"Mortal Kombat 1: Definitive Edition Release Triggers Fan Backlash"

Warner Bros. Games has unveiled the Mortal Kombat 1: Definitive Edition, touting it as the most comprehensive version of the beloved fighting game. However, the release of this edition has left fans worried that NetherRealm Studios may have moved on from the title, signaling the end of new downloadable content (DLC) characters and major updates.

The Definitive Edition includes the base game along with previously released DLC, such as the Khaos Reigns story expansion, Kombat Pack 1, and Kombat Pack 2. It also introduces new character skins inspired by the upcoming Mortal Kombat 2 film for Johnny Cage, Kitana, Scorpion, and Shao Khan, a skin from the 2021 Mortal Kombat movie for Sub-Zero, and a tournament-themed outfit for Liu Kang.

For the Mortal Kombat community, the Definitive Edition feels like the final chapter for Mortal Kombat 1. Historically, Warner Bros. and NetherRealm have released definitive editions, but this time, it seems to mark the end of the road. With no news of a Kombat Pack 3 or any substantial content updates, fans fear that the T-1000 guest character, set to release in March 2025, will be the last addition to the game.

This development is a major letdown for dedicated fans who were expecting longer-term support. The sentiment is echoed in a September 2024 tweet from NetherRealm's development chief, Ed Boon, who had promised that the studio was "fully committed to supporting Mortal Kombat 1 for a long time to come."

Disgruntled fans have voiced their frustrations on social media. One Reddit user remarked, "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!’" Another fan compared the game's lifespan unfavorably to other titles, stating, "MK1 officially has a shorter content lifespan than the f\*\*\*ing Texas Chainsaw Massacre game."

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), leading to no further DLC for Mortal Kombat 11. This announcement came over two years after the game's release. No such announcement has been made for Mortal Kombat 1 yet.

Despite the gloom, Mortal Kombat 1 saw a brief resurgence in January with the secret fight against Floyd, the pink ninja teased by Ed Boon. This event rekindled community spirit but was a rare highlight in an otherwise disappointing release for many.

The T-1000 Terminator was the last DLC character added with the Khaos Reigns expansion, following other fighters such as Cyrax, Sektor, Noob Saibot, Ghostface, and Conan the Barbarian. Speculation about a potential Kombat Pack 3 has been fueled by questions regarding the game's sales performance.

Despite the concerns, Warner Bros. Discovery remains committed to the Mortal Kombat franchise. In November, CEO David Zaslav announced that the company plans to focus on four key titles, one of which is Mortal Kombat.

Good job guys byu/SauloPMB inMortalKombat

Looking ahead, fans anticipate that NetherRealm might release a third installment in the Injustice series, though neither the studio nor Warner Bros. has confirmed this. The Injustice franchise began with Injustice: Gods Among Us in 2013, followed by Injustice 2 in 2017. After releasing Mortal Kombat 11 in 2019, the studio opted for another Mortal Kombat game, the soft reboot Mortal Kombat 1, in 2023, instead of continuing with the Injustice series.

In a June 2023 interview with IGN, Ed Boon discussed the decision to release another Mortal Kombat game, citing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the transition to a new version of the Unreal game engine. "We did go to a new graphics engine, Unreal," Boon explained. "We really wanted to be careful with COVID and all that stuff and everybody staying safe. So there were a bunch of variables involved that eventually we realized, 'Okay, let's do another Mortal Kombat game and hopefully we'll get back to the Injustice games.'"

When asked about the future of the Injustice franchise, Boon was reassuring: "Not at all," he said, indicating that the door is still open for more Injustice games.

Mortal Kombat 1 has sold 5 million copies, contributing to the franchise's total of 100 million units sold. While Mortal Kombat 11 surpassed Mortal Kombat X's nearly 11 million units sold worldwide to become the best-selling game in the series, selling over 15 million copies by 2022, Mortal Kombat 1 has not met the same level of success.