LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight producer talks Arkham inspiration and Easter eggs

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“I can’t think of anything that was off the table.”

We learned this from Matt Ellison, the executive producer of LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight, when we interviewed him at the Gamescom conference last year.

The full conversation with Ellison is available to watch in the video above (and on YouTube), and you can also listen to it as part of the TopMob Gaming podcast.

LEGO Batman 4 features seven characters you can play, and they have a huge wardrobe with over 100 different suits to choose from – even developer Ellison has a favourite, the Rainbow Suit! It’s clear Traveller’s Tales are going all out with this game.

As you might expect, we’ve included a lot of hidden details and nods to other works,” Ellison explained. “There are so many Easter eggs and references that I doubt anyone has found them all.

We really didn’t hold back when creating this world. If something was established as part of Batman’s history in the DC universe, we included it. As you explore, you’ll find references and details from all corners of that history.

Playing through Gotham is awesome because everywhere you look, there are little details – billboards, shops, all sorts of stuff. They’re packed with references to Batman lore, some super obvious, others really hidden. As a big Batman fan, I’m loving spotting them all!

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Batman fans have been carefully watching the trailers and spotting references to everything from past movies and comics to previous Batman video games.

Ellison acknowledged that their game drew heavily from other titles, especially the Arkham series.

We used an existing design as a starting point, then focused on making the game easier to pick up, especially for younger players. We’ve simplified some elements to achieve this.

And yes, this game also supports local co-op. We’ve spent time designing and balancing the combat so it works well with two players.

We’re very happy with how everything is shaping up, and players are really enjoying it. We’re thrilled with the positive response we’ve received.

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We recently spent a good amount of time playing the game and were able to check out the open-world version of Gotham City. We also played a cooperative mission where Batman and Commissioner Gordon teamed up to investigate ACE Chemicals.

We were really impressed with how the game played and looked – it felt like a blend of the Arkham games and the fun, creative style of LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga, the popular game from 2022.

Okay, so after playing the demo, I gotta say, Gotham feels huge. It’s way more packed and detailed than anything we’ve seen before, and they really leaned into the height – there’s stuff to explore everywhere, up high and down low. Seriously, they’ve crammed it full of puzzles and hidden secrets, and you’re constantly discovering something new around every corner. It’s a really cool feeling!

Just wait a short while, and a crime will happen, giving you something to investigate. Then, another event will occur somewhere else, requiring you to go check it out.

The game is packed with content, including puzzles, challenges, and collectibles. You can expect hours of gameplay with plenty to do.

I was so excited when I heard Matt Berry – you know, from Toast of London – in the game’s trailer! He’s voicing Bane, which is brilliant. I’ve been wondering, how on earth did that happen?

Ellison explained that the collaboration came about through a simple suggestion. They inquired, it was possible, and everyone was happy with the result. They really enjoyed working with the person during the recording session, and while listeners have only heard a small part of it so far, there’s much more to be released. Overall, they are thrilled with how it turned out.

And how is the rest of the cast shaping up? Are there any other familiar voices?

Ellison said he wasn’t sure if listeners would recognize all the voices. He hinted that some familiar faces would be involved, and that there were a few unannounced additions – including some interesting people and surprises – but he didn’t want to give away too much detail just yet.

Just to clarify, Shai Matheson will be playing Batman in this game, and he’s doing an excellent job capturing the character in a way that fits perfectly with our vision.

As I’ve been playing, it’s really cool how Batman starts out sounding young and inexperienced, but as the story goes on, you can actually hear him age and become more mature. The voice actor really nailed that progression, and it’s something I haven’t really experienced in other Batman games – it makes the whole thing feel so much more immersive.

Despite drawing inspiration from many sources, the concept of an older Batman might be the most captivating part of this game.

I’m really excited to play more and see how the team, led by Ellison, has brought all this amazing backstory to life in the game. I’ll definitely be keeping a close eye on this one, fellow Batman fans!

LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight arrives on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S on May 29th, and will be available on the new Nintendo Switch 2 afterward. Pre-orders are open now!

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Authors

Ben Rayner
Rob LeaneGaming Editor

Rob Leane leads gaming coverage at TopMob, managing news and features for PlayStation, Xbox, Switch, PC, mobile, and VR games. He creates content for TopMob’s website, social media, and video platforms, and also writes the weekly gaming newsletter. Before TopMob, Rob worked at Den of Geek, Stealth Optional, and Dennis Publishing.

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2026-02-10 11:37