2023 is shaping up to be a big year for the fighting genre and its truly dedicated fans. On top of the highly-anticipated new releases from the Street Fighter and Tekken series, Mortal Kombat has also thrown its hat into the fray. NetherRealm Studios and Warner Bros. set everyone ablaze with excitement with its official announcement of “Mortal Kombat 1,” the newest entrant to the storied fighting game franchise.
While the announcement of a new upcoming Mortal Kombat game has already been speculated for years, it did little to nothing about gamers’ excitement. Notably, the big announcement was also leaked recently, which could have been a driving factor why NetheRealm seemingly confirmed Mortal Kombat 1 out of the blue. Nevertheless, we gamers cannot wait to get our hands on this surely bloody game!
In this article, we aim to take a look at the recently announced Mortal Kombat 1 and lay out everything we know about it so far.
What is Mortal Kombat 1?
Mortal Kombat 1 aims to re-ignite the franchise for the new generation while also paying homage to its storied legacy that fans have grown to love. As directly implied by its name, the game is a reboot of the entire Mortal Kombat franchise after the events of the previous game. It intends to present Mortal Kombat characters in a brand new light like never before. On top of that, it features brand-new mechanics and gameplay systems to shake up the series to its core.
As per the reports, Mortal Kombat 1 will feature a new story mode, a revamped fighting system, and a myriad of new and interesting characters. Based on the accompanying trailer released by NetherRealm for the official announcement, it seems like the story mode would follow Fire God Liu Kang as he tries to create a new era of peace in the Mortal Kombat universe. Much like its competition, Street Fighter 6 and Tekken 8, the fighting system will be more fluid and responsive than ever before.
Characters in Mortal Kombat 1
Here are the confirmed characters present in Mortal Kombat 1:
- Liu Kang: The protagonist of the Mortal Kombat series. Liu Kang is a Shaolin monk who is the Earthrealm champion.
- Scorpion: A ninja who was resurrected by Quan Chi to avenge his family’s death. Scorpion is one of the most popular characters in the Mortal Kombat series.
- Sub-Zero: A cryomancer who is the leader of the Lin Kuei clan. He is one of Liu Kang’s rivals and the ultimate foil to series favorite Scorpion.
- Raiden: The protector of Earthrealm, Raiden is a god of thunder and lightning. Every Mortal Kombat fan and fighting game enthusiast now who Raiden is based solely on his iconic look.
- Kung Lao: Liu Kang’s best friend and fellow Shaolin monk. Kung Lao is a skilled martial artist that can rival just almost everyone.
- Kitana: The princess of Outworld and the daughter of Shao Kahn. Kitana is a skilled assassin who toys with her prey before putting them down.
- Mileena: Kitana’s half-sister and clone. Mileena is a sadistic and bloodthirsty warrior who is shown to be even more ruthless than Kitana itself.
- Shang Tsung: A sorcerer who is the emperor of Outworld. Shang Tsung is a master of shapeshifting and magic.
- Johnny Cage: A Hollywood actor who is a member of Earthrealm’s special forces. Despite his antics and happy-go-lucky nature, Johnny Cage is a skilled martial artist that deserves respect.
- Sonya Blade: A lieutenant in the United States Special Forces. Sonya Blade is a skilled fighter and a member of Earthrealm’s special forces.
Other rumored characters present in the game:
- Cassie Cage
- Jacqui Briggs
- Kotal Kahn
- D’Vorah
- Kano
New Features in Mortal Kombat 1
Here are some of the new features that will reportedly be present in the new Mortal Kombat 1 game:
- Kameo Fighters: Kameo Fighters are unique partner fighters that assist during matches and create “expanded gameplay possibilities for players”. These are chosen separately from the main roster and appear to be some kind of assist mechanic.
- Bone Krushing Finishing Moves: Bone Krushing Finishing moves are similar to X-ray attacks. However, they focus on breaking bones instead of organs.
- Krushing Blows: Krushing Blows are a new type of special move that can be performed when the opponent is at a specific health threshold.
- Flawless Block: Flawless Block is a new mechanic that allows players to avoid damage if they block an attack perfectly.
- Armor Breakers: Armor Breakers are a new type of special move that can be used to break through an opponent’s armor.
- Customization: Mortal Kombat 1 Reboot features a robust customization system. It allows players to change their characters’ appearance, moveset, and abilities.
Mortal Kombat 1 Release Date
At the end of the announcement trailer, it is confirmed that Mortal Kombat 1 will launch on September 19, 2023. The Mortal Kombat series reboot game will release exclusively for next-gen consoles and PC. Unfortunately for PS4 and Xbox One gamers, NetherRealm has seemingly no plans to port the game to the current-gen consoles.
According to them, the older systems can no longer handle the graphical fidelity they are aiming for in the new game. And looking at the trailer itself, the visuals are truly magnificent–the blood and guts in Mortal Kombat haven’t looked this good ever.
It is also worth noting that Mortal Kombat 1 intends to run a closed beta for those who will pre-order the game. The beta release date will be in August this year, albeit without a definite date yet. Lastly, the closed beta is reportedly only for PS5 and Xbox One X/S consoles.
