Seasons greetings! Mortal Kombat Online is officially celebrating its 20th Anniversary and we're doing it with the unwrapping of gifts that will make MK Online a better, faster, stronger website for all!

Significant upgrades have occurred on the backend. New servers and hosting tools will ensure Mortal Kombat Online runs even faster and more securely, continuing to offer the same reliable service as the web's largest & longest running Mortal Kombat destination!

Some will know this fabled project by the codename "V8" -- and most will immediately recognize its radically different layout and aesthetic. When MK Online Users re-login (as required), they will find basic tools in the User Bar located at the very top of the page. These functions are accessible via intuitive icons & menus, including: User Settings, Friendships, and Site Themes.

Every registered user now has default access to 11 Site Themes, including updated versions of our previous layouts inspired by Sub-Zero, Scorpion, Jax, Kotal Kahn, Kenshi, Mileena, Reptile, and Kano. The relaunch also adds two new themes based on Dark Kitana and Dark Liu Kang. If you still haven't quite found your favourite - fret not! There are dozens more themes ready to be unlocked as you advance your User Ranking!

User Rankings have been revamped to include more ranks and more ways to level up. Everyone still begins as a Mortal, but will quickly take the first step on their journey by getting involved in forum discussions and profile updates. New criteria means long time users will find their rank has changed, but they'll also climb the ladder quickly as they add new activity to a wealth of existing stats!

Getting involved is easier than ever! You can now Like news, forum posts, and fan kreations with a simple click of the Toasty Thumbs Up icon! Commenting is also easier with a new reply editor packed full of basic tools. You can use quick access icons at the bottom of every comment to jump to a reply, or quote the relevant post.

Kreations are also easier to find and submit with an updated fan submission system. Top rated works will be featured in the Kreations section, Fan Kreations forum, and be curated in your User Profile. If you've got Mortal Kombat fan art, cosplay photos, written stories, or other -- we want to see it join our archive of thousands of artist's kreations!

User Profiles will offer more as you accumulate stats, kreations, friendships, activity, and other profile information, including a Display Name editable in your Settings. Friendship will make communicating on MK Online fast and simple as direct messages become real-time chat. Viewing MK Online on your phone will also now be a uniquely optimized experience, making it easier to browse and interact on-the-go.

I've been working on this for a long time. Some elements were drafted back when I became Webmaster some time ago, but some of the bigger ideas were conceived more recently as design & conception of this incarnation began. It's a pleasure to finally update and I hope everyone will find ways to enjoy and get the most out of the improved and new features that are available. This launch is the first stage in continued growth for the site and its features, with emphasis on on tools & systems to make it easier to run, and for people to use it.

These updates would not be possible without the collaboration, extensive hard graft, and tremendous work of Site Owner and Administrator CCShadow. He has stuck the course and given of himself to see this through. DArqueBishop has also undertaken significant sacrifice in his role as Sysadmin to facilitate much of the backend transfer. I must also give thanks and acknowledgement to Ninja_Mime, tabmok99 and Scott-Howell for their contributions to the process.

MK Online staff look forward to next attending Mortal Kombat 11: The Reveal on January 17th, 2019. The site has received invitations to both the Los Angeles and London unveilings and look forward to including that in continued coverage of Mortal Kombat 11! On behalf of everyone at MK Online, may we wish you a very happy holidays and hope to see you on the forums!

On December 15 at TrueNorth Cafe in Chicago, veteran MK actor Anthony Marquez and his band, Kung Lao & The Scorpions, performed a Christmas show! Mortal Kombat Online was there, not only providing coverage of the concert but also conducting an interview with Anthony as well as Phillip Ahn, best known for his role as Shang Tsung in Mortal Kombat II.

During the concert, the band performed a mix of Christmas songs such as "Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)," "Jingle Bell Rock", popular songs like "Hero" and "Rock & Roll All Nite," and of course his band's own original creation, "Believe." Check out the concert here:

Not to mention the interview, in which Anthony reveals the title of his book (Kung Fu Rock Star: The Story of Kung Lao):

[Related article: Kung Lao and the Scorpions - Music and Interview!]

What was your favorite song performed? What was the best piece of information revealed during the interview? Make sure to leave a comment on the classic discussion board, or even on of our social media accounts such as Twitter, Discord, or Facebook.

A listing on the Best Buy online store has given us the first indication Liu Kang and Sub-Zero may be returning in Mortal Kombat 11! The product listing has since removed any mention of specific characters, but the original info can be seen below:

Retail Retcon: Best Buy originally listed Liu Kang, Sub-Zero, and Raiden for MK11.

As two of the enduring icons of the series, it would come as no surprise that Liu Kang and Sub-Zero would join Raiden and Scorpion on the confirmed list.

Both characters in question featured prominently late in the Mortal Kombat X story mode, where Sub-Zero is Grandmaster of the Lin Kuei clan, and revenant Liu Kang and Kitana have assumed leadership in the Netherrealm. The officially dubbed "Dark Raiden" notably visited the latter pairing in an ominous epilogue, teasing plotlines expected to play out in some fashion through Mortal Kombat 11.

A "time bending story" also lends MK11 to the inclusion of these classic characters, but occasionally embellishments based on prior knowledge get the better of eager retailers. GameStop reportedly included mention of Shang Tsung in in-store pre-release advertisements for Mortal Kombat X.

Along with the removal of character names, the Best Buy listing has also excised anything that could be construed as a specific reference. Allusions to a "return to the Netherrealm", the stakes of a "fight for the future of the realms" and boast of a "state-of-the-art graphics engine" have all been removed from the new copy.

Original Copy:
Return to the Netherrealm and test your might once more in Mortal KOmbat 11 for PlayStation 4. It features a state-of-the-art graphics engine that showcases the heat of battle like never before. A packed roster of legends and contenders, including Liu Kang, Sub-Zero, and Raiden, go head to head in this fight for the future of the realms.

Updated Copy:
Test your might once more in Mortal Kombat 11 for PlayStation 4. A packed roster of legends and newcomers go head to head in the next chapter of this epic saga over 25 years in the making. And a new graphics engine showcases the heat of battle like never before!

Is it all much ado about nothing? Register to speculate about the fate of these characters and more on the Mortal Kombat 11 forum! Special thanks to MK Online User xysion for posting about this story.

Speedrunning streamer has just set a new world record for Mortal Kombat 3, defeating the Arcade board's Master tower in under five minutes! The new record now stands at 4 minutes 57.66 seconds and has just been verified by the moderation team over at Speedrun.com. The feat was captured live on stream - watch the archived video below:

To view the full speedrun, preserved on Twitch, you can view the embed above or click here.

The speedrun verification process requires the submitter to have completed his playthrough on a live stream, as well as submit a MAME ".inp" file replay. In addition, Outworld presents an input display alongside the actual playthrough, so that his exact button presses can be matched to the actions shown on screen.

Speedrunners of Mortal Kombat 3 utilize a number of techniques at their disposal. These include timing the speed of the punches so that the AI does not try to avoid them to fast-pressing the "insert coin" button once a round is over to rush on to the next match.

Outworld used top speedrunning choice Cyrax to set his record-breaking run, beating his own previous record while keeping NerdyNester at bay, with a 2nd place record of 5 minutes 15 seconds. Click the image below to enlarge the MK3 Arcade leaderboard at the time of posting, and be sure to check out Outworld's appearance on the MK Online Stream.

Is your mind blown by this lightning fast record? Register and give huzzah and kudos and issue your own challenge on the 2D Kombat Klassics forum! Connect with MK Online on Discord, Twitter, and Facebook as well!

Guest characters are a fact of modern fighting games, and we may have learned the first candidate for a Mortal Kombat 11 crossover slot. Spawn creator, publisher, and soon-to-be movie director, Todd McFarlane, has told a Reddit AMA he believes his creation is "on his way" to the 2019 release.

The cross-section of fans of Mortal Kombat and Spawn seems fairly significant if forums and social media requests are to be believed, but nobody has been as keen to see the comic book anti-hero join a NetherRealm Studios fighting game as McFarlane himself!

The "Toddfather" expressed early interest in seeing his creation join the roster of the first Injustice. In 2015 he revealed a limited deal with Warner Brothers allowing Spawn to appear in Mortal Kombat X and another game, at their discretion.

Hellboy and the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles were ultimately chosen to join Mortal Kombat's Sub-Zero and Raiden in Injustice 2, but when Creative Director Ed Boon held a fan poll asking who they most wanted to see - the answer was overwhelmingly Spawn!

[Related Article: Ed Boon Discusses Guest Fighters Past, Present, Future]

Think the comic book hellspawn is really on his way this time? Register to share your thoughts on the Mortal Kombat 11 forum.

We all remember it. A mob of children - incited to flood the streets of a major metropolitan district by a lone, screaming boy. Mortal Monday was upon us, bringing the original Mortal Kombat to home systems for the first time. What was really up with that kid? Cinemassacre ponders the topic in their latest video. Watch it below:

As many of us will attest: you cannot discuss MK in this world without somebody shouting it back at you. Usually directly into your eyeballs. Is this response a vestigial race-memory buried deep within all human epigenes -- or a matter of more recent nature over nurture, learned to us by mysterious Immortals? The real answer may be found echoing in volumes of seemingly disparate texts: 'This is the nineties.' If you aren't hypercolor and in somebody's face - you're on the train to Nowheresville, man.

Cinemassacre don't claim to have the answers, and neither do we, but James "AVGN" Rolfe presents some interesting (and funny) theories in the video.

[Related Article: Cinemassacre Reviews Mortal Kombat Annihilation]

We don't know who the "Mortal Kombat Kid" is, ("Morty Monday" is one possible alias we've just made up), but if you're out there and you see this - we'd like to hear from you!

Are you Morty Monday, Morten Harket, or just one of the kids running wildly through the streets? Do you know who is? Register to share your story on the 2D Kombat Klassics forum - or send us a newslead. You can also connect with MK Online on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and Discord! MORTAL KOMBAT!!!

Fans have been waiting for a theatrical return for Mortal Kombat pretty much since Annihilation disappointed 21 years ago. Producer James Wan brought new hope when he joined the project in 2015, but there've been few significant updates since 2016 reports a director was attached.

Fans may've been hoping the announcement of a Mortal Kombat 11 video game sequel might move things along, but it seems unlikely. The Aquaman director commented on the status of the MK movie during a junket for Warner Brother's latest superhero blockbuster, telling Heroic Hollywood that budget, and a drive to "do the film right", will take time.

“That has been such a tricky one just trying to get the script to a point. People don’t know this, fans don’t understand this, but there’s just so much on the business side of things… to try and get the right budget for it, and we want to make sure we have enough resources and the budget to do the film right. If I can’t get the right resources and find the right filmmaker for it, I don’t want to do it, and I’m so busy already. I don’t need to clutter my plate with more stuff if I don’t believe it can be done right.”

The latest comment echoes sentiments Wan has already expressed, emphasizing a goal to "do it right". This was also the spirit when he and Game Director Ed Boon aggressively shot down rumors earlier this year.

Writer Greg Russo verified the veracity of some details, contextualizing the controversial report of characters and plot as based loosely on earlier stages of the creative process. Rewrites are a common part of the development process.

[Related Article: Vault: Paul Anderson on Mortal Kombat and Film Adaptation]

The measured response may spell further delays for fans eager to see Mortal Kombat back on the big screen, but the wait could also spell a better film. James Wan's Aquaman has already earned a record $95 million box office in China, and is on track to take the director to the biggest success of his career as a director.

What do you hope to see from a new movie? Register to follow & discuss the future of the movie franchise on the Media & Merchandise forum.

Cinemassacre, the fine folks behind the popular Angry Video Game Nerd webseries, recently took a nostalgic look back at the sequel that was Mortal Kombat: Annihilation. The video is part of the Rental Reviews series and can be watched right below. Check it out:

The 1997 sequel gained early infamy for its liberal use of crude digital effects, its haphazard adaptation of game plotlines, and dialogue that's memorable for all the wrong reasons.

Cinemassacre's Rental Review shares stories of disappointment that many fans will relate to from their own experience, skewering several of these specific flaws with gleeful detail.

As much as Annihilation wasn't the sequel die hard fans may've hoped for -- it was still recognizably Mortal Kombat, and has a camp value that many are still finding a strange, delirious pleasure in. Check out the video to find the joy in the beautiful disaster, and spare them a few minor inaccuracies. They have since acknowledged the difference between Kitana and a "katana".

Be sure to also check out MK Online's interview recording with various players involved in both movies, including producer Larry Kassanoff, Keith Cooke (Sub-Zero), and the immortal star of both movies - Robin Shou!

Register to share your own memories of Annihilation on the Media & Merchandise forum! It's soooo easy! Also find MK Online on YouTube, Twitch, Twitter, Facebook and Discord!

GameStop Italy has released the first render image of Shao Kahn - the playable pre-order incentive for Mortal Kombat 11! He's got a whole different set of gear, which you can scrutinize in detail below:

As announced in the first official trailer: Shao Kahn will make a playable comeback in a similar role to Mortal Kombat X's earlybird bonus release of Goro.

Shao Kahn was featured meeting his apparent end in the rebooted Mortal Kombat (2011) story mode, where MKII and MK3 were retold in a new timeline. Seemingly destroyed on the brink of conquering Earthrealm; Kahn's absence set into motion an Outworld civil war that brought Mileena and Kotal Kahn to power in the intervening years.

Kahn's legacy saw his armor kept as a trophy in Quan Chi's Fortress, while his iconic hammer featured prominently in Mortal Kombat X comic books. MKX Mobile also featured a Shao Kahn collectible event telling a possible version of his return.

As one of the series' most enduring bosses, he has made rare playable appearances, always finding a way back from his apparent demise. It remains to be seen if his return will borrow from MKX Mobile, or play into the time bending story of Mortal Kombat 11. Goro was disappointingly absent from the last game's plot.

Emperor's Old Clothes: Shao Kahn's armor hanging in Quan Chi's fortress in MKX.

How will Shao Kahn make his return and have you pre-ordered? Mortal Kombat 11 is coming to PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and PC in April! Register to share all your thoughts on the Mortal Kombat 11 forum! Special thanks to MK Online User for submitting a newslead!

Mortal Kombat 11 won't be supported by a new series of comics, says Shawn Kittelsen. The Mortal Kombat X maxi-series writer put the kibosh on expectations for a sequel, ruling out any new series, while answering a fan's question on Twitter. See the tweet embedded below:

Sadly no, but the comics still matter. They won’t be forgotten!

— Shawn Kittelsen (@kittelsen) December 8, 2018

Mortal Kombat X continued a comic book model started with DC's Injustice tie-in, lasting twelve issues in print, with strong presence in digital distribution.

The ensemble series fleshed out a five year gap between Mortal Kombat (2011) and the Mortal Kombat X video game sequel, introducing several of the new characters with a stronger focus on characterization. Kotal Kahn's history and noble interests were a feature, with Erron Black and D'Vorah garnering early cult attention.

Focusing on the Special Forces heroes and rise of Outworld's Emperor Kotal Kahn; MKX issues were both lauded and criticized for the handling of fighters not featured in the game. Most characters who didn't make playable appearances joined the list of MKX casualties. Inconsistent details between the comics and game, though largely avoided, proved unpopular with die hard fans seeking an expansion of canon.

Mortal Kombat has a long and tenured history with comic books designed to expand the plot of the games. The Mortal Kombat X series ended with a cliffhanger teasing the restoration of Goro's arms -- lost during the series in a fight with Kotal Kahn, but mysteriously restored for game inclusion -- and his involvement with Daegon and The Dragon King. It is unknown if this will play out in the new game, but Kittelsen assures, "... the comics still matter. They won’t be forgotten!"

Hope to see more MK comics and plotlines in the future? Register to discuss MK adaptations in the Media & Merchandise forum and follow news on the Mortal Kombat 11 forum!

The pulse pounding announce trailer revealed many things we can expect from Mortal Kombat 11 - including a new character, new console support, a pre-order bonus fighter and more! The official press release puts it all into context, confirming a "time bending" story and customizable variations. You can read it below:

Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment today announced Mortal Kombat 11, the newest game in the award-winning franchise. The official Mortal Kombat 11 Announce Trailer sets the stage for an epic, time bending story and features an original music track created in collaboration with multi-platinum selling rapper 21 Savage. Mortal Kombat 11 is developed by award-winning NetherRealm Studios and is scheduled for release beginning April 23, 2019 for PlayStation®4 computer entertainment system, PlayStation®4 Pro computer entertainment system, the Xbox One family of devices including the Xbox One X, Nintendo Switch™ system and PC.

The song by 21 Savage featured in the trailer is titled “Immortal” and overlays scenes of an epic battle between two iconic characters, Dark Raiden and Scorpion, with a tease of a new character who is at the center of Mortal Kombat 11’s story.

Mortal Kombat 11 will make its first gameplay debut at Mortal Kombat 11: The Reveal, a highly experiential, community celebration of Mortal Kombat, taking place at 11 a.m. PST on Jan. 17, 2019 in Los Angeles and 7 p.m. UTC in London. Mortal Kombat 11: The Reveal will be livestreamed globally at www.twitch.tv/NetherRealm and will feature a keynote presented by NetherRealm Studios. The event will also include the first opportunity for hands-on with Mortal Kombat 11 gameplay, tournaments and other Mortal Kombat themed activities.

Mortal Kombat 11 deepens and personalizes the experience unlike ever before with an all new Custom Character Variation System that gives players the creative control of building customized versions of the character roster. In addition, the game will introduce a new cinematic story that continues the epic saga that is more than 25 years in the making.

“By giving players more creative control, Mortal Kombat 11 is a testament to why this iconic franchise is so strong and increasingly relevant after more than 25 years,” said David Haddad, President, Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment. “This game showcases NetherRealm Studios’ extensive talent to innovate and create epic experiences for the Mortal Kombat fans and new players alike.”

“It’s exciting to finally announce Mortal Kombat 11 and showcase what the team has been working on,” said Ed Boon, Creative Director, NetherRealm Studios. “Our Custom Character Variation System opens up an infinite amount of options for players to personalize their favorite fighters. We can’t wait until January when we’ll be showing more of the game.”

Available for pre-order beginning Dec. 7 is the Mortal Kombat 11 standard edition for $59.99 SRP.* The Mortal Kombat 11 Premium Edition is also available for pre-order at $99.99 which includes the base game and the Kombat Pack. All pre-orders will receive the in-game, playable character, ‘Shao Kahn’. Those who pre-order on PlayStation®4 and Xbox One, at select retailers, will also receive access to the beta, which will be available in March for those platforms.

Fans have a lot to look forward to, with expectations new customizable variations will personalize the MK11 experience with gear and play mods. The mysterious new character and circumstances of a time bending plot lead speculation, with the expectation of more returning klassic kombatants stoking long time fans.

Get better acquainted with Raiden and Scorpion by checking out the first official gameplay screenshots. Register to share your thoughts and speculation on the Mortal Kombat 11 forum!

If the announce trailer for Mortal Kombat 11 is still smacking you silly with its intense new visions of Raiden and Scorpion, you can now slow things down and get a closer look thanks to the first official screenshots! Click the thumbnails to enlarge:

The images were released via the Steam Store where eager players can already pre-order Mortal Kombat 11 for the PC! Pre-ordering gets you early access to Beta play and downloadable bonus character Shao Kahn!

New designs feel consistent with Mortal Kombat X and the modern iconography for Raiden and Scorpion, but also suggest armored pieces that may play a part in the new Character Variation Custiomization system.

The images also offer the first close look at backgrounds, with high gloss graphics showing what seems to be a Special Forces military base, and dilapidated courtyard reminiscent of the original arena from Shang Tsung's Island! We can only speculate what horrific atrocities these solemn locations will have witnessed!

Answers will come as we countdown to a January game reveal ahead of the April 23rd release! Register to share your reactions and join the speculation on the new Mortal Kombat 11 forum!

Mortal Kombat 11 is officially coming to all the major platforms in April 2019! A surprise trailer was unveiled by Ed Boon while presenting Best Sports Racing Game at The Game Awards. Relive every brutal blow below and read on for more:

This time Raiden and Scorpion have the honor of introducing the new game. Just when it looks like Scorpion has met his match, the Thunder God is attacked by a klassic ninja spectre right out of MK3 and MK4!

Mortal Kombat 11 will boast an all-new Customizable Character Variation system, which may mean fans can not only tailor their own play style - but also their fighter's look! It's a similar basic concept to the Gear System introduced with Injustice 2, but we'll have to stay tuned to see exactly how it operates.

Raiden appears to fight with the corruption he received from cleansing Earthrealm's Jinsei spirit at the end of Mortal Kombat X, but it doesn't look like he'll be the only power threatening stability between worlds! A sinister new figure lingers mysteriously by a mesh hourglass-like object. Their identity is unknown, but the yellow motif and hexagonal structures remind us of D'Vorah and her MKX ending's infestation of Shinnok. Is this fighter known to us - or something completely new? Update: A press release confirms this is a "new character who is at the center" of the "time bending" story.

Pre-ordering will also get a returning playable Shao Kahn and Beta Access before the April 23rd global release! The PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch & PC game will be revealed in a special community event January 17th.

Register to immortalize your reactions and join the speculation on our new Mortal Kombat 11 forum!