You knew that there was going to be another game added to the Batman: Arkham series. It was just a matter of what it was called. The May issue of Game Informer reveals that the next Arkham game will be a prequel called Batman: Arkham Origins.

Normally, I would say that a new Arkham game is cause for celebration. However, I have some serious reservations about this one beyond the fact that it’s a prequel (which can often be an indicator of struggling with ideas for a sequel which I’m certain they are after the conclusion of Arkham City).

First, Arkham Origins is being developed by Warner Bros. Games Montreal. That’s right, the award-winning Rocksteady Studios have been shown the door. Instead, Warner Brothers Interactive Entertainment have handed the franchise off to the guys who ported Arkham City over to the Wii U. And that sums up the games to have come out of WB Montreal. Yep. One port and nothing else. Sure they’re working on a couple of other games I’ve never heard of but they haven’t been released.

The other worrying thing is that lead designer Eric Holmes has an okay track record. His games as a lead designer include Hulk: Ultimate Destruction and Prototype which both have GameRankings scores in the 80s. That’s very respectable but this will be the biggest project he’ll have been the lead designer on. Sure, everyone has to start somewhere but given the expectations placed upon an Arkham game, it’s a tough one to get your triple-A lead designer start on.

There are some good things coming out of Game Informer, though. WB Montreal has access to the engine that Rocksteady uses to put together their Arkham games. It’s also nice when a lesser known comic villain gets a day to shine. The main villain of Origins is Deathstroke who has proven a match for Batman in the past. As Deathstroke is someone who can match Bats mano e mano, it should mean that we should get a good final boss fight.

Maybe WB Montreal can prove me wrong and put out a GOTY worthy effort. Unlike Arkham City, I don’t think I’ll be taking for granted that it will be amazing until the reviews tell me so.

Batman: Arkham Origins is schedule for release on October 25, 2013, for the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Wii U and PC.