Gotham Knights’open world features one of the most in-depth looks at Gotham City for players to explore, along with tons of lore that will uncover secrets and information about the city and its formation. At the heart of Gotham City’s history are the five founding families that have shaped the locale into what it is in modern times. Each of the families has influenced one of the five boroughs in Gotham City in different ways, ensuring each borough looks and feels different from the others, and understanding each family could potentially help uncoverGotham Knights’biggest secret, The Court of Owls.
The five founding families, the Waynes, the Cobblepots, the Elliots, the Arkhams, and the Kanes, are extremely powerful and popular, with each family bringing a new industry into Gotham City. Whether it is the technologically advanced Waynes, or the Arkhams and their famous asylum, the families themselves will likely hold certain secrets that players will uncover as they learn more about The Court of Owls, and the various crime bosses that rule the streets of Gotham. These families have been a mainstay in theBatmancomicsand have proven to be one of the most important elements of world-building in Gotham City.
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The Waynes
The richest family in Gotham City, the Waynes have excelled in creating a booming business that provides both Gotham and the rest of the world with advanced technology. Their influence over Gotham City is unmatched, and they have proven their power time and time again, most notably by erasing the Dumas family, one of the founding families in the comics, from Gotham City’s history. The Waynes will likely be the family that players will have the most information on since they will be playing as Bruce Wayne’s proteges,the Bat Family inGotham Knights.
The Cobblepots
Founders of Gotham’s steel mill, the Cobblepots became industry giants after moving to the city; however, much of their wealth has seemingly disappeared based on the depiction of their borough. The Penguin, one of Batman’s most formidable enemies, is a member of the Cobblepot family and his goal is to topple the other families that were all much more successful than his own. As they strive to gain the power and recognition they once had,players could encounter Penguin and his son, Blacksun, who was a prominent enemy of Batgirl throughout the comics.
The Elliots
The controllers of mass media, The Elliots were able to set their place in the early 20th century in what is now Downtown Gotham. In the comics, the family is survived by Thomas Elliot, also known as the villain Hush, who killed his parents to gain the same level of attention as Bruce Wayne. This could see the inclusion of Hush as one of the side villains inGotham Knights, and since his character isclosely tied to the Scarecrow, players may be pitted up against him as well.
The Arkhams
One of the youngest families in Gotham City, the Arkhams are famous for their asylum that is often used to house the many villains that Batman has captured. Their history has been one of tragedy with many of the family members dying or being killed, the most notable being Amity Arkham, who possesses her descendants and takes on the alter ego, Calamity. The inclusion of the Arkhams among the Gotham City families is evident in howArkham Asylum will be available for players to explore inGotham Knights.
The Kanes
Batman’s family on his mother’s side, the Kanes, are also closely tied to Batwoman, who is a member of this family in the comics. They amassed a massive fortune in Gotham City by building weapons and ships for the military. The inclusion of the Kanes could mean that Batwoman may be in theGotham Knightsuniverse, and she could be included in a future DLC for the game or even as a cameo, helping the Bat Family uncover the mysteries of Gotham City andcombat the Court of Owls.
The founding families of Gotham City have played a vital role in the look and feel of the five boroughs, leaving their own style and trademarks scattered around the city. From exploring the famous Arkham Asylum to soaking in the neon lights of New Gotham, players will be spoiled for choice when it comes to discovering lore and understanding the workings of Gotham City.Gotham Knightsoffer players a huge open world that is filled with meaningful lore that could evenhelp players gain more knowledge on the Court of Owls.
Gotham Knightsis set to release on June 26, 2025, for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S.
