Following a series of leaks that appeared earlier this week, Rocksteady has confirmed that Poison Ivy will indeed be returning in Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League. What’s more, it seems as if she will be a very different character from the one fans have come to know.
Spoiler Warning: This story contains spoilers for Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League’s story.
In a new video released today as part of Suicide Squad’s Insider series, Rocksteady took the time to detail its customization and combat playstyles via characters like Toyman and Penguin. But Poison Ivy is the centerpiece, with the video also providing a lengthy look at a mission she stars in.
In Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League, Poison Ivy is a “precocious toddler with terrifying genetic engineering powers,” who is “skilled at creating biological toxins that can aid players applying elemental afflictions to their melee weapons and grenades.” The video showcases this new version of Poison Ivy, as well as Harley Quinn’s reaction to the changes wrought on her longtime girlfriend.
Why is Poison Ivy so different? It all goes back to 2015’s Arkham Knight, where she died quite convincingly.
“For fans who paid close attention to Arkham Knight, they’ll remember that when Poison Ivy died, she left behind a little sprout,” a Rocksteady developer explains in the video. “And in this game, they discover that the sproutling has been cared for by people who have their own motivations for doing so, but in the chaos of Metropolis she’s escaped.”
The video shows the Suicide Squad tracking Poison Ivy and eventually discovering her alongside a giant mutant flower. It goes on to show another round of extended gameplay, emphasizing the group’s various traversal options.
As you might expect the new version of Poison Ivy has sparked considerable discourse among fans who aren’t sure what to make of her new look. Some are describing the design as “horrifying,” while others are just wondering why she’s “a kid.” One way or another, her new look is a major departure for an iconic DC villain; one who is arguably an essential part of the Suicide Squad landscape given her long-term love affair with Harley Quinn. Poison Ivy’s relationship with Harley Quinn has been featured in many pieces of Batman media dating back to the Animated Series, and is a big part of the appeal of the Max animated series.
End spoilers.
In the meantime, work continues apace on Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League, which has been delayed multiple times at this point. Just yesterday, the Epic Games Store version was delayed into March 2024. Rocksteady has continued to do its best to drum up excitement for the long-in-development project, relaeasing numerous trailers and insider videos. It also confimed that Suicide Squad will be getting an offline mode after release.
We’ll be able to see how Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League turns out for ourselves when it releases on February 2 on PS5, Xbox, and Steam. For more, check out how to play every Batman game in order.
Kat Bailey is IGN’s News Director as well as co-host of Nintendo Voice Chat. Have a tip? Send her a DM at @the_katbot.