It’s been four years since the last main series Mortal Kombat title, but the long-awaited day is finally here. What many believed to be Mortal Kombat 12 (that would make the most sense, wouldn’t it?) has actually received the more controversial title of Mortal Kombat 1, meaning that there are now technically three of the same name (just Mortal Kombat) within the franchise. As if things weren’t confusing enough with all the sequels and spin-offs. Acting as the series’ second reboot after the ninth game (2011’s reboot), Mortal Kombat 1 will be the twelfth main game overall and seeks to bring the beloved fighting game to new generation consoles such as the PlayStation 5 and Nintendo Switch, making play more accessible for everyone.
According to GameSpot, Mortal Kombat 1 is set in the New Era timeline created by Liu Kang after he attained godhood in Mortal Kombat 11 in 2019. On May 18, NetherRealm released the official announcement trailer, which confirmed several characters for the upcoming reboot. If you haven’t managed to catch the trailer already, take a gander for yourself.
In the two-and-a-half-minute trailer, we get a montage of various characters in their hometowns, meeting one another to initiate combat. There are plenty of cinematic shots used here, which likely implies that they’ll be much more of an engrossing narrative at play here, similar to Mortal Kombat 11, rather than pure combat scenes. If we consider the Injustice franchise, that’s a pretty good indication of how in-game dialogue and interactions initiate fights in the overarching storyline. We get a mixture of close-up shots, tracking shots, and wide shots to convey the menacing presence of these characters and the world around them.
After seeing snippets of their faces in the trailer, all gazing toward a blood-red outline in the sky. We also see Fire God Liu Kang after his victory over the Titan of Time, reshaping the world in his own image. We can confirm the following characters will be present in the 2023 reboot:
- Liu Kang
- Scorpion
- Sub-Zero
- Raiden
- Johnny Cage
- Kung Lao
- Kitana
- Mileena
- Shang Tsung
As Mortal Kombat 1 continues its marketing campaign, we can expect more playable characters to be revealed as time goes on. As GameSpot points out, it’s worth noting that Tsung will be available as a preorder bonus, and Johnny Cage will have access to a Jean-Claude Van Damme skin through the Kombat Pack DLC.
Mortal Kombat 1 will launch on Sept. 19 for PC, Switch, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S, with early access available as soon as Sept. 14, entirely depending on which version of the game you own. It will cost $70 as standard, but will also be available as a $110 Premium Edition and a $250 Kollector’s Edition.