A reveal trailer forMortal Kombat 1arrived following a string of cryptic posts on Twitter, preceding an announcement that gameplay footage would be making an appearance at the Summer Game Fest. The internet is abuzz with excitement surrounding what has been shown off, withMortal Kombat 1representing a fresh new turn for the storied and historic franchise, so needless to say, its gameplay reveal has to be truly special.
Fans’first hint that a newMortal Kombatgame was inboundcame from an unceremonious bullet point in a Warner Brothers earnings call. Following the investor-focused event, there was some developer chatter and ambiguous comments from insiders on the forthcoming game that teased its then-upcoming reveal. Still, it was not until May 18 that NetherRealm unleashed its release date announcement trailer forMortal Kombat 1, preempted by a video of an analog clock skipping from 11 straight to 1.
RELATED:Mortal Kombat 1 Reveals Pre-Order Bonuses
Mortal Kombat 1 Aims To Shake Up The Series' Status Quo
The premise ofMortal Kombat 1is intriguing and follows the story eventsofMortal Kombat 11’s Aftermath expansion’s good ending, where Liu Kang ascends to godhood to reshape the timeline as he sees fit. The result of Liu Kang’s vision is aMortal Kombatuniverse pared down to its roots, with pivotal characters from the franchise brought to their more formative years. Young adult versions of Shang Tsung, Subzero, Scorpion, and more were all teased with the trailer, which culminated in a launch date reveal of September 19. Fans can expect some or all of these fighters to be featured in the gameplay footage, and possibly Johnny Cage, who was confirmed via the game’s website.
With dozens of questions unanswered and a release date looming,the news reveals forMortal Kombat 1should ramp up to a fever pitch between the announcement trailer and September. As NetherRealm decides the optimal strategy for peeling back the curtain on its new game, the June 6 date for Summer Game Fest seems perfectly-timed for its gameplay reveal. The tactic to announceMortal Kombat 1within the same year as its release is a breath of fresh air compared to the more common years-long stringing of tidbits that proceed AAA titles, but it is not without its risks. 2023’s calendar year is stacked with hotly anticipated games, especially for fans of the fighting genre, and NetherRealm will have to contend with the likes ofStreet Fighter 6andTekken 8for gamers' time and money.
The Timing of Mortal Kombat 1’s Gameplay Reveal Matters
Theperfect opportunity for NetherRealm to show off more ofMortal Kombat 1may not have been the Summer Game Fest, but instead the PlayStation Showcase. Set to debut the footage within the same week asStreet Fighter 6’s launch,Mortal Kombat 1’s discourse will revolve around the comparison, and though that was always going to be inevitable, lettingStreet Fighter 6strike first, so to speak, puts NetherRealm on the back foot. The clock is ticking, and just four months from its announced release date, NetherRealm will have to keep the focus onMortal Kombat 1by stringing together these reveals up to September.
Between the continuation of theMortal Kombatstory, which seems to have veered in a far-flung direction, and the announcements of thenew Kameo Fighter system, the curiosity surroundingMortal Kombat 1is resounding, and the gameplay reveal at the Summer Game Fest will surely contain snippets for both. Fans can also expect to see a few of the new fatalties that wll be featured in the fighting game. The commitment to rollback netcode has the more hardcore audience’s interest piqued, and NetherRealm will surely want to capitalize on the attention it has drummed up with the May 18 trailer.
Mortal Kombat 1will release on September 19 for Nintendo Switch, PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S.
