Newly surfaced concept art from a long-canceled Batman game offers our clearest look yet at a grizzled, battle-worn Bruce Wayne – and reminds us what might have been if Warner Bros. 
had pursued a more ambitious follow-up to Arkham Knight. The project, once codenamed Project Sabbath, was in development by WB Games Montreal and was set to star Damian Wayne as the new Dark Knight, fighting alongside (or under the shadow of) his aging father, Bruce Wayne.
These artworks, shared by a former artist on ArtStation, include designs of a grey-bearded Bruce, a youthful Damian in a sleek red-and-black Batsuit, and striking takes on characters like Killer Croc and Huntress. What’s striking is how fresh and bold the aesthetic feels, balancing Arkham’s gritty tone with a new generational dynamic.
The game was never officially confirmed to be part of the Arkhamverse, but its roots in the same studio that built Arkham Origins – a canon prequel – suggests some continuity. That said, with designs diverging heavily from prior versions (like a mutated Croc), it’s likely this would have been a standalone vision or soft reboot.
Project Sabbath was reportedly in development after 2015’s Arkham Knight, intended as Warner Bros.’ next big Batman chapter while Rocksteady veered off to explore other DC characters. Instead, WB Games Montreal redirected efforts into 2022’s Gotham Knights – a game with no Bruce Wayne and no Batman – which landed with a thud among critics and fans alike. Rocksteady, meanwhile, gave us Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League, which also failed to capture hearts despite its high budget and returning characters.
The recent leak gives fans one last peek at what could have been: a story bridging generations, perhaps echoing the tone of Batman Beyond, where legacy, aging, and passing the torch take center stage. It’s easy to imagine a prologue where Bruce suits up one final time before handing the cowl to Damian – a symbolic, cinematic moment Arkham fans would have loved.
Unfortunately, with WB Games Montreal suffering major layoffs in late 2024 and Rocksteady’s multiplayer experiment flopping hard, this vision seems more distant than ever. Still, rumors hint that Rocksteady might return to single-player roots with another Batman title. Could we still get the Bruce-and-Damian team-up someday? Fans certainly haven’t given up hope – and this art just reignites that fire.