Summary
- Mortal Kombat 1's post-launch content has ranged from exciting crossovers to fan-favorite characters, and it likely won't stop coming any time soon.
- A sequel to Mortal Kombat 1 is likely, but it may take longer than expected due to plans for continued expansion of MK1.
- Warner Bros.' Focus on live-service games aligns with Mortal Kombat 1's planned longevity and evolving gameplay approach, but it will be a bummer for those hoping to see a sequel soon.
As Mortal Kombat 1 starts to approach its one-year anniversary, it's clear that the game has seen its fair share of fun content. From Quan Chi to Homelander from The Boys, the post-launch content for Mortal Kombat 1 has brought some great crossovers into the spotlight, while also showcasing some franchise favorites. Since the purpose of Mortal Kombat 1 is to give the franchise a soft reboot, many players have wondered if a sequel will soon be on the horizon.
Although a sequel feels highly likely, thanks to the continuous popularity of the Mortal Kombat games, a follow-up may take longer than some may be expecting. With Mortal Kombat 1 getting an expansion, the game's post-launch content is continuing to arrive, and series director Ed Boon recently stated that there are plans to continue the game's evolution. This bodes well for Mortal Kombat 1's future, but it's bad news for the possibility of a sequel any time soon.
Mortal Kombat 1 Has Its Sights Set on Longevity
Ed Boon's Recent Comments Hint at Mortal Kombat 1's Future
Boon's appearance at San Diego Comic Con shed light on what players can expect from the Mortal Kombat franchise in the future. In an interview with Boon, it was made quite clear that developer NetherRealm Studios has plans to keep Mortal Kombat 1 going for as long as possible. Boon said, "we were pretty sure when we launched Mortal Kombat 1 that we were going to be doing years of content, so this is year two."
The emphasis on multiple years implies that Mortal Kombat 1 will likely have at least another year, if not more, of planned content on the horizon. Of course, Boon didn't necessarily elaborate too much on how many years he and the rest of NetherRealm Studios have in mind for Mortal Kombat 1, but it at least seems as though the Khaos Reigns expansion won't be the last post-launch content offered to players.
There's also the possibility that NetherRealm releases another game before the next Mortal Kombat, like Injustice 3, which would put a sequel off for even longer.
Mortal Kombat 1 Mirrors Warner Bros. Future Plans
Since NetherRealm Studios is part of the vast fabric of Warner Bros., it's no surprise for Boon to emphasize Mortal Kombat 1's planned longevity. Earlier this year, Warner Bros. Announced its plans to focus on live-service titles over one-time releases. Although this news came as a surprise after the disastrous release of Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League, other live-service titles, like MultiVersus, have fared better than the aforementioned DC title. With Warner Bros. Having its sights set on the ongoing nature of live-service games, it makes perfect sense for Ed Boon to share these same sentiments when it comes to Mortal Kombat 1.
We were pretty sure when we launched Mortal Kombat 1 that we were going to be doing years of content, so this is year two.
For the past year, Mortal Kombat 1 has made some bold changes to the franchise. While not all have stuck the landing, continuously evolving the game through the years until a sequel is ready could be the right move. Also, although there are questions about a Mortal Kombat 1 follow-up, it definitely isn't in need of a sequel at the moment. Not every gamer is a fan of live-service approaches like Mortal Kombat 1's periodical expansions, but this is likely the best route for NetherRealm to go in order to make sure a sequel can be an improvement.
The live-service model has plenty of problems, but the bright side is that it oftentimes keeps a game from growing stale too quickly. Video games are rapidly evolving, and it can be difficult to keep up. Mortal Kombat 1 is only in its first year, so talks of a sequel should arguably not even be happening. Of course, Mortal Kombat 1 has its own unique problems that a follow-up will hopefully fix, but until then, Boon's goal of growing the game for a few more years will hopefully bring plenty of worthy content.
Mortal Kombat 1
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 84 /100 Critics Rec: 87%
- Released
- September 19, 2023
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ Due To Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Strong Language
- Developer(s)
- NetherRealm Studios
- Publisher(s)
- Warner Brothers Games
- Engine
- Unreal Engine 4
- Multiplayer
- Online Multiplayer
- Cross-Platform Play
- PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S
WHERE TO PLAY
- Franchise
- Mortal Kombat
- Platform(s)
- PC, PS5, Switch, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
- Genre(s)
- Fighting
- How Long To Beat
- 7 Hours
- PS Plus Availability
- Extra & Premium
