This article was taken from the June 2015 issue of WIRED magazine. Be the first to read WIRED's articles in print before they're posted online, and get your hands on loads of additional content by subscribing online.
The Batmobile has appeared in more than 200 iterations since its debut in 1941's Detective Comics #48. But when it came to redesigning the vehicle for new game Batman: Arkham Knight, out June 23, London-based developer Rocksteady Studios decided to think like the caped crusader. "The Batmobile is designed to extend and enhance Batman's abilities," says art director David Hego, 41. "It was critical that his new suit and the Batmobile felt like they shared a common design philosophy."
Batman's ride nods to previous outings -- such as the afterburner, which appeared in the 1966 TV show. But it is also adapted to suit the gameplay. For example, the ejector seat: "We saw the cockpit as more closely resembling that of a fighter jet, with the pilot right at the front," says lead asset artist Lee Adamson, 42. Extras such as a containment cell and winch reflect the needs of the world's greatest detective.
The biggest addition? Battle Mode. In Arkham Knight, Gotham City is invaded by drone forces controlled by the villain, the Arkham Knight -- so Rocksteady's Batmobile can transform into a tank armed with a 60mm cannon and gyroscopic wheels. "Battle Mode is his answer to the tanks and drones that the Knight has sent in," explains Hego. (As Batman refuses to kill his enemies, the gun fires plastic bullets if aimed at people.)
But with Batman more mobile than ever, Rocksteady had to redesign something even bigger: the city itself. Gotham improves on earlier games with wider streets and deformable buildings. "If the player gets a drift wrong, they will rip the corner off the building and keep going," says Adamson. Finally, in getting the car he needs, Batman has the one he deserves.
This article was originally published by WIRED UK
