Mortal Kombat 1 announced for September release with first trailer
A console beta for the series reboot will be available in August
Warner Bros. Games has announced Mortal Kombat 1.
Following plenty of teasing and several leaks in recent weeks, the next entry in the long-running fighting game series was officially revealed on Thursday.
The debut trailer for the game, which is viewable below, confirms that it will be released on September 19, 2023.
The NetherRealm developed title will be available for PS5, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch, and PC via Steam and Epic Games Store.
Warner said 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”.
Its Story Mode promises “an immersive cinematic narrative featuring unexpected twists on classic rivalries and original backstories for a wide-ranging cast of legendary fighters, including Liu Kang, Scorpion, Sub-Zero, Raiden, Kung Lao, Kitana, Mileena, Shang Tsung, Johnny Cage, and many others”.
Mortal Kombat 1 will also introduce Kameo Fighters, “a unique roster of partner characters that can assist during matches, creating expanded gameplay possibilities for players”.
Pre-orders for the game will open on May 19 and three editions will be available:
- Mortal Kombat 1 Standard Edition ($69.99 SRP) 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 ($109.99 SRP) 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 ($249.99 SRP) 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 grant players Shang Tsung as an in-game playable character, and players who pre-order for PS5 or Xbox Series X/S will receive access to a Mortal Kombat 1 beta in August.
Players who buy the Premium Edition or Kollector’s Edition will get early access to the game beginning on September 14.
Further reading
In an FAQ, Warner said it plans to add cross-play and cross-progression support post-launch, and that the game will have rollback netcode to support online play.
The Mortal Kombat series launched in 1992 and has sold 80 million games, including over 12 million copies of the latest mainline release, 2019’s Mortal Kombat 11, according to Warner.
