • confucioussayyo

    Posted Sep 12, 2009 11:25 am GMT

    "Based on the great success we've had working with DC Comics to create some of the most popular and successful superhero films of all time,"

    I lol'd. He should have said "Two", not "Some".

  • tmorri603

    Posted Sep 12, 2009 8:44 am GMT

    I hope this shows that you don't have to have a superhero game based on a movie to sell well. But knowing the powers that be, they will never learn their lesson and we will be showered with movie/videogame tie-ins every summer that suck big time.

  • shentonio

    Posted Sep 12, 2009 6:54 am GMT

    @5011704dc

    No need to be modest, this definitely IS the best game adaption of a comic book character. The writers have really captured the dark tone of the more famous batman comics, and the great cartoon series in the 90's. Was a stroke of genius to have Mark Hamill voicing the Joker, and having the writer from the cartoon series penning the story. Big win, what a great game! : )

  • Frame_Dragger

    Posted Sep 12, 2009 6:24 am GMT

    This just proves that a great game, is a great game. THEN You add the spice of the character and story. Without one or the other, you have the usual. This game, like the original Riddick just breaks the mold. I can't wait for the sequel.

  • 5011704dc

    Posted Sep 12, 2009 3:41 am GMT

    The best comic based game ever, and i know thats a sweeping statment to make but with a great storyline, polished graphics and annimation with clever gamplay elements like "free flow combat" and "detective mode" intergrated seemlessly into the game. It fully deserves the huge sales, if anything more people should be buying!

  • delta3074

    Posted Sep 12, 2009 12:46 am GMT

    this is well deserved, i have been a BATMAN fan since i was a kid, and this game is freakin awesome in every respect, the graphics are awesome, the stroy line is amazing (based on the graphic novel,Arkham Asylum :a serious house,on serious earth,which is a good read for all bat's fans like myself) the combat is smooth and concise and the amount of replayability makes this game this years must have title, this is my personal GOTY.

  • NoLifeGamin

    Posted Sep 11, 2009 7:07 pm GMT

    man, this has to be THE MOST UNEXPECTED AND AWESOME GAME EVER!.....its like all the comic-based games are like "meh" over these ten years(and don't get me started on Superman 64) and then BAM!!! a totally awesome game that sold as well as other big-time titles that took YEARS to get it's fanbase, just blew past the competition! and the amazing thing is that it's all based on BATMAN!!!!.......and it's STILL sold out in my area T_T, why must it sell so well!? maybe i should order it online instead.....

  • Grovilis

    Posted Sep 11, 2009 6:48 pm GMT

    This has to be one of the BEST games I have ever played. It's a vary immersable game and just plain awesome, but I still consider it a rental just because there really is no point in playing it again once you have all of the achievements. Still I enjoyed every BIT of it.

  • Cheesehead9099

    Posted Sep 11, 2009 6:37 pm GMT

    I agree with Makhdoom. Although it tastes better with a pinch of salt.



    Oh and BTW, ARKHAM ASYLUM RUUULLESS

  • mm5048

    Posted Sep 11, 2009 5:51 pm GMT

    BEST BATMAN GAME EVAR!!!!
    now that that's outta my system, people gotta try this out, even if it's just a rental.

  • Makhdoom82

    Posted Sep 11, 2009 4:45 pm GMT

    This is one delicious game i tell ya

  • lazydogg2007

    Posted Sep 11, 2009 3:59 pm GMT

    yeah i think it would work with the money behind them both!!!! Be interesting to see what comes out!!!!

  • Blank2k2

    Posted Sep 11, 2009 2:03 pm GMT

    This is def one game i'd give my approval & deserves to sell endlessly, alot of well-made content, easy to pick up & play but hard to master combat (Ref, Challenges).

    Feels like a game that people have spent years building, and it paid off very well.

    10/10

  • styles_by_miles

    Posted Sep 11, 2009 2:01 pm GMT

    I was afraid that this game would fly under the radar, being so long after the movie. Luckily the marketing was adequate to let the average joe ignoramus that the game existed. the long lead time and effort put into polishing this game was worth it.

  • remi06

    Posted Sep 11, 2009 1:53 pm GMT

    it deserves to sell this well great game

  • Syphofighter

    Posted Sep 11, 2009 1:31 pm GMT

    Great Game.... I can't stop playing it...especialy the challenges, I hope whatever the new DLC is it will be great

  • SolidSnakeJT

    Posted Sep 11, 2009 11:54 am GMT

    heytito, you should play the game at hard instead....and you knew there wouldnt be online so thats a lame excuse...offline game is the way to go anyway
    online is overated

  • heytito posted Sep 11, 2009 11:42 am GMT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    heytito

    Posted Sep 11, 2009 11:42 am GMT (hide)

    i bought the game beat it in 2 days got bored and sold it back to gamespot, the game was too easy for me i don't know with out online playability it was a waste of my money, waiting for halo odst that will be worth my $$$$$

  • Doolz2024

    Posted Sep 11, 2009 11:18 am GMT

    @penpusher: Well, I really wanted the game on 360 (because I like the controller a lot more than the DS3), but I also wanted to play as Joker really bad, too. So then I decided to just get both versions. I can afford it, so I thought, why not?

  • penpusher

    Posted Sep 11, 2009 11:15 am GMT

    @Doolz2024

    Just purely out of interest ,,, why?

  • Doolz2024

    Posted Sep 11, 2009 10:55 am GMT

    No surprise. The game is great. So great, that I bought 2 copies.

    One for PS3, and one for 360.

  • kweeni

    Posted Sep 11, 2009 9:37 am GMT

    i just came back from the store...i got BATMAN!!! i have absolutely no doupt it will be awesome! man i can't wait to play it! gonna play it rite now...well after i'm done with eating

  • Hvac0120

    Posted Sep 11, 2009 9:29 am GMT

    The 2 most recent Batman films are the best I've seen. I used to have a nostalgic connection to the earlier Batman film (Jack Nicholson). Now looking back the new movies trump the old ones.

    I've only played the demo of Arkham Asylum, but it really got me excited to play the game. I've got it in my GameFly Q, but it might be a while until I get a chance to play it. I'm always happy when characters get the proper movie and game treatments.

    Worried about the Disney deal. This reorganization sounds more like re-branding and doesn't seem like it will have a big affect on anything.
    _

  • kenken2g

    Posted Sep 11, 2009 9:07 am GMT

    Batman AA is a freakin' dope game... AWESOME. I haven't had this much fun in gaming in a while

  • XeonForce

    Posted Sep 11, 2009 8:37 am GMT

    Amazing game, and considering that I never was big into Batman before, I sure as hell am now.

  • Evolution-X0

    Posted Sep 11, 2009 8:01 am GMT

    i rented it out, might buy it later on and finish it. good game.

  • hikaru84

    Posted Sep 11, 2009 7:57 am GMT

    The game deserves praise and look forward to playing it again...was so worth the wait and derserves all its success! Now, when might we get a sequel?..Best to give the folks at Rocksteady a breather!

  • Pwnd56

    Posted Sep 11, 2009 7:49 am GMT

    Arkham asylum was awesome, I hope DC teams up with rocksteady to make a sequel IN GOTHAM!
    That would be epic

  • TheBatFreak777

    Posted Sep 11, 2009 6:45 am GMT

    yes, indeed, I'm a Batman fan and always will be. I'm glad the new game, let alone the last couple movies, have delivered so well!

  • Kelemhuma

    Posted Sep 11, 2009 6:32 am GMT

    Yeah this game rulez! I am getting PC version.

  • mjk_1

    Posted Sep 11, 2009 6:16 am GMT

    awesome game, wish i had the ps3 version

  • chaisemon

    Posted Sep 11, 2009 6:14 am GMT

    oh man.. i am waiting for somebody to sell the game so that i can buy it pre owned.

  • alayeesquire

    Posted Sep 11, 2009 6:06 am GMT

    One of the best games this year

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