Third outing of 'Batman Arkham' series planned for 2013

A new game in the "Batman Arkham" franchise will arrive in 2013, announced Time Warner's CFO and CAO John Martin, citing it during an investors' call as proof of a "strong games release" year for the company.

A new game in the 'Batman Arkham' franchise will arrive in 2013, announced Time Warner's CFO and CAO John Martin, citing it during an investors' call as proof of a 'strong games release' year for the company.

'Batman: Arkham Asylum' had defied expectations by wrangling a highly praised game out of a well used license, thanks to respectful character development and suitably punchy combat.

That was in 2009, and by 2011 Rocksteady Studios had produced 'Batman: Arkham City,' subject to similar levels of accolade; a special edition became a launch title at the Nintendo Wii U's debut in late 2012.

Warner Bros' Montreal-based studio is a candidate for the new game's development, having been set up in 2010 with a focus on DC Comics characters and overseeing the transfer of 'Arkham City' from PC, Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 to Wii U.

Outside of the 'Arkham' franchise, ol' Bats has recently appeared in 'Lego Batman 2,' 'DC Universe Online,' and fighting game 'Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe,' which has a DC-based successor, 'Injustice: Gods Among Us,' due in April.