If the critical acclaim wasn't enough to convince you to pick up Batman: Arkham Asylum, maybe this knowledge will: Eidos' bat-tastic adventure title has shipped 2.5 million copies since launch. Those are crazy numbers, especially for a new series, and should go a long way to make sure that we'll soon be up to our pointy ears in dark, dreary reimaginings of our favorite franchises. Not that I'm complaining, or anything, but I retain the right to say "I told you so" when some developer completely misses the point and makes an Arkham clone with completely unfitting characters.

During PAX, there were rumblings at the WB booth about the publsher trying to pump out yearly sequels ala Call of Duty. I'll say now exactly what I said then: as long as you don't hire Treyarch to be the "other" years, I'm on board. There's still plenty of fight left in the Batman series, and I can't wait to see what the future holds. Hopefully they won't let us down.

The press release is below. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to sit here and mumble about how I should have waited until this story to use the Kanye West inturrupting joke. I mean, it would have fit so much better. It could have been all like, "Hey Batman, hold up, I'm going to let you sell, but..." ah, you know what? Forget about it...

Batman: Arkham Asylum Ships 2.5 Million

PC Version And DLC Now Available Tuesday 21st September/...Eidos Interactive Ltd, creator of some of the world’s leading videogame properties, and Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment, today announced that the number-one selling Batman: Arkham Asylum™, firmly established as the ‘must-have’ game of Summer 2009 has shipped in excess of 2.5 million units to retail since launch.

With numerous ‘Game of the Month’ and ‘Editor’s Choice’ awards throughout the world and a MetaCritic score in the 90s, the game has met with critical acclaim in the media, earning a Guinness World Record for ‘Most Critically Acclaimed Superhero Game Ever’. The Games for Windows® LIVE version launched last week in the US and Europe and the first downloadable content (DLC) went live last week, with additional DLC still to come.

“Batman: Arkham Asylum is one of the stand-out games this year,” said Phil Rogers, CEO of Eidos. “I’ve been following the great reviews and consumer blogs and I’m delighted that gamers everywhere love playing this game as much as we do.”

“The tremendous critical and commercial success of Batman: Arkham Asylum sets a new benchmark for superhero games,” said Martin Tremblay, President, Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment. “Rocksteady Studios created an excellent game and the sales numbers demonstrate how a powerful franchise fused with high-quality production resonates with consumers.”

In Batman: Arkham Asylum, developed by London-based Rocksteady Studios, BATMAN finds himself trapped inside the confines of Gotham’s psychiatric hospital for the criminally insane, ARKHAM ASYLUM. THE JOKER has set a trap for the DARK KNIGHT and has conspired with the deranged inmates to eliminate Batman once and for all. Adding to the authenticity of the game are veteran animated Batman voice talents Mark Hamill and Kevin Conroy, who reprise their roles as The Joker and Batman respectively.

Batman: Arkham Asylum features an original story by Paul Dini, Batman writer and five-time Emmy Award-winner whose credits include Lost and Batman: The Animated Series. Gamers will move in the shadows, instill fear amongst their enemies and confront The Joker and Gotham City's most notorious villains, including HARLEY QUINN, BANE, KILLER CROC, POISON IVY and SCARECROW, who have taken over the asylum.

Batman: Arkham Asylum is available now on Xbox 360 and PlayStation3 and Games for Windows® LIVE. For more information, visit the official website at www.BatmanArkhamAsylum.com.