Batman Arkham studio founders leaving Rocksteady to begin “new adventure in gaming”

Co-founders Sefton Hill and Jamie Walker are leaving Rocksteady, the studio behind the Batman Arkham games and the upcoming Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League.

In a statement announcing their departure on the Rocksteady website, David Haddad of Warner Bros. Games praised the duo’s work, praising their commitment to “the highest quality and excellence in all facets of game development”.

Eurogamer Newscast: Will Konami succeed in bringing Silent Hill back from the dead?

He continued, “With Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League nearing completion, they have both decided to leave Rocksteady at the end of 2022 and will begin a new adventure in gaming. We have the utmost respect and gratitude for Jamie and Sefton. and wish them all the best in their new venture, and like many fans, we look forward to what they do next.”

Meanwhile, Walker and Hill called their decision to leave the company “emotional.”

“From the day we founded the company in 2004 until today, Rocksteady has been our life and our soul. It has given us the opportunity to do what we love most: creating great games with exceptionally talented people. We’re so proud of the team here for the games we’ve all created together, from our first game Urban Chaos to the much-loved Arkham series, and now the epic Suicide Squad,” they wrote. written in a joint communiqué.

“But there’s something very special about Rocksteady that goes beyond the games we make, and everyone who works here feels that. It’s the amazing times we’ve shared over the years, the friendships knotted and the care this team has for each other that made this unforgettable trip so special.We think people wear their Rocksteady t-shirts with pride because of the way we treat each other and of what it’s like to be here. We want to thank the team for their hard work and everything they do to make this such a great place.

“Some of our proudest moments happened because of the energy and talent of this team: having the chance to work with Warner Bros. and DC on Batman, the wonderful Arkham Games being so much more than we could have imagine, the chance to work with our few of our childhood heroes, give back to the industry we love so much by helping budding game creators, and finally, build a culture here where people can just be themselves and create great games together.

“A very special ingredient in all of this are the Rocksteady fans. Their enthusiasm and support for what we do is the fuel that keeps us going to do our best. They are the extended Rocksteady team and we wish them a huge thank you for energizing us over the past 18 years! Now that Suicide Squad is in good hands and the team here is stronger than ever, it’s time to pass the baton.

Production manager and founding member of Rocksteady, Nathan Burlow, will assume the position of studio manager following this news. Meanwhile, Darius Sadeghian will take on the role of Studio Product Director.

“I’m very excited and honored to have the opportunity to continue to lead Rocksteady with Darius,” Burlow said, while thanking Hill and Walker for the work they’ve done for the company since its inception ago. all these years.

“My goal is to support our talented and hard-working team, retaining the heart and incredible culture of the studio,” he continued. “We look forward to building on our successes with the upcoming release of Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League and our future games.”

As for Kill the Justice League, the game was originally supposed to release this year, but in March the developer announced that its launch had has been pushed back to 2023.

At the time, Hill said he understood the delays were “frustrating” for fans, but assured everyone that the extra time would allow the studio to make “the best game”. [it] box”.