The voice behind one of the Mortal Kombat franchise's most famous lines of dialogue has left NetherRealm Studios, the developer that has been bringing players games in the iconic fighting game series since the shutdown of its predecessor, Midway Games, in 2010. Dan Forden has been providing sound design and audio direction services for the entire span of the Mortal Kombat franchise, but he is probably most recognizable to fans for his "Toasty!" Commentary during matches.
The classic line saw its origin as an inside joke among the staff and has been present as an Easter egg in multiple Mortal Kombat games since its introduction in 1993's Mortal Kombat 2. In its most classic state, a still image of Forden's face will occasionally pop up in the lower right-hand corner of the screen, exclaiming an elongated "Toasty!" In an operatic falsetto, after the player delivers an uppercut. Subsequent appearances have modified the in-game meme slightly, such as Forden's exclamation of "Toasty 3D" in Mortal Kombat 4, or in 2011's Mortal Kombat, in which he appears wearing a T-shirt adorned with an image of a slice of toast.
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The Voice Behind 'Toasty!' Leaves Mortal Kombat Studio
Forden first joined Midway in 1989 and had been employed either there or at NetherRealm ever since, until his departure on October 1. He shared the news that he had left NetherRealm via a post on his Instagram account, which includes a recent selfie in a bathroom mirror at the studio that features a sticker with his much younger likeness in the corner, delivering his classic video game catchphrase. In his farewell post, Forden thanked fans of Mortal Kombat and other NetherRealm games, noting his career would not have lasted nearly as long without people playing his games. He also had fond words for his former development team members, praising their talents and encouraging players to "look for more great things to emerge over the next several years."
The former audio director appears to be leaving under his own terms, and his departure does not seem to be related to restructuring efforts at Warner Bros. Games that were announced in June. As he explained in the comment section, "I figured I’d been around long enough." While he didn't specifically state that he was retiring from audio direction or the video game industry in its entirety after 37 years, he stated that he is planning on using the newfound free time to pursue his own interests.
It's unclear whether Forden's likeness or his classic one-liner will be included in any future Mortal Kombat games following his departure. The digital release of the Mortal Kombat Legacy Kollection is scheduled for October 30, with the physical release planned for December 12.
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 83 /100 Critics Rec: 81%
- Released
- October 30, 2025
- ESRB
- Mature 17+ / Blood and Gore, Intense Violence
- Developer(s)
- Digital Eclipse
- Publisher(s)
- Digital Eclipse, Atari, Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment
WHERE TO PLAY
Step into the arena and choose your fighter! Mortal Kombat: Legacy Kollection includes all the essential games from Mortal Kombat's early years. Experience the legendary origins of the franchise with the iconic arcade classics that started it all—alongside a curated selection of most-loved home versions and rare, fan-favorite releases—a celebration of the franchise’s groundbreaking legacy.
Digital Eclipse's interactive documentary format explores how Mortal Kombat changed the way society perceived video games. By using digitized humans as player sprites in an over-the-top, martial-arts fighter, the game thrilled players, shocked critics, and laid the foundation for a franchise that has thrived for more than 30 years. Hear firsthand from the original dev team of Ed Boon, John Tobias, John Vogel, and Dan Forden, along with other exclusive interviews, rare concept art, vintage marketing materials, and archival video footage.
Mortal Kombat: Legacy Kollection also lets players explore Mortal Kombat lore, with a timeline of the original series' storyline and comprehensive character histories that offer stories, secrets, and glimpses behind the scenes at their creation.
- Genre(s)
- Fighting
