Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League will be published on February 2, 2024 for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S.
A while back, a number of gaming journalists and streamers were invited to Burbank, California, prior to the game's release, to spend time playing the game and speaking with devs. Early impression write-ups spinning out of that meet-up haven't exactly painted a rosy picture.
In their early impressions write-up, IGN states: "Unfortunately for Suicide Squad, once the fun story bits end, you’re left with a much less inspired combat system, and an open world that’s filled with tedious tasks."
We'll note that IGN actually had a much more scathing take on the game in a video review on YouTube, that has since been deleted.
Game Informer says their hands on time with the game left them a little more optimistic: "Emerging from my hands-on session, I feel much more confident in Rocksteady's long-awaited follow-up to its critically acclaimed Arkham series, but I still have several questions."
Eurogamer wrote: "It's clear Rocksteady is keen to try something new with Suicide Squad while remaining tied to the studio's past, but as an online shooter with live service elements it's perhaps trend-chasing more than sticking to what the studio does best."
VGC wrote that there's nothing interesting or new being introduced in Suicide Squad: "...as flawed as Crystal Dynamics’ [Avengers] title was, it did at least deliver on the fantasy of playing as your favourite superheroes. After breaking new ground for the superhero genre (just consider how Arkhamesque Spider-Man’s combat is), it’s sad to think that a decade later, Rocksteady is merely following others."
The response to the hands-on, first impressions reviews have been met with surprise within the gaming community. Typically, these types of events are carefully curated, verticle slices of the game that are designed to exhibit the best of what the game has to offer. If Rocksteady thought they were putting their best foot forward and this is the result, it doesn't bode well for the game's long-term success.
Still, Games-as-a-Service titles are notorious for releasing in a shaky state, only to be steadily improved and tweaked by developers until the narrative around the game changes and it becomes viewed as a can't miss experience . Such a scenario occurred with Destiny and Tom Clancy's The Division.
On the other hand, if developers don't respond quick enough, the player base will dwindle and the studio executives will feel it's not worth continuing to fund the game (see Crystal Dynamics Avengers and BioWare's Anthem).
Based on the early impressions, the question now is what group will Kill the Justice League join- the Destiny 2's of the world or the trash heap where Gaas games like Babylon's Fall reside?
About Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League
From the creators of the Batman: Arkham series, Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League is a genre-defying third-person action shooter where the ultimate band of misfits must do the impossible: Kill the Justice League. Pre-order and get Classic Outfits. An internet connection is required to play Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League solo or via online co-op.
Join the newly “recruited” members of Amanda Waller’s infamous Task Force X (aka the Suicide Squad), Harley Quinn, Deadshot, Captain Boomerang, and King Shark, as they set out on an impossible mission to kill the Justice League.
Drop into an expansive and dynamic open-world Metropolis ravaged by Brainiac’s invasion and terrorized by the heroes who once protected it.
Experience gameplay that brings together a unique fusion of enhanced traversal, gunplay, and melee combat, combining free-roaming exploration and combat verticality for an unforgettable experience.
Experience a brand new original story set in the DC Universe featuring your favorite characters and villains like you’ve never seen them before.
Post-launch, players can expect a continuously evolving Metropolis with free new playable villains, environments, weapons, in-game events, and more, all included with the purchase of the base game.