Is Batman really dead in WB Games Montreal's Gotham Knights? Some fans believe that Bruce Wayne (Batman) is alive and well.
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Although Batman's death was a shock when the first Gotham Knights trailer was shown at the DC FanDome event, it wasn't too much of a shock when the game was released and he started the same way, with the immediate and unfortunate death of Gotham's number one protector. Still, this isn't exactly what fans were expecting from DC for its next Batman game. A Batman game without Batman?
Batman dies at the start of the game
It is well known that Bruce Wayne aka Batman, unfortunately, dies early in the game when the Batcave's self-destruct program is activated, and Batman dies inside. This is essentially what drives the game, as when he dies, a pre-recorded message to the Bat Family (his chosen successors) is played asking them to be brave and stick together because, without him, Gotham City must still be protected.
Most of these chosen heroes are those he trained himself, all worthy heroes who fought crime alongside him in the city, but now they must unite to form the Gotham Knights, and continue the legend of the Dark Knight himself.
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Is he really dead?
DC hasn't been shy about resurrections in the past, so fans were hoping for a return later in the game. Unfortunately for those fans, the developers have confirmed that Batman is indeed dead and will remain that way. The unfortunate news was announced during a Q&A with fans at San Diego Comic-Con, where the creative director himself, Patrick Redding, confirmed that Batman is dead and that he will remain for the duration of the game.
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How did he die ?
So we know that Batman activates the self-destruct sequence while in the Batcave, destroying the facility with him inside. Why would he do this? It is later discovered that he was fighting the leader of the League of Shadows (sometimes called the League of Assassins), Ra's Al Ghul. The two have likely reached a stalemate and Bruce decides that the only way to deal with the evil leader of the League is to sacrifice himself and blow up the Batcave, killing them both.
This part is a spoiler, so if you don't want the ending of the game spoiled for you, please check out our other Gotham Knight content instead.
So, Batman doesn't stay dead throughout the events of the game. In the end, we find out that Batman has been resurrected by the League of Shadows, likely to use his incredible skills and knowledge for their own purposes. But once a hero, always a hero. Batman sacrifices himself once again to destroy the League's Lazarus Pit (the chamber they used to resurrect him and many other League Assassins) in order to end their reign of terror. Batman therefore sacrificed himself for the good of all, not once, but twice, in a single game!
Although he technically didn't stay dead for the entire game, now that he has sacrificed himself to destroy the Lazarus Pit, he will remain dead according to the developers.
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