Warner Bros. Montreal developing prequel starring "unrefined" Batman and Deathstroke for Xbox 360, PS3, PC, and Wii U; 3DS and PS Vita entry Blackgate also in the works.

The next entry in the Batman Arkham series has been announced. Game Informer today revealed Batman: Arkham Origins, an all-new game from Warner Bros. Games Montreal, not Rocksteady Studios.

Due out October 25, 2013, for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, PC, and Wii U, Arkham Origins takes place years before the past Arkham games. It stars a "young, unrefined" Batman and will highlight the Caped Crusader's first encounter with many noted villains, including Deathstroke.

Leading development on Arkham Origins is creative director Eric Holmes, lead designer of open-world action games like The Incredible Hulk: Ultimate Destruction and Prototype.

In addition, a 3DS and PlayStation Vita project--Batman: Arkham Origins Blackgate--will launch the same day as the console and PC versions. Described as a 2.5D Metroid-style game and a "completely separate experience," the title takes place after the events of Arkham Origins.

Blackgate is in development at Armature Studio, the outfit founded by several Metroid Prime trilogy leads.

Though Rocksteady Studios is not directly developing Arkham Origins, the outfit has given WB Montreal "full access" to its modified Unreal engine to "capture the look and feel of the Arkhamverse," according to Game Informer.

Rocksteady is rumored to be at work on a stylized prequel due in 2014 at the earliest. The game will reportedly detail Batman's first encounter with the Joker and is based on the Silver Age of DC comics from the 1950s.

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