Mortal Kombat fans can finally rejoice. Franchise director Ed Boon officially confirmed the development of a new Mortal Kombat game. During a recent interview with Collider, Boon revealed that NetherRealm is “definitely pursuing” the next entry. However, he kept the exact release timeline completely secret. He explained that teasing any more details right now would get him in trouble.
Moving Past MK1
This confirmation arrives following recent reports regarding Mortal Kombat 1. Supposedly, NetherRealm canceled all future MK1 DLC. This decision reportedly stems from the disappointing sales and negative community response to the Khaos Reigns expansion. Despite these expansion setbacks, the base game sold incredibly well. Consequently, a new entry was always inevitable.
Furthermore, the studio must now carefully evaluate the gameplay mechanics for this new title. For instance, the future of the Kameo system remains unclear. Fans also hope developers will completely retire the poorly received Invasions mode and bring back the classic Krypt. Additionally, NetherRealm needs to actively avoid past controversies. Specifically, they must dodge the bad press caused by the MK1 Nintendo Switch port and its controversial microtransactions.
The upcoming game’s story remains a total mystery. Khaos Reigns officially concluded the multiversal Havok storyline. Therefore, developers have plenty of room to introduce a brand-new villain. Meanwhile, another timeline reboot seems highly unlikely. Fire God Liu Kang’s universe remains incredibly fresh, so NetherRealm can take the narrative in any new direction.
More Than Just Mortal Kombat
NetherRealm is not exclusively focusing on a single fighting game. Boon stated the studio is “definitely doing more” alongside the primary franchise. In fact, multiple leaks over the past few years suggest a new Injustice game is currently in the works. Thus, an Injustice title could easily launch before the new Mortal Kombat game.
Moreover, fans can look forward to seeing Mortal Kombat 2 in theaters soon. This upcoming film features Karl Urban making his debut as Johnny Cage. Ultimately, Boon teased that the studio currently has several other media projects cooking on the stove.
