We saw them return from the past to battle the present in the Old Skool vs New Skool trailer. Now you can take a closer look at official character art for Jax, Liu Kang and Revenant Kung Lao!

The youthful Jax has been plucked from an earlier point in the timestream and in subtle ways it shows. The basic anatomy and line-creased design of his cybernetic arms calls back to the simplicity of their first appearance in Mortal Kombat 3! His pictured attire also follows an aesthetic trend seen in other fighters, offering an understated civilian look to the character. The bearded Major wears his dogtags over a black tank top with sleeveless, brown leather jacket showing off his most iconic assets.

The time displaced Liu Kang retains an iconic red and black palette from his klassic Mortal Kombat II and 3 designs, wearing tied red headband and belt sash. Leather textures seem to be the trend of this game, with Kang adding a dark vest over a Bruce Lee-esque white tee. The leather extends to a laced and studded update to his wrist gauntlets.

All indications suggest Kung Lao will be plucked from the past alongside Liu Kang, but in the official character art released, we see the Revenant Kung Lao of the present. He was killed by Shao Kahn during the Mortal Kombat 2011 timeline reboot, and corrupted by Quan Chi. Mortal Kombat X endings suggested an outcome where Kung Lao was freed from the Netherrealm, but it seems that wasn't to be!

Trailers show Kung Lao tipping his razor hat in service of Liu and Kitana in the Netherrealm. His corrupt form retains the jagged saw-toothed edge on his hat, with ornate metallic accessories and red highlights updating the darker MKX design.

Official character art has shown us Revenant Jade and Kabal, as well as Special Forces soldiers Sonya Blade, Jacqui Briggs, Cassie Cage, and Johnny Cage. You can see more of Liu Kang and Kung Lao in Story Mode and Old Skool trailers.

The past will collide with the present when Kronika's plan is enatced on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and PC starting April 23rd! Character customization means showcased designs will be but some of the visual options available. Take a closer look and join the discussion on the Mortal Kombat 11 forum!

The Mortal Kombat 11 Closed Beta is now live and that can mean only one thing: You're next! The team at NetherRealm Studios are going live with a special Kombat Kast to play online with fans! Enter the digital colosseum and watch the bloodletting right here as it happens:

You'll have to get up at a reasonable time in the morning if you want to bag a developer! The so-called Kommunity Kast kicks off today at the earlier stream time of 11:00am CST! That's four hours earlier than you would've tuned in for yesterday's kast.

Which kombatant will lead you to victory? There are five to choose from! Taunt the competition while you watch and tell us how you fared on the Mortal Kombat 11 forum! FINISH THEM!

The Mortal Kombat 11 Closed Beta is almost upon us and the NetherRealm Studios Kombat Kast will be back just before the action gets under way! Could there be a preview? Watch the stream when it goes live right here:

Its been a whirlwind seven days since the last Kombat Kast stream unveiled Kotal Kahn & Jacqui Briggs! In the intervening days we got reveal trailers for Noob Saibot and "Old Skool" fighters Jax, Liu Kang & Kung Lao -- plus the first look at Krypt host and DLC fighter Shang Tsung!

What will the Kombat Kast spotlight next? Tune in to the live stream embedded above at the usual time of 3:00pm CET and share all your reactions on the Mortal Kombat 11 forum! Don't forget: That's also where you can find the International Beta Release Schedule!

The Mortal Kombat 11 Old Skool Trailer showed everything old is new again thanks to a time bending plotline. Now you can go back to 1992 with a range of Mortal Kombat Klassic apparel and merchandise announced by Numskull Designs and WB Games!

The official merchandise offers a range of tasteful product designs, including the iconic dragon logo on a snapback caps, keyring, and premium porcelain heat sensitive mug that will reveal the logo when hot liquids are added!

For the fan who wants to take their game to the next level: t-shirts are emblazened with the original 1992 Mortal Kombat character select, "electrifying" MKII arcade cabinet Raiden art, or exposed ribs and heart marinated in blood. Sizes range from XS to 2XL -- perfect for the petite or Shokan! Still not visceral enough? Numskull are also offering an MK "Character Select Candle" with "immersive scent of blood, sweat & tears"! Sounds toasty!

You can hit up the Mortal Kombat Klassic Merchandise Website to pre-order any and all of these collectible goodies! Prices range from $6.99US (£4.99) to $16.99US (£14.99), see details for shipping & handling!

Got yourself some gear? Tell us all about the sights and smells on the Media & Merchandise or 2D Kombat Klassics forums!

The Story Mode Trailer gave us a taste of original trilogy fighters meeting their aged selves. Now the Mortal Kombat 11 Old Skool trailer goes full tilt as klassic kombatants are officially revealed in battle with themselves! Watch:

Liu Kang, Kung Lao, Jax, and Kitana step out of the nineties and into the Mortal Kombat 11 spotlight! They're joining the fight for the future, but the greatest opponents they'll face in their future may just prove to be themselves!

Liu Kang is fly kicking his way through story mode and gameplay, with a revamped version of his klassic dragon fatality a stand-out. Kung Lao's bladed hat is as deadly as ever, slicing through the corrupt version of himself that dwells in the Netherrealm after the events of Mortal Kombat X. It's the first gameplay we've seen from Kung Lao, and a significant elaboration of the blink-and-you-missed it appearance of corrupt Liu kang in the first gameplay reveal trailer!

If the traditional heroes think that'll be enough to stop automaton emissary Geras -- they're clearly mistaken. Their exploits in story mode have shown us the full extent of Geras's ability to suffer a fatal wound, only to wind back the sands of time and learn from his demise! You can see more of Geras in his own spotlight reveal trailer!

Watch the swirling sands closely in the trailer and you'll spot a brief glimpse of klassic Kitana. The big reveal of this trailer, after an inadvertent reveal of his bio last week, is Jackson Briggs! Jax officially returns with klassic and kontemporary gameplay and story appearances. His younger self will apparently meet daughter Jacqui Briggs, and may even help her rebel against the steel will of the grizzled, bearded, and armor-plated present day Jax! We can see him unleashing an unrelenting chain of punches from the "gotcha" stance. Apparently he'll also be battling zombie Shaolin Monks in a scene that may remind you of a similar skeletal skirmish in the intro video from Mortal Kombat: Armageddon.

The trailer also shows us even Johnny Cage has his limits when it comes to meeting his own arrogant younger-self. Will you embrace MK's past or double down on the future? With mere days until the Closed Beta begins - join the discussion on the Mortal Kombat 11 forum!

As promised: C2E2 brought many wonders from the Mortal Kombat 11 panel presentation. Along with a Noob Saibot Reveal Trailer, we also learned the first post-release fighter coming to downloadable content: Shang Tsung! Take a closer look at the familiar likeness in official character art:

If the Sorcerer's face seems familiar - it's because that's the likeness of legendary actor Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa!

Celebrated for his performance as Shang Tsung in the 1995 Mortal Kombat movie -- Tagawa also reprised the role in 2013 for the second Mortal Kombat: Legacy webseries. He had expressed interest in returning to the character much sooner through the realm of video games. He will at last don the digital robes to tour The Krypt and be Mortal Kombat 11's first downloadable fighter as part of the six-character Kombat Pack!

Shang Tsung seemingly perished at the hands of Shao Kahn after featuring in the Mortal Kombat (2011) story mode. Mortal Kombat X whipped fans into a frenzy for his return, teasing his lingering spirit in the arcade ending for Ermac. Desire for a speculated return peaked with his victory in the fan-voted 2018 Supreme Champion character tournament in the lead-up to MK11.

Purchasing the Premium Edition will include a six-pack of downloadable characters coming to The Kombat Pack. Pre-orders will also recive day one access to bonus fighter Shao Kahn! Will you surrender your soul to get access to Shang Tsung? Tell us all about it on the Mortal Kombat 11 forum!

He was one of the most requested characters absent from the last game. Now Noob Saibot is making his hotly anticipated return in Mortal Kombat 11! Watch as he battles his brother Sub-Zero in the newest reveal trailer:

Noob Saibot was last seen serving the grand scehemes of Quan Chi and the Brotherhood of Shadow during Mortal Kombat (2011). Thrown into a soulnado by Nightwolf, he was seemingly torn asunder by its purity. and completely unseen during Mortal Kombat X! At long last the inky black warrior returns from the darkness with his shadow clone at his back, classic moves at the ready, and a sickle in his fist!

Noob Saibot was one of the most requested fighters missing from MKX, taking almost half of the votes when Ed Boon polled fans in 2016! That same desire saw Noob Saibot sweeping MK Online's 2016 Supreme Champion character tournament, where DLC hopes trumped the focus on MKXL!

Ask and ye shall receive! Take a closer look at Noob Saibot and his shadow clone in official high quality character art! Revel in the dark warrior's return by sharing your occult pleasure in the Mortal Kombat 11 forum!

The elusive wraith Noob Saibot makes a long awaited return in Mortal Kombat 11! The blackened Bi-Han and his shadow clone have an all-new design in high-quality character render art released for C2E2. Take a closer look:

When the former Sub-Zero was revenge killed by Scorpion, his tainted soul was cast into the Netherrealm and remade in pitch black. When he returns in Mortal Kombat 11, Bi-Han will be back in black, shown in art with an updated hood design, heavier spiked armor, and a spiney new mask fit for a warrior reborn in the Netherrealm!

Noob's shadow clone bares a much simpler, slicker design, with mask and head details reminiscent of classic appearances like MK4, and light body-hugging armor. With MK11's customization options, it will be interesting to see how extensively Noob can be tailored to personal tastes. Share your custom design hopes with us on the Mortal Kombat 11 forum!

The Mortal Kombat 11 Closed Beta will begin in less than a week! Players who've secured pre-order access for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One will be eager to know what awaits them beginng March 27th. The latest MK11 trailer is filling everybody in! Watch:

Baraka, Skarlet, and Scorpion return from the recent Online Stress test, with Jade and Kabal joining in on the playable Closed Beta action! Fans can also expect to access the Klassic Tower featured briefly on the final day of the previous Stress Test!

Check the official international schedule for the earliest times you'll be able to redeem pre-order access starting March 27th! Then tell us all about your experience on the Mortal Kombat 11 forum!

Yesterday's update to the official website revealed character bios for sixteen fighters, but one of the brief summaries on the German language version doesn't quite match the original. The entry that should be for Jacqui Briggs appears to describe the return of her father: Jackson Briggs!

A rough translation of the German text [pictured above] describes 'Special Forces Cyber-Officer' Jax Briggs, who lost both arms in the line of duty, but returned to the battlefield thanks to cybernetic implants. He continues his honorable fight to protect the Earthrealm.

It's a far cry from the intended bio for Jacqui Briggs, which also contains reference to Jax's sacrifice, but otherwise focuses on her drive to carry on her father's legacy. A legacy that will apparently continue in Mortal Kombat 11, despite some concern the iconic metal-armed super-soldier would miss out.

Doubt surrounding the return of Jax may have stemmed from two interrelated Mortal Kombat X arcade endings: Jax's partner Sonya Blade dreamt of his murder in her ending sequence, only to awaken to news of his actual death. The "assassin's bullet" described in Sonya's ending seemingly describes the Jax outcome, where he's killed defending young Special Forces agents from Erron Black. They paint a common image, but as long time fans know, arcade endings are full of hypotheticals that will never come to pass.

Curiously enough, a Mortal Kombat X trailer for The Briggs Family came very late, confirming Jax just weeks before the release of the game! Another MK11 fighter will be revealed Friday at C2E2. Could Jax be next? Join the discussion on the Mortal Kombat 11 forum! Special thanks to MK Online user Xysion for calling attention to this on the forum!

Mortal Kombat 11 is set to be a feature at this weekend's C2E2 (Chicago Comic & Entertainment Expo) with major announcements slated from the Friday panel! Ed Boon and the NetherRealm Studios development team will be going inside the game, with new information and trailers!

Along with a feature presentation of The Making of Mortal Kombat 11 moderated by The Reveal's Joshua Gray; Ed Boon has revealed there will be: a new fighter & gameplay reveal trailer, an announcement for the first confirmed DLC character, behind the scenes, story mode videos, and more!

If you're in the Chicago area on Friday you'll want to swing by McCormick Place, Vista Ballroom S406 for a 12:45pm start. Can't make it that day? There are plenty of Klassic Kombat events throughout the weekend featuring the stars of the original arcade trilogy. Who's next? Join the discussion to share your speculation about the next reveals on the Mortal Kombat 11 forum!

The tradition of character bios has been upheld for Mortal Kombat 11 with an update to the official website revealing more about our favourite fighters! Sixteen of an available twenty-nine total characters have been filled in, including pre-order exclusive Shao Kahn. Read on:

Some fans noticed the page go live earlier in the week, before it was removed for a timed reveal. Some of the locked slots on the character menu are noticeably faded, fuelling speculation over secret or downloadable characters. Most entries are packaged with trailer highlights and render artwork already released for each character. D'Vorah is most noteworthy for substituting video for a partial alternate character render more reminiscent of her Mortal Kombat X appearance. Each fighter is summed up with a single word (included in parenthesis below), in some cases casting their role in a different light.

Jade (Loyalty)
Stealth assassin and Imperial Bodyguard. Jade's family traded her to Shao Kahn as a child. Though he was the only "parent" and master she ever knew, Jade refused his orders to kill her closest friend, Kitana. The Emperor turned against Jade. Now she vows to end his reign.

Erron Black (Thrills)
The best shot in Texas left home to seek adventure and excitement in Outworld with Kano and the Black Dragon. Outworld turned out to be the playground of Erron's ultraviolent dreams. He decided to make his home there as the deadliest outlander in Outworld.

Kabal (Avarice)
Fleet-footed Black Dragon enforcer. Kabal's sprinting speed is only outpaced by his greed. He was a rookie cop until Kano tempted him to sell out his police department for cash money and a spot in the Black Dragon. Kabal has run down anyone who's crossed Kano ever since.

Sub-Zero (Redemption)
Grandmaster of the Lin Kuei clan. Kuai Liang beat death to redeem his clan for the evil committed by Sektor and the Cyber Lin Kuei. He rebuilt the Lin Kuei and brokered peace with their Shirai Ryu rivals. Now, he hopes to finally close the book on sins of Lin Kuei past.

Scorpion (Vengeance)
Grandmaster Scorpion of the Shirai Ryu. Driven by rage, Hanzo Hasashi went through Hell and back to avenge his family and clan, never resting until he cut down their murderer, Quan Chi. Now he leads a reborn Shirai Ryu, avenging those who cannot avenge themselves.

Baraka (Preservation)
War Chief of the nomadic Tarkatan tribe, a carnivorous people considered subhuman by the Outworld Empire. Baraka dutifully serves Shao Kahn to preserve his tribe's way of life, who roam the harsh Wastelands, meat carts in tow, consuming everything and everyone in their path.

Raiden (Security)
Immortal God of Thunder, Protector of Earthrealm. Raiden has saved Earthrealm time and again by rallying the bravest and strongest warriors of the day to defend it. After centuries of kombat and bloodshed, he fears unintended consequences for humanity, and himself.

Shao Kahn (Dominance)
Emperor of Outworld. For millennia, Shao Kahn dominated the realms, rapidly expanding his Empire by conquest. But when he set out to claim Earthrealm, he was blocked by the rules of Mortal Kombat. Deterred but determined, Shao Kahn demands absolute victory.

D'Vorah (Survival)
One among many Kytinn, a swarm of sentient insects who share a hive mind. D'vorah has served Shao Kahn, Kotal Kahn, and Shinnok, but her true allegiance is to the swarm. She lies, cheats, and backstabs so that when everyone else has died, the Kytinn hive will survive.

Geras (Service)
An artificial construct, built by Kronika, he faithfully serves her goal of restarting time and rewriting history. By Kronika’s design, Geras exists as a fixed point in time. Every time Geras is killed he is reborn, each time becoming more resilient against the manner of his death.

Kano (Greed)
Arms dealer and leader of the Black Dragon. Kano prides himself as the ultimate deal- maker, with a black market network that spans the realms, but he is never satisfied. Even his loyal followers know he'd stab his mother in the back if the price was right.

Cassie Cage (Approval)
The offspring of Johnny Cage and Sonya Blade laid the smackdown on Shinnok a few years back, but even that wasn't enough to escape the shadow of her legendary parents. Whenever Cassie isn't defending Earthrealm, she's fighting to prove worthy of their legacy.

Skarlet (Acceptance)
Blood mage and Imperial Bodyguard. Skarlet was a starving wretch before Shao Kahn anointed her in blood. Reborn by his sorcery with an insatiable bloodlust and the power to feed it, her crimson cravings are rivaled by her desire for Shao Kahn's praise. She is his deadliest, most faithful creation.

Sonya Blade (Vigilance)
Decorated officer of the Special Forces. Sonya braved the Mortal Kombat tournament, defended Earthrealm, and rescued her partner, Jax Briggs. Serious to a fault, she never takes time for personal leave, preferring to remain vigilant until all realms are safe from conquest.

Johnny Cage (Vanity)
B-list celebrity, recipient of no acting awards. Following a string of lowbrow direct-to- VHS sequels to Ninja Mime , Johnny Cage's career peaked at the age of 28. Now, he fights against all odds to save Earthrealm and prove that he's an even braver hero in real life than on the silver screen.

Jacqui Briggs (Protection)
The daughter of Jax Briggs. Jacqui defied her father when she joined the Special Forces. Seeing what he sacrificed as a soldier didn't scare her. It stirred a desire to protect her family and her homeland. She hustles hard and punches above her weight, proudly carrying on the Briggs legacy.

Noteworthy details include: Jade's parents trading her to Shao Kahn, as a child. Geras shares similarity twith DC Comics Injustice character Doomsday, evolving resistance to methods of defeat. D'Vorah's inherent treachery lies exposed in her MK11 bio. Cassie Cage may have mellowed as she seeks approval. Skarlet isn't just new and improved in appearance - she is now a being endowed with blood magic by Shao Kahn, rather than created from it.

Still missing from the lineup is Kotal Kahn, who was revealed in a recent Story Mode Trailer, and just debuted character art and a gameplay trailer. Who's next? Follow bio updates on the official website and share your thoughts on the Mortal Kombat 11 forum!

He brought sweeping change to Outworld in Mortal Kombat X. Now the reigning Emperor Kotal Kahn is back to face dangers from the past in Mortal Kombat 11! The latest gameplay trailer pits him against a returning Jacqui Briggs! Watch:

Mortal Kombat X showed us Kotal Kahn's teal complexion is an artficial Osh-Tekk ceremonial tint, but he was keeping his animalistic side a secret in the last game! Both Kotal and Jacqui have received a gameplay revamp for MK11, with new tricks making them as dangerous as ever!

Jacqui utilizes tech upgrades to leap, knee, stomp and blast her way to victory. She can also project hard-light barriers to punish her opponents in kombat and an explosive new fatality! That's nothing compared to the improved arsenal of Kotal Kahn, who will still drink the blood of his enemies, scorch them with sunlight, and summon power-enhancing totems. His saw-toothed sword is inflicting gruesome damage as well, but its the fangs of a feline that reveal his most transformative new attack!

Update: Surprised to see Kotal Kahn suffer brutal defeat in his own reveal trailer? You aren't alone! Ed Boon described the outcome as "an error that slipped by" while responding to the observation on Twitter.

Mortal Kombat 11 is roughly a month away, releasing for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC, and Nintendo Switch starting April 23rd! Participating pre-orders will get you early access when the Closed Beta begins next week! Get all the important details and join the discussion on the Mortal Kombat 11 forum!

A stand-out introduction in Mortal Kombat X: Kotal Kahn has emerged as one of the most unique new fighters to join the series! The reigning Emperor of Outworld is back in Mortal Kombat 11, refining an iconic Mesoamerican design in the latest official character render. Take a closer look:

When the realm of the Osh-Tekk was merged with Outworld, young Kotal studied his conqueror, Shao Kahn, with admiration. Absconding to Earthrealm in secret, he was worshipped as the god Buluc by ancient South Americans, learning harsh lessons from history, before embarking on his own conquest upon Shao Kahn's death! Tinted teal and adorned in gold, the so-called sun god Kotal Kahn shines even brighter in Mortal Kombat 11!

Kotal's return was announced with the recent Story Mode Trailer, bringing him in league with Raiden against the temporally displaced forces of Kronika! He joins several returning MKX fighters, with render art also released for Jacqui Briggs, Erron Black, D'Vorah, and Cassie Cage! Join the discussion about all these characters in the Mortal Kombat 11 forum!

After a week off: the Kombat Kast developer stream returns with a twofer for characters going under the preview spotlight! Thanks to an explicit teaser we already know Kotal Kahn is one of the fighters being revealed. Be watching right here to find out who numero dos is:

Kombat Kast host Tyler Lansdown confirmed via Twitter that the stream will feature two character "reveals" - but one of them won't be D'Vorah. The last Kombat Kast also coincided with a double trailer spotlight for Cassie Cage and Kano. With the release of the Story Mode Trailer, there are several fighters waiting to be given a bigger spotlight. We've recently seen chaarcter art reveals for Jacqui Briggs and Erron Black -- could one of them be next?

Be right here at the regular time of 3:00pm CET to watch the live unveiling in the embedded video above! You can join the speculation and share all your live reactions on the Mortal Kombat 11 forum!

A successful online stress test has whetted the appetite of fans eagerly awaiting Mortal Kombat 11! Next comes the Pre-Order Closed Beta that will offer even greater access to those who've secured purchase of the final game. The official international schedule is now available to help you prepare to download as soon as it begins! Check it out:

Beta Access begins the morning of March 27th for the United States, which is afternoon for most of the rest of the world. Local calendars will have flipped over in the Oceanic region, where the action kicks off in the wee hours of next Thursday morning! Check local time zones where applicable.

The Online Stress Test put control of Baraka, Skarlet, and Scorpion in the hands of players. The Closed Pre-Order Beta will include even more fighters for you to test your might against your online friends and foes!

Physical pre-orders should be able to redeem their Beta Codes now, but you'll need to wait to download the Beta version once it goes live. Don't waste any time pre-ordering for PlayStation 4 or Xbox One to be part of the limited run! Make sure you check your retailer has Beta Codes on offer before purchasing. If you're purchasing digitally through PlayStation or Xbox online stores, you should be keyed in for download access once its available.

Already got your code ready to go? Be sure to tell us all about your experience on the Mortal Kombat 11 forum!

The Science of Mortal Kombat is testing the reality behind some of Mortal Kombat's most fantastic fatal finishers. The first episode examined the effects of Sub-Zero flash freezing a skull. Now its the strength of a cyromancer's axe that faces the test of Episode 3! Watch:

Nerdist's Because Science team are attacking the problem at its weakest point - namely the brittle nature of ice, and the relative tensile weakness impacting an axe handle. Can they wield Sub-Zero's axe long enough to deliver a finishing move?

If you like more fantasy in your fatalities you can check out the montage of mayhem in the MK11 Fatality Trailer, or go deeper into the realm of science with Episode 2: Skarlet's Blood Spikes. Share your hypothesis for these experiments and more on the Mortal Kombat 11 forum!

There won't be any Kombat Kast this week, but when the developer stream returns in seven days, we can expect a closer look at Kotal Kahn! How do we know? They teased the return with a veiled glimpse at one of Kotal's deadly new moves! Take a look:

No #KombatKast tomorrow, but he’ll see you next week! #MK11 pic.twitter.com/RZfkKBsVC9

— Mortal Kombat 11 (@MortalKombat) March 12, 2019

Kotal Kahn was one of the many returning characters featured in a recent Story Mode Trailer, seen forging an alliance with what appears to be a time displaced Raiden. The reigning Outworld Emperor claimed the throne in Mortal Kombat X, striving for a prosperous realm after overthrowing chaotic Empress Mileena.

With three very distinct variations and a unique fighting style based on totem powerups and deliberate pace, it will be very interesting to see how Kotal Kahn has been updated and will wield his powerful weapon in the new game! Watch the clip and join the discussion on the Mortal Kombat 11 forum!

Without quality gameplay a game just wouldn't be worth playing, but storylines and characterization give meaning to the fighting, and keep us coming back with ravenous curiosity. GameReactor recently went one-on-one with Story & Voice Over Director Dominic Cianciolo to uncover more about the highly anticipated story mode of Mortal Kombat 11!

Since the series adopted its linear, guided presentation format with Mortal Kombat versus DC Universe; Story Mode has grown to be one NetherRealm's most lauded features. According to Cianciolo, data shows it remains one of the most popular ways to experience the games, resulting in an estimated 8 hour-long mode for MK11!

The recent Story Mode Trailer and MK11 Prologue have given us a lot to chew on, but the developers aren't giving out too many details just yet. Cianciolo did reveal the emphasis we can expect on young and old versions of characters meeting, such as the comic encounter between 20 and 40 year old Johnny Cage seen in the trailer, and Intro dialogues. The Story Director touched on the value of these intros for advancing characters who may not get a chance to feature significantly in Story Mode.

How do you juggle a 25-character storyline?
"Very carefully. In the storyline we try to make sure that we give everybody a star turn, if possible. Unfortunately, the nature of our story is, if you look at a graph of how much screen time everybody gets, there's a sliding scale of core stars getting the most and it gradually going down from there. That's where the introduction of our intos feature which started back in Mortal Kombat X, evolved through Injustice and now to MK11 really helps out because it lets us fill out the presence of those characters that don't get a ton of screen time in the story. These introductions lets players learn more about their personalities and why they fight. Also what we've done for individual players, we're continuing what we started in Injustice 2 where those little story vignettes are told in the first person by the person you're playing when you defeat the boss of the game. That allows the story of those characters to become much more meaningful and adds a ton of layers to peel back if you will, off of the onion of who they are."

Mortal Kombat X left some characters in the cold during its plot, with pre-order incentive Goro mostly notably nowhere to be seen in Story Mode. As the recent story trailer reveals, that kind of ommission has been addressed, with MK11 bonus Shao Kahn featuring prominently as one of the allies Kronika will seek to recruit from the past. Check out GameReactor to read the full interview.

Mortal Kombat 11 is just over a month away, shipping for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC, and Nintendo Switch starting April 23rd! Don't miss your chance to get early access by signing up for the Online Beta Stress Test! Discuss story, characters, and gameplay on the Mortal Kombat 11 forum!

The recent upgrade introducing a rebranded Mortal Kombat Mobile hasn't gone entirely smooth for everyone. Fortunately, NetherRealm Studios has heard your concerns and solved many common problems with the newest 2.0.1 update. Patch notes outline the details:

• MK11 Jade Trial timer issue. We are aware some players will not be able to unlock MK11 Jade during this Trial season as a result of the timer issue and we apologize for this. However, her Trial will return later this month with the timer working correctly and the MK11 Raiden Trial will begin soon.
• WBID login and profile issues. If you experienced an issue with a partial WBPlay ID login, please tap on your profile name and log in again. Your Kollection and progress will be restored.
• Challenge requirements after the Diamond character ascension. The last Challenge Ladder of the Normal Challenge will now be open to all Gold/Diamond characters.
• Issues with Faction Wars difficulty and match-making balancing.
• Freeze on Rewards screen.
• Crash in Edit team screen.
• Input delays in combat mini-games.

Among the newest features are Trials for unlockable Mortal Kombat 11 incarnations of Jade and Raiden! Fans who missed out on Jade can look forward to a second-chance in the coming weeks! Tell us all about your MK Mobile trials & triumphs on the Mortal Kombat 11 forum!

One of the breakout characters from Mortal Kombat X is making his highly anticipated return! The ageless gunman Erron Black can already be glimpsed in the Mortal Kombat 11 Story Mode Trailer, but now's your chance to take an even closer look in official character art!

Erron Black brought an unexpected touch of the wild west to kombat when he debuted to fan acclaim in Mortal Kombat X. Drawing inspiration from prominent cinematic references like The Man With No Name, he wields an MK twist via weapons accrued in Outworld, and a spell cast by former employer Shang Tsung that keeps him young for centuries. He's a character who could almost fit in with the very first Mortal Kombat!

Some blue denim has worked its way into Erron's wardrobe for this design, but the same basic leather n hide completes the gunslinger's ensemble. Customization will almost certainly offer a range of new design options, but some interesting details can be gleaned from this attire. A more ornate stetson may reflect his on-going association with Emperor Kotal Kahn. The man who carves his victim's name into bullets seems to be working on his own brand this time out, wearin a belt buckle with his own face.

You can catch-up with more returning characters from MKX by checking out render art for Cassie Cage, Jacqui Briggs, and D'Vorah. Investigate newcomer Geras in his own render and debut trailer! Discuss these characters and more in the Mortal Kombat 11 forum!

Mortal Kombat 11 is roughly six weeks away from being unleashed upon multiple platforms! With earlybird pre-order bonuses including access to Shao Kahn and a March Weekend Beta -- there's plenty of reason to plan ahead with a good deal!

Online retailer Newegg is offering some of the best deals on pre-orders for a digital copy of Mortal Kombat 11. PC gamers will make the best savings, taking 20% off pre-order purchase of Standard and Premium Edition codes, bringing the price down to $47.99 and $79.99, respectively.

Pre-ordering digital download codes for Xbox One will score you a tidy 10% off, reducing Standard to $53.99, and Premium Edition to $89.99. All pre-order discount offers are limited to 3 per customer.

Found a great deal on MK? Help a player out and tell us all about it on the Mortal Kombat 11 forum!

With its arenas full of life and depth, and fully customizable characters: Mortal Kombat 11 is literally looking great! So much so, some fans have been fooled into thinking the game is made with the latest version of Unreal Engine 4. That isn't the case, though, as one NetherRealm Studios developer clarified!

To whoever keeps changing the Mortal Kombat 11 Wikipedia page to claim the game uses UE4... while I appreciate the intention and while we take this as a compliment, MK11 is built on NRS's custom UE3 version. And yes, our ver of UE3 is radically different from Epic's at this pt.

— Jon Greenberg (@Jontology) March 5, 2019

NetherRealm Graphics Programming Lead Jon Greenberg cleared up confusion on Twitter, clarifying that that all development is still using a heavily customized version of Unreal Engine 3!

The developer first adopted UE3 for the making of Mortal Kombat versus DC Universe [full story]. Ed Boon elaborated on updates to the engine in 2013, telling the Chicago Tribune, "We're always making advancements to our version of the Unreal Engine 3 graphics engine". Now over a decade on from their first use, Greenberg says the version they're using is "radically different from Epic's".

Mortal Kombat 11 ships for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC, and Nintendo Switch starting April 23rd. You can get an earlier hands-on look by signing up for the upcoming Online Beta Stress Test. Disuss graphics and more by jumping into the Mortal Kombat 11 forum!

The recent Story Mode Trailer showed how Kronika will bend time back to Mortal Kombat's past in Mortal Kombat 11, but if you thought that only meant revisiting the original trilogy - think again! Deadly Alliance is clearly on somebody's mind, adding two more references to the recent Hsu Hao watch billboard!

Sadly, the wheels of time roll on, and not every character from Mortal Kombat's recently retro past gets their chance to shine anew. When you can't have it all, it's nice to see the odd Easter egg reference. The latest 3D Kombat era nod goes to Mokap, who seems to have got into the coffee game, if one of Cassie Cage's intro animations is any indication!

"Mokap Mokha" is a nice tip of the hat to the Deadly Alliance unlockable character who originally paid homage to longtime digitzed actor, and motion capture artist, Carlos Pesina! The last time we saw the ball-covered Mokap, he was part of a playable compilation roster in Armageddon. We'd love to see him interact with Johnny Cage sometime, but in recent games Mokap seems to have lost work to the eponymous "Stuntman", and Johnny's stunt double.

The MK11 Twitter account also revisited a joke from Deadly Alliance's Krypt, recreating KanO's sugar toasted oats for National Cereal Day.

The original mock cereal box featured cartoon art, but this time it's Kano straight from the latest game who's ready to tuck-in. We're sure every boy in Australian dreams of being on a cereal box with "blood colored strawberry milk". No indications if the fun reference will appear in MK11 or its new Krypt.

Enjoying the nods to MK's slightly obscure past? Who else would you like to see referenced and how? Tell us all about on the Mortal Kombat 11 forum, or get misty for the recently retro by doing a timewarp to the 3D Kombat Klassics forum!

March 8th is International Women's Day and Mortal kombat 11 celebrated in style with a render poster spotlighting some of the kickass ladies who've been revealed for the upcoming sequel!

Shared to Twitter, the poster is comprised of previously released character art for Sonya Blade, Skarlet, Cassie Cage, and Jacqui Briggs. It also notably includes the living incarnation of Jade, seen in the recent Story Mode Trailer and previous Kombat Kast!

MK is famed for having some of the most iconic female characters in the genre. Which fighting filly is your most anticipated so far, and who do you hope to see again? Hit the Mortal Kombat 11 forum to tell us your favourite!

Jumping out of the latest Story Mode trailer and into her own spotlight! Jacqui Briggs is fighting for the future with a fresh new look in the latest Mortal Kombat 11 character render! Check it out:

From drab to fab, Jacqui has received a significant visual update, wearing the latest Special Forces light tactical armor, juiced up fighting gauntlets, and a new hairstyle that gives the heroine a fresh sense of maturity and personality. The recent story mode trailer also revealed one of Jacqui's new fatalities, showing remote-detonated tack-on bombs blowing apart a returning Erron Black - piece by piece.

Jacqui proved to be the least popular new addition coming out of Mortal Kombat X, suffering from a lack of distinguishing design, fighting gimmicks, or strong characteristics in a cast of very colourful characters. Comparisons to Jax, Cassie, and Sektor proved unflattering. An MK Online User Poll from December last year rated her 9/9, with just 3.4% of the vote.

So far all signs indicate MK11 will deliver on a much needed update to Jacqui, further differentiating her from Cassie Cage, and the other Special Forces fighters! We eagerly await more gameplay to see just how thorough the update has been! How do you like the new-look daughter of Jax? Check out Jacqui Briggs in official hi-res story mode screenshot and join the discussion on the Mortal Kombat 11 forum!

Pre-orders will get players early Beta Access to Mortal Kombat 11 at the end of the month, but a limited sign-up process is now open for a stress test of online code beginning next week! Details:

The Online Stress Test will take place on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One acros three days of kombat on Friday, March 15th to Sunday, March 17th. For practical reasons, the official sign-up is only open to players in the United States.

Were you accepted to take part in the test? Tell us all about it on the Mortal Kombat 11 forum and come back to share reports of your experience next week!

Mortal Kombat X was one of the most successful installments in the long running franchise, but if you somehow missed out on one of the five million copies shipped -- you can get a taste for blood by playing via Xbox Live weekend for freeeeee!

A download of Mortal Kombat X will usually set you back $19.99, but Free Play Days will give weekend free access to Xbox Live Gold members! The freeplay fun goes from 12:01AM Thursday, March 7th through to 11:59PM Sunday, March 10th!

It's all in the name of getting ready for the release of Mortal Kombat 11! Closed beta begins March 28th if you've pre-ordered for Xbox One or PlayStation 4. Preparing yourself by jumping back to the last game? Revisit the recent past in the Mortal Kombat X forum and put out a call for opponents on the Gameplay & Matchmaking forum!

Development of the Mortal Kombat movie reboot has been slow and steady, but with writer Greg Russo hyping meetings with Warner Brothers, a fresh report claims a frontrunner for the role of Kano, and new character details.

We have a script, budget, location, director, and cast lists. But we still need WB to give us the go-ahead. Meeting with them again soon.???? If you want to see MK back on the big screen, now's the time to let your voice be heard ;) #MK #MortalKombat #MortalKombat11

— Greg Russo (@WriterRusso) March 4, 2019

Russo tweeted about meetings with WB executives, citing a completed script, budget, location, director, and cast list, aiming for a 2020 big screen release. That Hashtag Show claims to know at least some of these details, reporting Joel Edgerton as top choice to assume the role of Kano.

A well known good-guy of Australian cinema: Edgerton has had several memorable starring roles in Hollywood productions, including 2011 martial arts drama Warrior, Red Sparrow, and the recent Boy Erased, which he also wrote and directed. The report claims announced director Simon McQuoid would recruit Edgerton for a script still revolving around previously rumored new creation Cole Turner, to begin filming in Australia in the Summer.

The report also narrows the cast of characters to a more expected (and correctly named & described) list, featuring: Raiden, Sonya Blade, Jackson "Jax" Briggs, Liu Kang, Kung Lao, Sub-Zero, Mileena, and Shang Tsung. The only likely fan quibbles to come from published, basic character descriptions are Shang Tsung as "Outworld's General", and the peculiar verbiage of Sub-Zero as "The ice ninja with deadly eyes hidden behind a gruesome mask".

While the veracity of previous reports was verified by those close to production, the ifnormation was described as being significantly out of date. That Hashtag Show came under heavy fire from the likes of producer James Wan, and Ed Boon, who shot down reports as "faux information" and "BS". All information should be regarded as rumor until otherwise substantiated.

Die hard fans remain tentative about Mortal Kombat's return to the big screen. Hollywood is notorious for casting aside key details and nuance for video game adaptations, as was the case in the most recent live-action adaptation of Mortal Kombat: Legacy. Discuss what you hope to see from the future of MK in movies on the Media & Merchandise forum!

Next generation kombatant Cassie Cage is dropping in to Mortal Kombat 11 in the latest character reveal trailer! Study all her moves as she takes on Kano in an official gameplay debut twofer! Watch:

Cassie Cage has been a busy girl, featured in a press blitz of official character render art, story mode trailer, story mode screenshots, and spotlights on customization and intro dialogues!

The gameplay reveal trailer is the only place to get a good feel for Cassie Cage and her new bag of tricks. She's fighting dirty with pistols, a laser blasting drone named Emma, and tweaked variations on her parent's special moves. She's even revolutionizing the art of her father's testicle punch, leaving the splits to her opponents!

Kano is retro-klassic romper stomper with your favourite cannonball dash and cyber eye laser moves, as well as a dirty dozen of boots and headbutts. It looks like he'll be talking trash while he kicks your arse - and yes, mate. That is a bloody knife.

Mortal Kombat 11 iscoming to PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and PC in just over a month! Pre-order now to gain four days of Beta access beginning May 28th! Will you play Cassie or Kano? Share your thoughts on the latest trailers on the Mortal Kombat 11 forum!

Cassie Cage made her triumphant return leading the fight for the future in a new Story Mode Trailer! Now you can get a more personal look at her fresh Mortal Kombat 11 design - and robot buddy! Check it out:

According to character customization menus you can call Cassie's friendly drone Emma! As featured in Gamespot's customization preview there are other drones available to choose, including Frank Thompson, Queen Bee, and Tiny Dancer. It looks like Emma will be the favourite if this slick art is anything to go by.

We first caught a glimpse of Cassie Cage in the MK11 Evolution Featurette, and you can now see even more in official hi-res story mode screenshots and IGN's Cage Family Intro highlights!

You can also catch-up with more character render art for Sonya Blade, Johnny Cage, Kano, D'Vorah and more! Join the discussion about the latest designs and more on the Mortal Kombat 11 forum!

Ever had a sense of deja vu? Would you like to..? Pre-match intro dialogues have become a font of character moments and story easter eggs. Mortal Kombat 11 is chattier than ever and IGN have a 7 minute sample starring the dynamic father-daughter duo of Johnny & Cassie Cage! Watch:

The irreverent Cage double-act are quipping fighting words and striking a pose -- the same pose, again and again... Fortunately, repetition isn't a major issue when duplicate match-ups feature all-new dialogues! It's a cavalcade of giggles and gratuitous movie references, with some interesting tidbits thrown in for good measure.

Apparently former President Ronald Reagan is one of the few actors to really impress Geras over the centuries, even if he can quote Rutger Hauer's legendary speech from Blade Runner. Scorpion isn't concerned with black & yellow brand confusion caused by D'Vorah, but will kill Cassie for taking his catchphrase. Sonya Blade hasn't seen When Harry Met Sally, gets goosebumps just thinking about papercuts, and isn't any more smitten with "cheap beer" Johnny, even if Cassie says he gets better with age. Cages young and old are developing a twin cops action feature with the working title Double Something, and are fans of Austin Powers. Lots of fun character beats and laughs, but if you want to avoid meatier matter and potential spoilers, stop reading now!

Geras claims he met Johnny Cage's ancestors "many centuries ago" during one of his "billion" life cycles, presumably the same ones who were bred to defeat gods. Despite that mythic bloodline, according to Raiden, it was the amulet that really finished Shinnok off. Skarlet never the less considers Cassie's blood to be holy, and blessed by the Elder Gods.

Apparently trusting Raiden cost Cassie Cage her mother at some point. Most of the featured dialogues present Sonya Blade as her younger self, yet to hook up with Johnny, which may mean the hardened General of MKX meets her untimely demise. You can see Sonya and Cassie in action in the new Story Mode Trailer.

It looks like character intros are going to be another highlight when the new game ships for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and PC starting April 23rd! Have your own dialogue and share your thoughts on these intros and more on the Mortla kombat 11 forum!

The family that fights together - stays together! Cassie Cage, Johnny Cage & Sonya Blade are back in Mortal Kombat 11 facing the dangers of battle and a time bending new story. Take a closer look in these super hi-res official story & gameplay screenshots!

The exciting new screenshots freeze time as Cassie, Sonya, and Jacqui Briggs march into battle in the new story mode, where they'll also share a meeting with Raiden and Johnny! The threat of Kronika, Shao Kahn, and other chronally confused allies is illuminated more in the blockbuster Mortal Kombat 11 Story Mode trailer!

Click the thumbnails above to also take a closer look at Johnny Cage in gameplay action. He's got a shadow kick for Baraka, and proves even a temporal mechanoid like Geras can feel pain from a potent punch down south! You can see more of these fighters in action by checking out spotlight trailers for Johnny Cage, Geras, and MK11 Gameplay!

Mortal Kombat 11 features extensive customization options for all playable characters. Now's a chance to get an early sneak peek at what you can expect for Kano, Johnny Cage and Cassie Cage! Watch:

Gamespot have previewed the returning character's wide array of customizable gear and moves in the above video!

Johnny Cage default variations include the Special Forces Uncaged, throwback A-Lister, and 80s beach neon Hollywood attires. The former designs can be seen in previously released render art and trailer. Johnny has a range of individual customizable augment pieces, including many thousands of dollars worth of sunglasses. gloves, and base skin jackets.

Cassie Cage returns from Mortal Kombat X with a new look and toys. She can customize augment sections with guns, eye gear, and drones. She comes with a variety of palette swapped Special Forces skins featuring futuristic armor and tactical gear.

Kano has a variety of customizable augments for his cybernetic eye, including the simple klassic chrome with red eye, and chunky Mortal Kombat X upgrade. Additional pieces offer a variety of cybernetic chest hearts and knives to tailor the experience of a discerning mercenary. Base skins will also offer an MK3 inspired throwback seen in the new Story Mode trailer, as well as other designs.

The power to player however you like will be yours when Mortal Kombat 11 arrives for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and PC starting April 23rd! Keep your mean eye focused on the next developer stream for more Kano! Share your thoughts on what we've seen so far on the Mortal Kombat 11 forum!

The past and present will collide for the future when Mortal Kombat 11 introduces the chronal threat of Kronika! The latest trailer for Story Mode reveals the assembling of allies who wish to fix the timeline - and those who wish to subvert it! Retro and Mortal Kombat X klassics return! Watch:

Keeper of Time, Kronika, is recruiting temporally displaced past versions of characters to join her crusade against the dark future wrought by the outcome of Mortal Kombat X!

Deceased Emperor Shao Kahn is one of the powerful allies plucked from the past to be recruited as a tool against the new era. Kronika can also be seen conversing with the corrupted Kitana & Liu Kang, who took control of Netherrealm at the end of MKX. Earlier versions of Raiden and the untainted Earthrealm heroes are joining the fight, as well, but it may be to prevent further subversion, by teaming with the present Emperor of Outworld: Kotal Kahn!

The trailer also showcases returning characters Cassie Cage, Jacqui Briggs and Erron Black, and introduces some new faces lurking at the side of Kronika and Shao Kahn!

Mortal Kombat 11 is coming to PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and PC starting April 23rd! How will the fight for the future turn out? Watch the new Story Mode trailer above and share your theories on the Mortal Kombat 11 forum!

There's still much to be seen from Mortal Kombat 11! Last week the developer showcased Johnny Cage during the Kombat Kast live stream. Now another reveal is imminent as we await another Wednesday watch!

As usual, the reveal stream will go live 3:00PM CST. When showtime arrives you can watch it with us right here in the embedded window above, and share your thoughts straight to the forums below!

Kano was revealed earlier this year with render art, but we'll be keeping our good eye peeled for more from the much-loved rogue. The only question being: will we see another yet to be showcased kombatant revealed? It probably won't be Hsu Hao. You can start your speculating on the Mortal Kombat 11 forums!

We haven't seen Hsu Hao in a Mortal Kombat video game since Armageddon, but a new teaser image posted by Ed Boon is throwing a bone to one of the series' least loved characters. Take a closer look:

The image shows an out-of-focus portion of a background scene where there appears to be a billboard promoting a Hsu Hao branded wrist watch.

Similar background gags have been included in most of the recent Mortal Kombat releases, such as Mortal Kombat (2011)'s billboard for Johnny Cage movie Ninja Mime, seen on the Rooftop arena.

The billboard includes a red insignia that differs from the classic Red Dragon clan logo, but is reminiscent of the Special Forces brand. Hsu Hao originally debuted as a Special Forces fighter in Deadly Alliance, only to reveal his double agent status in character endings that told of his explosive betrayal. Fans of the "3D Klassic" era will remember collecting Hsu Hao's watch during the Konquest mode of 2006's Mortal Kombat: Armageddon [pictured below].

Hsu Hao has been widely unloved since the intrigue of his initial reveal as the mysterious "Khan" in 2002. Absent from games for a decade; he was unceremoniously killed by Scorpion in the opening scene of the first issue of Mortal Kombat X tie-in comic books. Ed Boon had already ruled out a return in MKX.

Boon's most recent teaser of this type forecast the reveal of Johnny Cage. Even with Kronika's time bending plot, we won't expect to see Hsu Hao making a return, despite the reference. Think you'd like to see him make a comeback? State your case on the Mortal Kombat 11 forum!

The first episode of The Science of Mortal Kombat tackled the shattering cold of Sub-Zero and its deadly effects. In Episode 2, they're exploring Skarlet and science of making hard blood spikes. Watch:

The team from Nerdist's Because Science are working out the practicality of turning an opponent's blood into a deadly weapon. They're measuring the volumes of fluid available and the likelihood of spearing flesh with Skarlet's bloody spikes!

Skarlet is one of the exciting returning characters in Mortal Kombat 11! You can check out her new blood moves in the MK11 Fatality Trailer and Gameplay Reveal Trailer! Next time: The Science of MK will return to Sub-Zero to examine the plausibility of making an ice axe! Place your bets and join the discussion on the Mortal Kombat 11 forum!

The world has been shocked to learn of the sudden passing of actor Luke Perry, who is best known for his starring role on Beverly Hills 90210. The heartthrob also notably provided the voice of Sub-Zero on the 1996 animated series Mortal Kombat: Defenders of the Realm.

Variety reports the star suffered a massive stroke last Wednesday, entering hospitalization, where he passed away March 4th, age 52. A representative for the actor issued a statement.

“[Perry] was surrounded by his children Jack and Sophie, fiancé Wendy Madison Bauer, ex-wife Minnie Sharp, mother Ann Bennett, step-father Steve Bennett, brother Tom Perry, sister Amy Coder, and other close family and friends,” his rep said in a statement. “The family appreciates the outpouring of support and prayers that have been extended to Luke from around the world, and respectfully request privacy in this time of great mourning. No further details will be released at this time.”

Luke Perry spoke infrequently of his Mortal Kombat tie and was always an intriguing and unexpected choice for the animated Sub-Zero.

After a memorable cameo as "Sideshow Luke Perry" in The Simpsons episode "Krusty Gets Kancelled" , the photogenic teen heartthrob ventured deeper into the world of voice acting, appearing as a recurring villain on Biker Mice From Mars. Two iconic animated roles followed after his initial departure from 90210 in 1995, the other being Marvel Comics' Rick Jones in episodes of The Incredible Hulk.

Perry's thirteen episode run as Sub-Zero begins in the first episode of Defenders of the Realm, when the younger ice fighter aids Earthrealm's heroes in combatting Sektor & Cyrax's invading cyber warriors. Initially a figure of distrust, he becomes a regular in the series, forgiving Liu Kang for the death of his older brother. Scenes from the 1995 Mortal Kombat feature film are recreated, establishing a short-lived shared universe between Threshold Entertainment's adaptations.

Mortal Kombat co-creator Ed Boon paid respects with a simple message on Twitter. Fans around the world are remembering and discovering his brush with MK, iconic TV bad boy Dylan McKay, and recent turn on [The CW]'s Riverdale.

We haven't seen hide nor hair of Kano since he was first announced for a Mortal Kombat 11 return over a month ago. That's changed with a new screenshot that shows the Black Dragon rogue on the receiving end of a fatality. Proceed if you aren't squeamish!

The graphic screenshot released to Twitter shows Kano on the receiving end of Johnny Cage's fatality. Fellow Black Dragon alum Kabal suffered the same fate when the elaborate finisher was demonstrated in last week's reveal trailer!

We're expecting to see more of Kano this week when he features in the next developer Kombat Kast preview stream. Check out the announcement render art for a look at the Brazil exclusive cangaçeiro bandit skin Kano will receive when MK11 is released April 23rd. What else do you hope to see from Kano? Join the discussion and share your wishlist on the Mortal Kombat 11 forum!

Much of the cast from the original Mortal Kombat and Mortal Kombat II will be present at this year's Chicago Comic & Entertainment Expo—better known as C2E2! What is C2E2, you ask? Simply put, it's the biggest gaming/comic/nerd culture convention there is, in the Midwest! In addition to Mortal Kombat, there are many other video games as well as movies, television shows, comics, and other franchises that will be represented at the con. The convention will run from Friday, March 22, to Sunday, March 24.

The MK cast that is scheduled to appear includes Daniel Pesina, Elizabeth Malecki, John Parrish, Katalin Zamiar, Philip Ahn, Richard Divizio, and Tony Marquez. Their schedule has also been listed:

• TeamUp - Mortal Kombat Photo Op: Fri, Mar 22, 2019 at 6:00 PM - TBD
• TeamUp - Mortal Kombat Photo Op: Sat, Mar 23, 2019 at 2:30 PM - TBD
• Kombat Legends - The Kast of Mortal Kombat 1 & 2: Sat, Mar 23, 2019 at 5:15 PM - 6:15 PM
• TeamUp - Mortal Kombat Photo Op: Sun, Mar 24, 2019 at 4:00 PM - TBD

On a somewhat-related note, another classic Midway arcade game will also have its own convention the day before C2E2 gets started: On Thursday, March 21, JamCon 2019 is kicking off! The event will take place at Hoyt's in the Wyndham Grand Chicago Riverfront hotel. Tim Kitzrow, the famous voice behind NBA Jam and other huge fan favorite sports titles such as NFL Blitz, NHL Hitz, and the newly released Mutant Football League will be on hand to sign autographs, take pictures and hang out with you! The event will also host a tournament that will feature a one of a kind NBA Jam Trophy that goes to the winner, and a raffle for another NBA Jam prize at the bar! You get one raffle ticket per food or beverage item you purchase entered into the drawing. Raffle tickets are ONLY given to those who have paid for a ticket to attend the event. Due to limited space, the event has two separate ticket times you can purchase for. The first is slot from 2pm to 4pm, and the other slot is from 4pm to 6pm. Ticketed times do not affect those competing in the tournament. Rules for the tournament are simple: it’s a 1v1 tournament, and no cheat codes or hidden characters are allowed. Only 100 tickets are available to buy, so get them while you still can since space is limited!

Mortal Kombat Online will be present at both events! C2E2 tickets can be purchased here, and JamCon tickets can be purchased here. Planning on attending these events yourself? Considering it? Be sure to check out the 2D Kombat Klassics forum, not to mention our social media accounts such as Facebook, Twitter, and Discord.

Mortal Kombat Mobile has officially launched its newest update, revamping the former Mortal Kombat X portable app with all-new modes, challenges, and three Mortal Kombat 11 characters!

Scorpion, Raiden, and Revenant Jade are making the leap from Mortal Kombat 11 to MK Mobile, joining a cast of over 130 variations of characters already available! Trials mode will let you playing as Jade with Raiden incoming, while Faction War is the way to unlock Scorpion! Check out more of what's new below:

MK11 CHARACTERS
Experience three Mortal Kombat 11 console characters right now in Mortal Kombat Mobile! Battle through special Trial Challenges as Mortal Kombat 11 JADE and Mortal Kombat 11 RAIDEN to add them to your Kollection! Climb the charts in Faction Wars to earn Mortal Kombat 11 SCORPION through multiplayer rewards!

CHARACTER ENHANCEMENTS
23 existing Gold characters ascend to Diamond Tier with updated passives, stat increases, and more team synergies! If you already own any of these characters, you will automatically acquire these changes! Some teams include Day of the Dead, Nightmare, Kold War, and more!

MENU MAKEOVER
We have reimagined the main menu and it has now come to life! Discover the fresh, new look now.

NEW QUESTS, NEW MAP
Make sure to complete all Outworld realm Quests so you can unlock the new Netherrealm map.

FOR THE LOVE OF KARD PACKS
Don’t miss the limited-time Mortal Kombat 11 Pack available right now. Plus, more new Kard Packs coming your way soon!

DATA CONNECTION REQUIRED
Mortal Kombat Mobile has been upgraded to a new game engine, UE4. An online data connection is now required to play which means improved security, a smoother experience, and more content for you!

It's important to note the new Mortal Kombat Mobile will require an online connection to play. 32-bit devices, including iPhone5, iPhone5c, and 4th Generation iPads are also no longer supported. Fortunately, you can save progress by linking to your WB Play (WBID) account to resume on another device.

Mortal Kombat Mobile is free to download from the Apple App Store and Google Play! have you made the switch? Share your MK Mobile review & feedback to the Mortal Kombat 11 forum!

It's not often we get significant reveals in the small hours of the night, but the midnight unveiling of Johnny Cage gave the wider world a chance to embrace Mortal Kombat 11 -- and embrace it, they did!

Shortly after the midnight reveal trailer dropped; "Johnny Cage" briefly joined serious global events as one of the Worldwide Trends collated by Twitter.

Mortal Kombat subjects will often appear in user-targetted "tailored trends", but its typically taken the announcement of a new game to breach global interests. Mortal Kombat X garnered massive attention when the announce trailer went live in April, 2014. Injustice 2 followed suit with its much publicized announcement in 2016.

Some were puzzled by the decision to reveal Cage with a timed exclusive at such a late hour. It's an adjustment fans around the world routinely experience for releases targeted to North American markets. The result of reduced traffic and global timezones has showed there are benefits to cutting through with character trailers at unusual hours. You can see more of the global megastar in two Cage character renders.

Could we see more midnight reveals in the future? Join the discussion and share your thoughts on the Mortal Kombat 11 forum! Connect with MK Online around the web by following on Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube.