It has begun!
The wait for the latest installment to the Mortal Kombat franchise is finally over. After teasing a worldwide reveal, Ed Boon and NetherRealm Studios delivered on their Mortal Kombat 12 promise. However, it’s not quite Mortal Kombat 12, but instead Mortal Kombat 1, as many of the early leaks indicated.
What happened in the Mortal Kombat 1 trailer?
The two-minute and 36-second trailer for Mortal Kombat 1 launched as promised at 9 a.m. EST. It featured the Thunder God Raiden with a different look than in previous Mortal Kombat titles. Liu Kang narrates the trailer, urging that it’s “time to wake up to a new reality.”
Raiden emerges from a cabin into a quiet landscape crafted with peace and harmony in mind. Liu Kang says, “The choice is yours. Whether to live in quiet serenity or bloody strife.” Raiden walks over to Kung Lao with a different appearance than recent MK titles.
Sisters Kitana and Mileena appear in the trailer, followed by Scorpion and Sub-Zero. A massive portal opens in the distance before Liu Kang floats down and stands before Raiden and Kung Lao. The sorcerer Shang Tsung emerges from the portal before Raiden, Kung Lao, and Liu Kang.
Finally, the trailer cuts to brutal and gory attacks, including crushed heads, soul steals, and a new version of Liu Kang’s dragon attack. The game’s title Mortal Kombat 1, concludes the trailer with a September 19 release date. As per the game’s official website, here is a synopsis:
“Mortal Kombat 1 is the latest title in the acclaimed Mortal Kombat videogame franchise developed by award-winning NetherRealm Studios. The game will introduce a reborn Mortal Kombat Universe that has been created by the Fire God Liu Kang, featuring reimagined versions of iconic characters as they’ve never been seen before, along with a new fighting system, game modes, bone krushing finishing moves, and more.”
Which characters are in Mortal Kombat 1?
Given the Mortal Kombat 1 title, many OGs from the first two games have returned for the series reboot. While it’s likely that more characters will be announced in the lead-up to September 19, here is what we gathered from the trailer footage and official website.
- Raiden
- Kung Lao
- Liu Kang
- Kitana
- Mileena
- Scorpion
- Sub-Zero
- Johnny Cage (confirmed via Mortal Kombat FAQ)
- Shang Tsung (Preorder Bonus)
How much will the game cost, and what platforms will it be available on?
According to the Mortal Kombat 1 FAQ, the game will be available on PC via Steam and Epic Games Store, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, and Nintendo Switch.
Mortal Kombat 1 features three editions; Standard ($69.99), Premium ($109.99), and Kollectors ($249.99). Each edition includes bonuses, in-game currency, a Liu Kang statue, character skins, etc. Those who preorder the game will have a chance to play the Beta version in August 2023.
Mortal Kombat 1 launches on September 19, 2023.
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