Series co-creator Ed Boon has been honored for his historic pop culture and video game achievements at the DICE Awards, but it's the Hall of Famer's future work that has everybody talking after an interview with the NetherRealm Studios Chief Creative Officer. Read on for details:
Gameinformerconducted an interview prior to the induction in Las Vegas, revisiting Boon's storied career from programming pinball machines, to adapting the franchise he helped create to various blockbuster multimedia formats.
When asked what NetherRealm Studios is brewing next: Boon acknowledged a change of pace for the developer, who for the last decade has alternated between Mortal Kombat and Injustice games, but will eschew a third DC fighter in favour of something that will 'make a lot of sense'. Read the full response below:
I can say that for 10 years, we were releasing Mortal Kombat and Injustice, Mortal Kombat and Injustice. When we broke that pattern, there was a lot of speculation of what we would be doing next. I can tell you there was a reason for it, and when we announce our next game, it’ll make a lot more sense. At this point, I’ll get in a lot of trouble if I say anything more.
NetherRealm announced a conclusion to MK11 post-release downloadable content last July, having released their next generation console focused capper: Mortal Kombat 11 Ultimate. The title has ranked among the best selling sequels in the thirty-year history of the series.
That may be one reason for prioritizing a prospective Mortal Kombat sequel, but it would also "make a lot more sense" if it turns out the publisher is aiming to celebrate the upcoming 30th Anniversary of the first Mortal Kombat with a brand new entry.
Characters from the respective games have made crossover appearances as downloadable content, with The Joker representing DC fighters in Mortal Kombat 11, and Sub-Zero and Raiden finding their way into Injustice 2.
An Injustice sequel seems to definitively be off the table. What do you think the next project will be? What do you hope to see? Tell us in the comments below and go deeper into speculation in the Future MK forum!
Capcom has announced the impending arrival of Street Fighter 6 with a teaser trailer that quietly spotlights two main characters. One is an enduring icon and stalwart of the series, while the other represents a fighting game "first" that could prove to be a minor industry gamechanger. Lets take a look at what it could mean for Mortal Kombat:
Luke Sullivan is a former soldier turned MMA fighter who seems poised to be Street Fighter's newest protagonist, but Street Fighter 6 won't be his actual debut. That came four months ago, when Street Fighter V concluded its lengthy Champion Edition downloadable content cycle with the introduction of the final new fighter.
NetherRealm Studios has been at the forefront of providing additional downloadable characters to their fighting games ever since the first Season Pass was announced for the 2011 Mortal Kombat reboot.
From that modest four character expansion has grown a boutique industry, blossoming most recently into Mortal Kombat 11's thirteen DLC characters across four release waves, including pre-order incentive, and Ultimate next gen release. Despite an earlier than expected end - it remains the biggest offering from the developer to date.
Key to Mortal Kombat's success has been striking the right balance between a satisfying base game, and post-release content that feels substantial enough to meet varying degrees of fan interest, without appearing cravenly exploitative.
Franchise crossover characters have consistently rated among the highest sellers, seeing pop culture icons as unlikely as John Rambo and Leatherface find their way into the MK arena. Even NetherRealm's DC Comics inspired fighting series Injustice has found ways to incorporate guests from unrelated properties -- an increasingly popular business formula that leverages the novelty and built-in interest of existing brands.
Although Street Fighter has long been recruiting from in-universe sister franchises like Final Fight and Rival Schools, the series is yet to muddy the waters with outright guests away from its popular pioneering Versus titles. Instead, DLC seasons have strengthened the home brand by answering fan demand for popular characters, and experimenting with new creations.
On the face of things Luke seems like any ordinary new Street Fighter character, but the final SFV DLC announcement came with the added promise of a much-hyped future. Director Takayuki Nakayama remarked during the Capcom Summer Update reveal: "... he will be expanding the world of SF. Street Fighter 5 has been developed to pay homage to the past, but Luke will give us a glimpse into the future."
Although not explicitly stated as such, Luke became a playable teaser for the future of the franchise, hyping up what we now know to be the upcoming sequel, while also extending the playable lifespan of the 2016 game with its fifth season of DLC. Commerce with a grand transitional design and creative purpose.
To this end, Luke exists somewhere between Mortal Kombat's historic attempts to introduce a new lead protagonist, such as Shujinko or Taven, and story-driven cliffhangers like Deadly Alliance's Dragon King references, or the MK4 expectant Shinnok epilogue in the 2011 reboot. The latter being something fans could chew on between games, while the former was rejected in its presumptive abruptness.
Alternatively, we might look at Mortal Kombat's most esoteric DLC inclusions, 2011 newcomer Skarlet and the MKX revamped Tremor, and wonder what might've been possible had their inclusion led to something of consequence in a sequel -- or even just a follow-up appearance.
What if Geras could've been a mysterious parting shot in MKX DLC, or Cassie Cage a lingering flash forward to ponder once MK2011 wrapped its Komplete Edition? Perhaps both would've been elevated by the years fans spent expecting them and their veiled purpose in the overarching plot of the games that ultimately introduced them. Perhaps Cassie's defeat of Shinnok would've gone down better with a game under her belt.
Luke was profiled with Street Fighter V's character-specific story modes, fleshing out his backstory as a childhood survivor of a mall bombing who joined the military to fight terrorism, and honor his father's sacrifice. His connections with the universe were established, but his future as an MMA fighter in SF6 remains open-ended. A similar, introductory focus could be applied in MK.
A second story mode offered with MK11 Aftermath was itself a gamechanger for addressing experienced in-fiction context of DLC characters who otherwise had none, but as we await the next big project from NetherRealm Studios with little to guide us, we can see how DLC might become a creative and promotional bridge between future games, enhancing both in the process.
The potential for DLC continues to push fighting game development towards a more fluid state, flowing from one sequel to the next. The potential for the technology to be more than a medium for straight forward digital manufacturing and sales remains an interesting one, with many untapped applications.
In the last decade the wait between sequels hasn't been insigifnicant, with NetherRealm dividing their efforts between two franchises. Committing to a major protagonist so far in advance could be seen as creatively restrictive, but the benefit of planting that flag, apart from putting something substantial in the hands of players, is sculpting the speculative fan narrative towards something deliberate, and productive.
Rumors persist that NetherRealm's next project will be a Mortal Kombat sequel, which would be the exact conditions where one last MK11 character could be inserted with similar intent to the Capcom development.
Award winning story modes and successful DLC of recent Mortal Kombat games appeared to have some influence on the development of Street Fighter V. If the inclusion of Luke in Street Fighter 6 proves successful, particularly as a creative venture, then maybe MK will have something in turn to learn from its old arcade rival, as well.
What do you think about Luke and the concept of DLC characters promoting a future sequel? Would you like to see more DLC and new characters in the next Mortal Kombat? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below, and find & discuss more speculation in the Future MK forum!
NetherRealm Studios are hard at work on their next big video game and an office photo shared by one of the developers has sparked widespread speculation that a rumored Mortal Kombat sequel could be on the horizon. Read on for more about the supposed leak:
Although ripe for speculation, it is the computer monitor partially visible on the right that has sparked most interest. Closer inspection appears to reveal the remnants of a remote design meeting, with references to "MK12" and related topics visible in filenames. Take a closer look below:
The image, reportedly deleted from Twitter around ten minutes later, also appears to include a portion of an internal e-mail noting the sensitivity of video material attached, which should not be shared for public consumption. Visible partial file names include: "Kameo_Ver...", "K1 Talismans v2.docx", "MK12 Mast...", "AllyDev Intentions...", "K1 Plannin...", "dinosaur...", "K1 Reptile...".
The obvious irony of the situation has led many to speculate that the alleged leak may actually be staged, or part of an elaborate practical joke. In December, Andersen's social media activity inadvertently led to fans expecting an announcement during The Game Awards. There was no NetherRealm presence at the show.
Rumors of a twelfth Mortal Kombat solidifed in August when Giant Bomb reported NetherRealm would forego an expected Injustice sequel in favor of more MK. Both "Injustice: Gods Will Fall" and "Mortal Kombat XII" appeared in a subsequent data breach of the GeForce Now service, along with a second MK listing. Content development for Mortal Kombat 11 officially ceased in July.
Sequel speculation has taken over fandom, but the inclusion of arcade era images in the photograph lingers as Mortal Kombat approaches its 30th anniversary, and nostalgic fans clamor for a modern release of retro klassics. Questions remain over the 2020 European ratings listing for "Mortal Kombat Kollection Online".
Answers will come in time, but for now fans can only imagine what might be next. Share your speculation about the alleged "leak" in the comments below and craft your ultimate wishlist in the Future MK forum!
The Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences has officially announced its next Hall of Fame inductee will be Mortal Kombat co-creator Ed Boon. The honor is bestowed in recognition of "game creators who have been instrumental in the development of highly influential games and moving a particular genre forward" through innovation and creative excellence.
Boon will be just the 25th inductee into the AIAS Hall of Fame when the award is formally presented during next month's ceremony at the 25th Annual D.I.C.E. Awards, to be held in the Mandalay Bay Resort in Las Vegas, and streamed live by IGN. He joins other such honored luminaries as Shigeru Miyamoto, Sid Meier, John Carmack, and Hideo Kojima.
The AIAS honor acknowledges an extensive career in video games and entertainment, while also coming perfectly timed as the Mortal Kombat franchise counts down to its thirtieth anniversary. As if that wasn't enough to celebrate -- the February 24th awards presentation will also come just two days after Ed Boon's birthday! The Academy included a very nice tribute with their announcement:
The Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences (AIAS) is pleased to announce its 25th Hall of Fame recipient, Ed Boon, Chief Creative Officer of NetherRealm Studios and Mortal Kombat. Boon, co-creator of the storied Mortal Kombat and the Injustice franchises, will be honored at the 25th Annual D.I.C.E. Awards ceremony at the Mandalay Bay Resort in Las Vegas and livestreamed by IGN. Matt Booty, head of Xbox Game Studios, will present the 2022 Hall of Fame award to Boon.
"We are thrilled to have Ed be inducted into our Hall of Fame," says Meggan Scavio, president of the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences. "From his early work on pinball machines to his monumental achievements co-creating the Mortal Kombat franchise, Ed's dedication and perseverance to the craft and art of games has left an incredible legacy for fans and game developers alike."
“I met Ed on my very first day in the game industry at Midway and had the good fortune to watch him lead the creation of Mortal Kombat and work with so many talented people to grow it into an iconic, worldwide franchise. Ed epitomizes the best of what a game designer can be: big ideas, a great sense of humor, clear focus, and the ability to bring people together as a team. He has created not only a string of hit games but has also supported countless people on their own paths in the game industry,” says Matt Booty, head of Xbox Game Studios.
After graduating from the University of Illinois, Ed Boon started his career at Williams Electronics programming pinball machines. He eventually moved over to the video game division where he worked on his first title, High Impact Football, and its sequel Super High Impact. In 1991, he began work on Mortal Kombat, which became a smash hit in arcades and grew into a global phenomenon selling more than 75 million units to date, as well as spawning three theatrical films, animated movies, multiple television series, and comic books. Today, Mortal Kombat continues to grow in popularity with each new release. In addition, Boon and NetherRealm Studios created the best-selling and critically acclaimed Injustice video games, which have also branched out into chart-topping comics, an animated feature film and mobile games.
The AIAS Hall of Fame honor is bestowed on game creators who have been instrumental in the development of highly influential games and moving a particular genre forward. These individuals demonstrate the highest level of creativity and innovation, resulting in significant product influence on a scale that expands the scope of the industry. Past AIAS Hall of Fame recipients include Connie Booth (2020), Bonnie Ross (2019), Todd Howard (2017), Hideo Kojima (2016), Leslie Benzies (2014), Dan and Sam Houser (2014), and Tim Sweeney (2012).
Please join Mortal Kombat Online in extending our heartiest congratulations to the legendary developer, and sincerest thanks for all the incredible contributions made to the entertainment industry.
Last year's Mortal Kombat feature film continues to be a high benchmark for HBO Max viewership, so it comes as little surprise that a sequel is officially in development. The as yet untitled "Mortal Kombat 2" will welcome a new writer who is also a recent addition to the Marvel Studios stable. Read on for full details:
Deadline Hollywood reports that Jeremy Slater will follow his recent high profile work for Disney+ series Moon Knight with another "MK" franchise entry -- the Mortal Kombat sequel. He remarked to Twitter: "Beyond excited to be joining this team! We’re building something bigger and better and bloodier that’s going to blow people’s minds."
Slater is reportedly also working with Mortal Kombat producer James Wan's Atomic Monster Productions on another film, Thread, and the Wan produced adaptation of Stephen King novel Tommyknockers. Other writing credits include 2015 Marvel franchise reboot Fantastic Four, 2017 live-action American remake of manga Death Note, and the recent Netflix comic based series The Umbrella Academy.
The first installment in the prospective film franchise loosely adapted plotlines from the video game series, establishing its action before the Mortal Kombat tournament, and introducing original lead character Cole Young. Discussions of a sequel began immediately, with director Simon McQuoidcommenting on various elements, including an interest to see more of the female characters.
MK co-creator and NetherRealm Studios Creative Director Ed Boonrecently endorsed Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson as MKII final boss Shao Kahn, responding to the superstar actor's comments about an upcoming video game movie. It seems unlikely Johnson was referring to the Outworld Emperor - whose existence was ambiguously reference in the 2021 film - describing bringing a game to the big screen in an interview with Men's Journal:
I can’t tell you which game in particular we’re doing, but there will be an announcement this year. We’re going to bring one of the biggest, most badass games to the screen—one that I’ve played for years. I’m really excited to bring it to fans around the world. Of course we’re going to do right by our gamer friends—but really we’re just going to make a great movie.
What do you hope to see from a Mortal Kombat movie sequel? Share your thoughts and speculation in the comments below, and find & discuss more related news in the Media & Merchandise forum!
