# Batman: Arkham VR

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> Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Batman%3A_Arkham_VR
> Source revision: 1332865033
> License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)

***Batman: Arkham VR*** is a [virtual reality](/source/Virtual_reality) [adventure](/source/Adventure_game) [video game](/source/Video_game) developed by [Rocksteady Studios](/source/Rocksteady_Studios) and published by [Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment](/source/Warner_Bros._Interactive_Entertainment) for [PlayStation 4](/source/PlayStation_4) and [Windows](/source/Windows). Based on the [DC Comics](/source/DC_Comics) superhero [Batman](/source/Batman), it is part of the *[Batman: Arkham](/source/Batman:_Arkham)* series and the first installment to use virtual reality headsets, allowing players to experience the game world from Batman's perspective. *Arkham VR* was released worldwide on October 11, 2016, for PlayStation 4 and on April 25, 2017, for Windows for VR headsets ([HTC Vive](/source/HTC_Vive), [Oculus Rift](/source/Oculus_Rift), and [Valve Index](/source/Valve_Index)).

Written by Ian Ball and Martin Lancaster, *Arkham VR* is based on the franchise's long-running comic book mythos. The game's storyline takes place between 2011's *[Batman: Arkham City](/source/Batman:_Arkham_City)* and 2015's *[Batman: Arkham Knight](/source/Batman:_Arkham_Knight)*, and follows Batman as he investigates the disappearance of his allies [Nightwing](/source/Dick_Grayson) and [Robin](/source/Tim_Drake). The game is presented from a [first-person perspective](/source/First-person_(video_games)), with a primary focus on using Batman's skills and gadgets to explore the immediate environment and solve puzzles.

*Arkham VR* received generally mixed reviews from critics, mainly for its short length and simplistic gameplay. It was nominated for multiple year-end accolades, winning several.

## Gameplay

*Batman: Arkham VR* is an [adventure game](/source/Adventure_game) played from a [first-person perspective](/source/First-person_(video_games)) using [PlayStation VR](/source/PlayStation_VR), [HTC Vive](/source/HTC_Vive),[1] or [Oculus Rift](/source/Oculus_Rift)[1] [virtual reality](/source/Virtual_reality) headsets and associated controllers to see through the eyes of the playable character, Batman.[2] The player can look around the environment freely[3] and interact with reachable items, and access three gadgets from Batman's utility belt: the throwable batarang, the grapnel gun — a grappling hook,[4] and the forensic scanner, which can be used to examine evidence and recreate crime scenes.[5][2] The player is able to teleport to preset locations around the current environment (with movement sometimes represented by use of the grapnel gun) but the character cannot walk freely.[2]

Unlike previous *Arkham* games, *Arkham VR* features no combat and instead focuses on solving puzzles to find clues that will advance the mystery.[4] *Arkham VR* features optional tasks, including 30 challenges from the supervillain [Riddler](/source/Riddler) who adds various puzzles and concealed items to locate after the game has been completed,[3][4] target practice with the batarang, and viewing profiles and models for the series' various characters on the [Batcomputer](/source/Batcomputer).[5]

## Synopsis

### Characters

*Arkham VR* features an ensemble cast of characters from Batman comics. The main character is [Batman](/source/Batman) ([Kevin Conroy](/source/Kevin_Conroy))[3]—a superhero trained to the peak of human physical and mental perfection and an expert in martial arts. He is supported by his allies, [Robin](/source/Tim_Drake) ([Tom Austen](/source/Tom_Austen)), [Nightwing](/source/Dick_Grayson), and his loyal butler [Alfred Pennyworth](/source/Alfred_Pennyworth) ([Hugh Fraser](/source/Hugh_Fraser_(actor))). Batman's crusade against crime brings him into conflict with the weapon-dealing [Penguin](/source/Penguin_(character)) ([Ian Redford](/source/Ian_Redford_(actor))), the mutated cannibal [Killer Croc](/source/Killer_Croc) ([Steven Blum](/source/Steven_Blum)), and the puzzle-obsessed [Riddler](/source/Riddler) ([Wally Wingert](/source/Wally_Wingert)).[6] Batman's nemesis, the psychopathic [Joker](/source/Joker_(character)) ([Mark Hamill](/source/Mark_Hamill)),[3] appears as a hallucination following his death during the events of *[Arkham City](/source/Batman:_Arkham_City)*,[7] after succumbing to a fatal disease caused by his previous consumption of the Titan formula (*[Batman: Arkham Asylum](/source/Batman:_Arkham_Asylum)*), an unstable steroid serum which turns people into maddened monsters.[8][9] *Arkham VR* features minor appearances from reporter [Vicki Vale](/source/Vicki_Vale) ([Jules de Jongh](/source/Jules_de_Jongh)), Batman's parents [Thomas](/source/Thomas_Wayne) (Kevin Conroy) and [Martha Wayne](/source/Martha_Wayne) ([Andrea Deck](/source/Andrea_Deck)), and their killer [Joe Chill](/source/Joe_Chill) ([Glenn Wrage](/source/Glenn_Wrage)).[6]

### Plot

Bruce Wayne is woken by an alarm clock from a nightmare about the night of his parents' murder. He is informed by his butler Alfred that there is an urgent situation that requires his attention. Activating a secret entrance to the [Batcave](/source/Batcave) beneath his manor, Wayne puts on his [Batsuit](/source/Batsuit) and gadgets to become Batman. In the Batcave, Alfred informs Batman both Robin and Nightwing have disappeared, and he has been unable to contact them. Batman activates Nightwing's tracker, which reveals he is in Central Gotham. Heading out in the Batmobile, Batman arrives to find Grayson beaten to death in an alleyway. His investigation reveals an unknown assailant brutally attacked Grayson, breaking his jaw, arm, and ribs before finishing Nightwing off by snapping his neck. The investigation also reveals one of Penguin's henchmen had witnessed the murder and fled the scene, with the assailant chasing after him.

Batman travels in the Batwing to confront the Penguin in his [Iceberg Lounge](/source/Iceberg_Lounge) club. Penguin reveals the henchman was killed in an explosion which destroyed half of his Iceberg Lounge before he could reveal the identity of who killed Nightwing; this is implied to be the work of the same assailant. Batman infiltrates the Gotham morgue to examine the victims and is able to piece together shrapnel from the explosive. Batman learns the charge belonged to a demolitions company working on a sewer project beneath Founders Island. By focusing his search in this area, Batman is able to make radio contact with Robin. Tim warns he is being held captive to lure Batman into a trap.

As Batman moves through the sewers, he hears intercom announcements from the deceased Joker. Batman finds Robin in a cage, but while attempting to free him, he is also captured. Robin notes Joker-styled graffiti on the cage and assumes their captor is emulating the Joker. The Joker's voice rebukes Tim, letting him know he is dealing with the real Joker. Batman and Robin are prevented from escaping by Killer Croc and use the electrified cages to temporarily stave off his attacks. Robin escapes, but is violently crushed by Croc after getting out of his cage.

Batman's cage suddenly transforms into an elevator descending into the depths of [Arkham Asylum](/source/Arkham_Asylum). Batman interacts with a few prison cells before the last reveals a captive Joker. Batman is soon locked alone in a cell himself, which begins to change, displaying scrawled and bloody accusations of "killer" and "HA" on the walls. It is revealed that himself murdered Nightwing, blew up the witness, and lured Robin into the sewers. Joker had temporarily seized control of Batman's mind and body through [a transfusion of his infected blood](/source/Batman:_Arkham_City). Left utterly horrified at this discovery, Batman looks into his cell's mirror to see Joker as his reflection. The Joker announces that the "dynamic duo" are together at last before laughing maniacally, followed by the lights going out.

## Development

In June 2016 at [E3 2016](/source/E3_2016), it was announced that [Rocksteady](/source/Rocksteady_Studios) was developing *Batman: Arkham VR* for the [PlayStation VR](/source/PlayStation_VR), which was released in October 2016. The game has players "utilize [Batman's] legendary gadgets to unravel a plot that threatens the lives of his closest allies."[10] Following a five-month period of exclusivity for the [PlayStation 4](/source/PlayStation_4),[3] the game was released for the [Oculus Rift](/source/Oculus_Rift) and [HTC Vive](/source/HTC_Vive) on April 25, 2017.[1] Rocksteady teased the plot for *Arkham VR* in the *Arkham Knight* downloadable content "Crime Fighter Challenge Pack #6", which allowed players to explore the Wayne Manor and interact with a piano to reveal a hidden wall containing references to a murder, shrapnel, and the Penguin.[11] The game was built using [Unreal Engine 4](/source/Unreal_Engine_4).[12]

## Reception

*Batman: Arkham VR* received "mixed or average" reviews from critics for the PlayStation 4 version of the game, according to [review aggregator](/source/Review_aggregator) [Metacritic](/source/Metacritic).[13]

*[Zero Punctuation](/source/Zero_Punctuation)'*s Ben Croshaw called the PSVR version "incredible garbage" and "a half hour CD-ROM virtual tour from mid to late 90s",[14] later nominating it as one of the worst games of 2016.[15] The *Official UK PlayStation Magazine* listed it as the seventh best PSVR game.[16]

The [Game Critics Awards](/source/Game_Critics_Awards) awarded the game as Best VR Game.[17] The National Academy of Video Game Trade Reviewers awarded the game in the category Direction in Virtual Reality.[18] At *[IGN](/source/IGN)'*s Best of E3 2016 Awards the game won in the categories Best Puzzle Game and Best VR Experience.[19] At the [Italian Video Game Awards](https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drago_d'Oro_(premio)) the game won in the category Most Innovative Game.[20] At the [Develop Awards](/source/Develop_Awards) the game won in the categories Best Sound Design and Best Visual Design.[21] At the *IGN* Awards 2016 the game won as Best VR Game and as People's Choice Best VR game.[22] At the *[PlayStation Blog](/source/PlayStation_Blog)* Game of the Year 2016, the game won as Best PlayStation VR Game.[23] At the [BAFTA Games Award](/source/BAFTA_Games_Award) the game as nominated in the categories Best British Game and Game Innovation.[24][25]

In Europe, it was the biggest selling PSVR game of 2017.[26][27]

## References

1. Sirani, Jordan (April 3, 2017). ["BATMAN: ARKHAM VR COMING TO VIVE AND OCULUS RIFT"](http://www.ign.com/articles/2017/04/03/batman-arkham-vr-coming-to-vive-and-oculus-rift). [IGN](/source/IGN). [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20170403215149/http://www.ign.com/articles/2017/04/03/batman-arkham-vr-coming-to-vive-and-oculus-rift) April 3, 2017 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved April 3, 2017.

1. Phipps, Brett (October 5, 2017). ["Batman Arkham VR review"](http://www.trustedreviews.com/batman-arkham-vr-review). [TrustedReviews](/source/TrustedReviews). [Archived](https://archive.today/20170430212306/http://www.trustedreviews.com/batman-arkham-vr-review) April 30, 2017 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved April 30, 2017.

1. Totilo, Stephen (October 5, 2016). ["Batman Arkham VR: The Kotaku Review"](https://kotaku.com/batman-arkham-vr-the-kotaku-review-1787426767). [Kotaku](/source/Kotaku). [Archived](https://archive.today/20161005140019/http://kotaku.com/batman-arkham-vr-the-kotaku-review-1787426767) October 5, 2016 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved April 30, 2017.

1. Kohler, Chris (October 5, 2017). ["Batman: Arkham VR Is Smart, Scary, And (Very) Short"](https://www.wired.com/2016/10/arkham-vr-review/). [Wired](/source/Wired_(magazine)). [Archived](https://archive.today/20170430223656/https://www.wired.com/2016/10/arkham-vr-review/) April 30, 2017 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved April 30, 2017.

1. Stapleton, Dan (October 6, 2017). ["Batman: Arkham VR Review"](http://uk.ign.com/articles/2016/10/05/batman-arkham-vr-review). [IGN](/source/IGN). [Archived](https://archive.today/20170430211349/http://uk.ign.com/articles/2016/10/05/batman-arkham-vr-review) April 30, 2017 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved April 30, 2017.

1. *Batman: Arkham VR*. [Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment](/source/Warner_Bros._Interactive_Entertainment). October 11, 2016.

1. Cork, Jeff (March 14, 2014). ["Five Reasons Batman: Arkham Knight Has Us Excited"](https://www.gameinformer.com/b/features/archive/2014/03/14/five-reasons-batman-arkham-knight-has-us-excited.aspx). *[Game Informer](/source/Game_Informer)*. [GameStop](/source/GameStop). [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20140316233029/http://www.gameinformer.com/b/features/archive/2014/03/14/five-reasons-batman-arkham-knight-has-us-excited.aspx) March 16, 2014 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved March 14, 2014.

1. Narcisse, Evan (October 21, 2011). ["The Surprising Stories That Connect Batman: Arkham City to Arkham Asylum"](https://web.archive.org/web/20121028074256/http://kotaku.com/5852123/the-surprising-stories-that-connect-batman-arkham-city-to-arkham-asylum). *Kotaku*. Gawker Media. Archived from [the original](http://kotaku.com/5852123/the-surprising-stories-that-connect-batman-arkham-city-to-arkham-asylum) on October 28, 2012. Retrieved November 12, 2012.

1. Bradford, Matt (February 9, 2012). ["Rocksteady dissects Batman: Arkham City's controversial ending"](http://www.gamesradar.com/rocksteady-dissects-batman-arkham-citys-controversial-ending/). *[GamesRadar](/source/GamesRadar)*. [Future Publishing](/source/Future_Publishing). [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20131109050423/http://www.gamesradar.com/rocksteady-dissects-batman-arkham-citys-controversial-ending/) November 9, 2013 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved February 4, 2013.

1. Pereira, Chris (June 13, 2016). ["Batman Arkham VR Announced for PS4"](http://www.gamespot.com/articles/batman-arkham-vr-announced-for-ps4/1100-6440830/). [GameSpot](/source/GameSpot). [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20160615223018/http://www.gamespot.com/articles/batman-arkham-vr-announced-for-ps4/1100-6440830/) June 15, 2016 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved June 14, 2016.

1. Totilo, Stephen (October 18, 2016). ["Rocksteady Hid One Hell Of An Arkham VR Easter Egg In Arkham Knight"](https://kotaku.com/rocksteady-hid-one-hell-of-an-arkham-vr-easter-egg-in-a-1787924254). [Kotaku](/source/Kotaku). [Archived](https://archive.today/20161018150044/http://kotaku.com/rocksteady-hid-one-hell-of-an-arkham-vr-easter-egg-in-a-1787924254) October 18, 2016 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved May 6, 2017.

1. ["Rocksteady moves to Unreal Engine 4 for Batman Arkham VR"](https://www.mcvuk.com/development-news/rocksteady-moves-to-unreal-engine-4-for-batman-arkham-vr/). *[MCV/Develop](/source/MCV/Develop)*. June 17, 2016.

1. ["Batman: Arkham VR (PlayStation 4)"](https://www.metacritic.com/game/batman-arkham-vr/critic-reviews/?platform=pc). [Metacritic](/source/Metacritic). [Archived](https://archive.today/20170506211819/http://www.metacritic.com/game/playstation-4/batman-arkham-vr) May 6, 2017 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved May 6, 2017.

1. ["Zero Punctuation: PlayStation VR"](http://www.escapistmagazine.com/videos/view/zero-punctuation/116955-Sony-Playstation-VR-Review). *The Escapist*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20180811105325/http://www.escapistmagazine.com/videos/view/zero-punctuation/116955-Sony-Playstation-VR-Review) August 11, 2018 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved July 13, 2017.

1. ["Zero Punctuation: Top Five Games of 2016"](http://www.escapistmagazine.com/videos/view/zero-punctuation/116977-Best-and-Worst-Games-of-2016). *The Escapist*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20180829052448/http://www.escapistmagazine.com/videos/view/zero-punctuation/116977-Best-and-Worst-Games-of-2016) August 29, 2018 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved July 13, 2017.

1. PS VR Hall of Fame, [Official UK PlayStation Magazine](/source/Official_UK_PlayStation_Magazine), Issue 136, June 2017, [Future Publishing](/source/Future_Publishing), page 108

1. ["Game Critics Awards"](http://www.gamecriticsawards.com/2016winners.html). *www.gamecriticsawards.com*. Retrieved 2020-01-05.

1. ["2016 Awards | NAVGTR"](https://navgtr.org/2016-awards/). Retrieved 2020-01-05.

1. ["Best of E3 2016 Awards - IGN"](https://www.ign.com/articles/2016/06/14/best-of-e3-2016-awards), June 14, 2016, retrieved 2020-01-05

1. Bernardini, Edy (2017-03-16). ["Drago d'Oro 2017: ecco tutti i vincitori"](https://www.eurogamer.it/articles/2017-03-16-news-videogiochi-drago-doro-2017-tutti-i-vincitori) (in Italian). *Eurogamer.it*. Retrieved 2020-05-12.

1. ["2017 Winners | Develop Awards"](https://web.archive.org/web/20200810073426/https://www.developawards.com/2017-winners/). Archived from [the original](https://www.developawards.com/2017-winners/) on August 10, 2020. Retrieved 2020-05-12.

1. Rad, Chloi; Goldman, Eric; Yehl, Joshua (2016-12-08). ["Best VR Game - Best of 2016 Awards Guide"](https://www.ign.com/wikis/best-of-2016-awards/Best_VR_Game). *IGN*. Retrieved 2024-05-16.

1. ["The Winners: PlayStation.Blog Game of the Year 2016"](https://blog.playstation.com/2017/01/12/the-winners-playstation-blog-game-of-the-year-2016/). *PlayStation.Blog*. 2017-01-12. Retrieved 2024-05-16.

1. ["2017 Games Game Innovation | BAFTA Awards"](https://awards.bafta.org/award/2017/games/game-innovation). *awards.bafta.org*. Retrieved 2024-05-16.

1. ["2017 Games British Game | BAFTA Awards"](https://awards.bafta.org/award/2017/games/british-game). *awards.bafta.org*. Retrieved 2024-05-16.

1. ["What were PlayStation Store's biggest-selling games of 2017?"](https://blog.eu.playstation.com/2018/01/05/what-were-playstation-stores-biggest-selling-games-of-2017/). January 5, 2018.

1. ["Batman: Arkham VR"](http://www.gamerankings.com/ps4/191632-batman-arkham-vr/index.html). [GameRankings](/source/GameRankings). [Archived](https://archive.today/20170506212027/http://www.gamerankings.com/ps4/191632-batman-arkham-vr/index.html) May 6, 2017 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved May 6, 2017.

## External links

- [Batman: Arkham VR](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5807562/) at IMDb

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Batman: Arkham VR](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Batman%3A_Arkham_VR) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Batman%3A_Arkham_VR?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.