Earlier today, Midway Games issued a press release and conducted a conference call regarding financial results for the closure of the first quarter of 2003. Earlier, we reported that our sources claimed that Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance had shipped two million copies. This was confirmed, as well as MK: Deadly Alliance topping as their best selling game nationwide for this particular quarter. From the press release:

During the first quarter of 2003, Midway released one new domestic home videogame, MLB SlugFest 20-04, on four platforms including Sony's PlayStation(R)2 computer entertainment system, Microsoft's Xbox(TM) video game system, the Nintendo GameCube(TM) and Game Boy(R) Advance. Midway also launched Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance in Europe on these four platforms, and this title was Midway's top-selling game during the quarter. Midway has shipped over two million units of Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance worldwide across all platforms since the game's debut in November 2002.

Also according to the release, the GBA exclusive- Mortal Kombat: Tournament Edition, has been set with a new release date of September 30th, 2003. It is interesting to note that Chairman , Neil Nicastro, made the following quote about the 2003 release schedule during the conference:

Our product release schedule for 2003 has been streamlined to include only those games that represent the best opportunity for success based on market research and the buying patterns of today's gamers. We're extremely excited about this product lineup and we look forward to presenting these games at this year's E3 event in Los Angeles.

Does this mean Mortal Kombat: Tournament Edition will debut at E3 2003? We'll let you draw your own conclusions.

To follow up on the earlier news story from PSM Magazine, PS2 IGN has confirmed that Midway Games is going ahead and adding online play into the next console-based Mortal Kombat game. From the article:

After speaking with our own Midway contacts late yesterday afternoon, IGN confirmed that online play isn't merely an idea, but a fact; and that it will definitely be incorporated into the next version of Kombat when it debuts near the end of 2004. Unfortunately the only other confirmation we could receive was that MK6 would appear on multiple platforms, and that it will be a good long while before any more information (or official press release for that matter) becomes available.

To read the article in its entirety, click here.

Our thanks to forum member buijon for the heads up on this story!

Our sources deep within Midway Games have informed us of a startling new revelation concerning the GBA-exclusive sequel to Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance! Since the last time we reported on Mortal Kombat: Deadly Revenge, the game has been given a new title to reflect its multiplayer and tournament and team-play features. The game's new title is Mortal Kombat: Tournament Edition.

We will have more information on Mortal Kombat: Tournament Edition in the weeks and months ahead.

Our thanks to our sources within Midway who were able to provide us with this scoop!

GamePro Magazine recently released the results of their Readers Choice Awards for 2002, and Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance was one of the big winners! From the press release:

OAKLAND, CA April 8, 2003 IDG Games Media Group, the world's largest interactive entertainment information provider and publisher of GamePro magazine, the world's largest independent multiplatform gaming magazine, today announced its 13th Annual Readers' Choice Awards Winners.

Thousands of GamePro's readers participated in the 2002 Readers' Choice Awards that ran in GamePro magazine and on GamePro.com. Winning games are announced in GamePro's May 2003 issue, on sale now on newsstands nationwide.

GamePro readers are the ultimate early adopters of video gaming products and collectively account for $1.9 billion in purchasing power on the gaming sector alone!(1) GamePro's audience of over 3 million readers (2) are the leading opinion-makers and spenders on many consumer products, including video gaming, personal electronics, music, fashion and much more, and greatly influence their peers' purchasing habits. As multiplatform enthusiasts, over 80 percent of the publication's readers own more than one gaming console (3).

Following are the winners by category for GamePro's 2002 Readers' Choice Awards:

...

Best Fighting Game: Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance (By Midway , PS2/GameCube/Xbox)

With MK:DA's sales now at around the two million units mark, and the acclaim the game has received from the gaming community and critics, it is clear that MK:DA has indeed brought about the rebirth of Mortal Kombat in a big way.

Mortal Kombat Deadly Alliance, released in November 2002, continues to be the best selling fighting game of the past year. Our sources tell us that sales are just shy of 2 million, and has already passed 1 million on the Playstation 2 alone. In fact, it's doing so well, Midway Games has put out another 15 second rendition of the MK:DA commercial onto television for another run. It quotes testimonials from a couple of different media outlets including Game Informer Magazine. Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance's success has already set the stage for a sequel exclusive to the Game Boy Advance and the upcoming Mortal Kombat 6 in 2004.

To download the newest commercial click here.