Warner Bros. has confirmed what Mortal Kombat 1 followers feared after the latest launch of the Definitive Version: no new DLC characters or story chapters can be launched for the sport.
Mortal Kombat 1 has bought 5 million copies, with the franchise now up to 100 million. Mortal Kombat 11 turned the best-selling sport in the franchise by passing Mortal Kombat X’s practically 11 million models bought worldwide quickly after launch. By 2022, Mortal Kombat 11 had bought greater than 15 million copies worldwide. Clearly, Mortal Kombat 1 has underperformed in contrast to earlier video games in the collection.
In a (*1*) on the official Mortal Kombat social media account, Warner Bros. acknowledged the disappointment the information will trigger gamers, “however our group at NetherRealm wants to shift focus to the subsequent mission so as to make it as nice as we presumably can.”
Warner Bros. failed to say what this new mission is, however present hypothesis factors to Injustice 3, a continuation of NetherRealm’s DC combating sport collection.
Right here’s the assertion in full:
We’re listening to gamers’ requests for continued sport assist of Mortal Kombat 1, and, whereas we are going to proceed to assist Mortal Kombat 1 by way of steadiness changes and fixes, there is not going to be extra DLC characters or story chapters launched from this level on.
We perceive this can be disappointing for followers, however our group at NetherRealm wants to shift focus to the subsequent mission so as to make it as nice as we presumably can.
March 2025’s launch of the T-1000 visitor character, which got here a year-and-a-half after the launch of Mortal Kombat 1 itself, now goes down as the sport’s closing main content material drop. For context, in July 2021, NetherRealm introduced it had began work on its subsequent mission (Mortal Kombat 1) and, as a outcome, there can be no additional DLC for Mortal Kombat 11. That announcement got here two years and three months after the launch of the sport. At present’s announcement comes one 12 months and eight months after the launch of Mortal Kombat 1.
Gamers are already mentioning prior feedback from NetherRealm improvement chief Ed Boon, who had promised followers years of assist. Certainly, many are actually pointing to a September 2024 tweet from Boon, who at the time moved to reassure followers already involved that the studio had moved onto its subsequent sport by saying: “NetherRealm continues to be absolutely dedicated to supporting Mortal Kombat 1 for a very long time to come.”
Mortal Kombat 1 loved one thing of a resurgence in January with the secret struggle with Floyd, the pink ninja developer Boon had been teasing for years. That sparked a enjoyable community-wide effort that breathed new life into the sport. However that was a uncommon brilliant spot for what has, total, been a disappointing launch for a lot of core Mortal Kombat followers.
What now for Mortal Kombat? Dad or mum firm Warner Bros. Discovery has indicated that it nonetheless believes the gory combating sport franchise has a future. In November, CEO David Zaslav stated that on the video games facet of issues, the firm plans to double down on simply 4 titles, one among which was Mortal Kombat. Film adaptation Mortal Kombat 2 is due out later this 12 months.
Wesley is Director, Information at IGN. Discover him on Twitter at @wyp100. You’ll be able to attain Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.