The first official announcement trailer for the next Mortal Kombat game has been released, confirming recent rumours that the sequel would be titled Mortal Kombat 1, alongside the official release date, and full pre-order details.
Mortal Kombat 1 will officially be restarting the franchise, while still staying true to its predecessors, as NetherRealm Studios announce that the game’s Fire God Liu Kang will be responsible for the franchise’s universe resetting, as seen in Mortal Kombat 11.
One thing that will be massively changing is how the iconic and beloved characters will appear in this new instalment, with all designs now being reimagined in a way that has never been seen before in past Mortal Kombat games.
All heroes and villains will be known by existing fans, as announced by NetherRealm Studios, including Johnny Cage who will even be receiving a Jean-Claude Van Damme skin in the first Kombat Pack.
As for the Story Mode in Mortal Kombat 1, as usual with the amazingly crafted storytelling formats from the NetherRealm team, players will once again journey through a cinematic experience featuring twists, turns, classic rivalries, and even some original backstories for the upcoming cast of characters.
Liu Kang, Scorpion, Sub-Zero, Raiden, Kung Lao, Kitana, Mileena, Shang Tsung, and Johnny Cage, among others, have been confirmed to once again be returning to the franchise’s next instalment.
“With Mortal Kombat 1 we are bringing a reimagined universe to the legendary franchise which has captivated gamers for more than 30 years and continues to top itself,” said David Haddad, President, Warner Bros. Games.
“The talented team at NetherRealm Studios continues to push the series forward in bold ways that have consistently expanded the global audience, and we believe Mortal Kombat 1 will continue to attract new players as well as thrill our core fans.”
“Mortal Kombat 1 marks a new beginning for the franchise and we couldn’t be more excited to share this original storyline and fresh take on classic characters with our fans,” said Ed Boon, Chief Creative Officer, NetherRealm Studios and Co-Creator of Mortal Kombat.
“We’re also introducing our Kameo Fighter system which brings a unique roster of partner characters into the mix, and we are looking forward to showing this feature as well as more new elements of the game very soon.”
Starting tomorrow, May 19, Mortal Kombat 1 will be available for pre-order on all launch platforms*, including:
- Mortal Kombat 1 Standard Edition will be available physically and digitally on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, and PC, including Steam and Epic Games Store.
- Mortal Kombat 1 Premium Edition will be available physically and digitally on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, and PC (Steam and Epic Games Store) and will include all Standard Edition content, along with the Kombat Pack, early access to the game beginning Sept. 14, and 1,250 Dragon Krystals (in-game currency). The Kombat Pack will feature a Johnny Cage character skin with the likeness of famed actor and martial artist, Jean-Claude Van Damme (available at launch), early access to six new playable characters (available post-launch), and five new Kameo Fighters (available post-launch).
- Mortal Kombat 1 Kollector’s Edition will be available physically at select retailers on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S only and will include all Premium Edition content, and early access, along with a 16.5-inch Liu Kang sculpture designed by COARSE and an inspired Liu Kang in-game character skin, three exclusive art prints, a steel case, and 1,450 additional Dragon Krystals (2,700 total).
All Mortal Kombat 1 pre-orders will receive Shang Tsung as an in-game playable character, and those who pre-order the game for PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X|S will also receive access to the Mortal Kombat 1 Beta, which will be available in August 2023.
Mortal Kombat 1 is scheduled to release on Sept. 19, 2023, for PlayStation®5 (PS5™), Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch™, and PC.
Pre-Order Beginning May 19 to Receive Bonus Shang Tsung Playable Character and Access to Upcoming Beta; Kombat Pack to Include Jean-Claude Van Damme Skin.