2022 will mark thirty years since the release of the original Mortal Kombat -- and the retro-meisters of Arcade1Up are celebrating the milestone with an anniversary edition cabinet that packs in a whole lot of games with live online kombat functionality! Read on for details:

The Midway Legacy Mortal Kombat 30th Anniversary Cabinet includes a massive fourteen classic Midway Games arcade titles, including the all-important Mortal Kombat, Mortal Kombat II, Mortal Kombat 3, and Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3!

Two sticks mean you'll still be able to challenge your friends & family in close quarters kombat, but this time the fight is also going online so you can hog the machine all to yourself with Wifi Live Online Multiplayer and online leaderboards! If that's not exciting enough, watch the official CES 2022 announcement trailer:

The anniversary cabinet decal recreates the legendary look of the klassic Mortal Kombat design, albeit in its secondary form minus a flykicking Johnny Cage down the side [pictured below]. It also boasts a light-up marquee, molded coin door, and 10 additional Midway classics: Toobin, Rampage, Joust, Gauntlet, Wizard of Woz, Rootbeer Tapper, Defender, Bubbles, Paperboy, and Klax.

No price point is provided yet, but the 12-in1 Midway Legacy Edition cabinet would set you back $315.00. Will you be saving your quarters to check out this cabinet? Tell us in the comments and find & discuss more anniversary stories in the 2D Kombat Klassics forum!

Mortal Kombat 11 created some of the most impressive character graphics in series history, utilizing state of the art scanning technology to capture live-action likenesses as familiar as Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa and Peter Weller. The process recalls earlier digitization methods -- and apparently that fact hasn't escaped NetherRealm Studios! Read on for details:

MK11's customization options included character gear inspired by klassic games, and even a Klassic MK Movie Skin Pack featuring the voice and likenesses of Christophe Lambert, Linden Ashby, and Bridgette Wilson-Sampras. None of these have taken advantage of Mortal Kombat's history of using live-action actors, but according to tenured Creative Director Ed Boon - the idea has been discussed "numerous times".

We've actually discussed (numerous times) how kool it would be to have a skin pack of the arcade game actors. Similar to how we did the movie skin pack. Kerri hasn't aged a day and I'm still mad about that! :) https://t.co/XSrhnxk60a

— Ed Boon (@noobde) January 7, 2022

Boon revealed the tantalizing tidbit via Twitter when an eager fan proposed Midway Games legend Kerri Hoskins should return to the role of Sonya Blade [embedded above]. He didn't specify who would appear in an Arcade Klassic pack, but remarked that Hoskins hasn't aged a day, to his joking chagrin.

The model & artist erased any doubt about bringing klassic digitized actors back when she redonned her MK3 costume after 25 years to the delight of fans eager for personalized memorabilia.

[Related Article: Featurette Spotlights Mortal Kombat & Digitized Graphics]

The original Mortal Kombat will celebrate its 30th Anniversary later this year, fuelling rumors of a new game in production and mounting fan support for a HD rerelease or remake. Could one of these finally provide the platform for the return of iconic live-action arcade likenesses?

Share your thoughts about the idea and who you'd like to see an Arcade Klassic skin pack in the comments below. Celebrate the milestone and find more stories from the retro era in the 2D Kombat Klassics forum!

Mortal Kombat and its arcade sequels remain some of the most famous examples of live-action digitized graphics, and a new documentary featurette details the process that brought a touch of Hollywood cinema to video game development. Watch:

Most of the behind-the-scenes footage and information will be familiar to long time fans, but the Super Splash Wave episode succinctly recaps the major stylistic and technological developments that defined Mortal Kombat in its first three installments.

Posted to YouTube by strafefox, the documentary not only revisits the filming techniques and creative trials faced by Ed Boon and John Tobias, but also puts the development of the games in their greater context with other well known titles using digitzed graphics.

Fans today know AT&T as the corporate owner deciding Mortal Kombat's fate, but the documentary highlights their earliest influence on games, through the creation of Truevision Advanced Raster Graphics Adapter digitization boards, which were used in pioneering Williams and Midway games, such as NARC and Terminator 2.

Modified WTARG software programmed by Warren Davis supported economic development of the first Mortal Kombat, while studio upgrades and advances in software and boards supported significant graphical improvements in the later sequels. All of this and more are outlined in great detail in the full 28 minute video.

[Related Article: Artist Unearths Mortal Kombat Arcade Cabinet Concept Art]

In anticipation of this year's 30th Anniversary of the original Mortal Kombat; Ed Boon recently shared rare behind the scenes footage. Find more lost kontent and artifacts in the 2D Kombat Klassics forum!

PlayStation Now is starting the new year right with Mortal Kombat 11 continuing its campaign for total domination across all platforms! The top selling behemoth is available now for PlayStation consoles via the cloud-based subscription service. Read on for more details:

In addition to MK11, PlayStation Now holders can also download: Final Fantasy XII: The Zodiac Age, Fury Unleashed, Unturned, Super Time Force Ultra, and Kerbal Space Program: Enhanced Edition to PS5 & PS4. You will need to purchase additional DLC to access MK11 Aftermath and Ultimate content.

Xbox players enjoyed a similar service just last month, and Krossplay will allow you to challenge online opponents across consoles and platforms. Which also means you can Join the Klub to analyze and record your battles with Fight Klub! Find and discuss more from the game in the Mortal Kombat 11 forum!

So far there's been no official word, but more than 63% of MK Online users think it's going to happen -- and now the Director of MultiVersus is asking fans which two Mortal Kombat characters they'd pick for the Warner Bros brawler. Read on for details:

Player First Games co-founder and MultiVersus Director, Tony Huynh, took to Twitter to ask fans which two kombatants they'd like to see join the multi-brand brawler that will feature everyone from Shaggy to Batman.

Huynh stressed that the question is not a confirmation, "I’m definitely not saying it’s going to happen", but with speculation already rife, and Arya Stark of the adult Game of Thrones franchise already confirmed, expectations are inevitably beginning to form.

I’m definitely not saying it’s going to happen, but if you were going to pick 2 MK characters to join @multiversus which ones would you pick?

— Tony Huynh (@Tony_Huynh) December 30, 2021

MultiVersus is expected to leverage a wide variety of Warner Bros properties unrestrained from genre or era, already incorporating cartoon worlds from Looney Tunes, Steven Universe and Adventure Time, as well as DC Comics superheroes.

Mortal Kombat seems a natural fit, but the kid-friendly brawler will need to adapt its fighters for a less bloody and nuanced form of kombat, relying on team-up chemistry and unique powers to stand-out from the crowd. Scorpion and Sub-Zero are obvious prospects, but the lightning of Raiden, the four-arms of Goro, or the fans of Kitana might just work.

Who would you like to see crossover into the stylized world of MultiVersus? Vote in the MK Online User Poll and share your thoughts in the comments below! Speculate further about what's next for kombat in the Future MK Games forum!