Warner Bros. Games has released the highly anticipated Mortal Kombat 1: Definitive Edition, which they tout as "the most extensive version" of the beloved fighting game. However, this release has stirred significant concerns among fans, who fear that NetherRealm Studios might have shifted their focus away from further developing Mortal Kombat 1. This apprehension stems from the absence of announcements regarding additional DLC characters or substantial content updates, leading many to believe that the game's content support may have reached its end.
The Mortal Kombat 1: Definitive Edition bundles the base game with all previously released downloadable content, including the Khaos Reigns story expansion, Kombat Pack 1, and Kombat Pack 2. Moreover, it introduces new character skins for Johnny Cage, Kitana, Scorpion, and Shao Khan, inspired by the upcoming Mortal Kombat 2 film, alongside a Mortal Kombat (2021) movie skin for Sub-Zero and a tournament-themed outfit for Liu Kang.
For the passionate Mortal Kombat community, the Definitive Edition seems to signify a closure to the game's development cycle. While Warner Bros. is well-known for releasing definitive and ultimate editions, this particular release carries a sense of finality, especially with no word on a Kombat Pack 3 or other significant updates. Fans speculate that the T-1000 guest character, slated for release in March 2025, might be the last addition to the game.
This potential end to content updates is a major disappointment for dedicated Mortal Kombat 1 enthusiasts, who had anticipated more extended support. Many recall a tweet from September 2024 by NetherRealm's development chief, Ed Boon, where he reassured fans that the studio was committed to supporting the game for the long haul. Yet, with the Definitive Edition's release, some fans feel betrayed, expressing frustration on platforms like Reddit.
"The game is done, it's their way of saying 'Goodbye! Come back the next year or two for another overly priced game bloated with guest characters!'" lamented a disgruntled user.
"MK1 officially has a shorter content lifespan than the f\*\*\*ing Texas Chainsaw Massacre game lmao," another user remarked sarcastically.
NRS promises Multi year support> support ends after 2 years. every time
byu/AndrewTheSouless inMortalKombat
For context, NetherRealm announced in July 2021 that it had begun working on its next project (which turned out to be Mortal Kombat 1) and would no longer produce DLC for Mortal Kombat 11. That announcement came two years and three months after the game's release, and no similar declaration has been made for Mortal Kombat 1.
Despite this, Mortal Kombat 1 experienced a resurgence in January, thanks to a community-driven effort to unlock a secret fight with Floyd, the pink ninja developer Ed Boon had been teasing. This was a bright moment in an otherwise disappointing release for many core fans. The T-1000 Terminator was the final DLC character added as part of the Khaos Reigns expansion, joining other fighters like Cyrax, Sektor, Noob Saibot, Ghostface, and Conan the Barbarian. Amidst questions about the game's sales performance, fans have been curious about whether NetherRealm plans to release a third set of DLC characters in a Kombat Pack 3.
Warner Bros. Discovery, the parent company, remains optimistic about the Mortal Kombat franchise. In November, CEO David Zaslav stated that the company plans to double down on four key titles, including Mortal Kombat.
Good job guys
byu/SauloPMB inMortalKombat
While fans speculate that NetherRealm might next release Injustice 3, neither the studio nor Warner Bros. has confirmed this. The Injustice series began with Injustice: Gods Among Us in 2013, followed by Injustice 2 in 2017. Although it initially seemed the studio would alternate between Mortal Kombat and Injustice, the release of Mortal Kombat 1 in 2023 disrupted this pattern.
In a June 2023 interview with IGN, Ed Boon vaguely discussed the decision to release another Mortal Kombat game instead of Injustice 3. He cited factors such as the COVID-19 pandemic and the shift to a newer version of the Unreal game engine (from Unreal Engine 3 used in Mortal Kombat 11 to Unreal Engine 4 in Mortal Kombat 1). Despite these challenges, Boon emphasized the studio's commitment to returning to the Injustice franchise in the future.
AnswerSee ResultsMortal Kombat 1 has sold 5 million copies, contributing to the franchise's total of 100 million units sold. However, it has not matched the success of its predecessor, Mortal Kombat 11, which became the best-selling game in the series by surpassing Mortal Kombat X's nearly 11 million units sold worldwide. By 2022, Mortal Kombat 11 had sold over 15 million copies globally, underscoring Mortal Kombat 1's underperformance relative to earlier entries.
