Last week on Mortal Kombat: Legacy, the debut of iconic warriors Scorpion and Sub-Zero played out. Left with a cliffhanger, the series returns this week for its eighth episode to complete the genesis of Scorpion himself.

Last week on the web series, Hanzo Hasashi (Ian Anthony Dale) had began a battle with Sub-Zero (Kevan Ohtsji) after the latter's murderous ambitions were revealed. A fight ensues which shows both ninja present iconic special maneuvers from the games including Sub-Zero's ice blast and Scorpion's iconic spear (in which he yells his signature 'Get over here!' in Japanese). Scorpion, momentarily incapacitating his attacker, rushes back to his village to find his family murdered. In his disbelief, he drops to his knees only to be attacked by Sub-Zero from behind.

We soon learn however that he had been deceived. The malevolent sorcerers Shang Tsung (Johnson Phan) and Quan Chi (Michael Rogers) were behind the plot, wishing to use Scorpion as a tool in the Mortal Kombat tournament. Fueled by vengeance, Hanzo Hasashi is reborn as the ninja spectre. Much like in the original short, he proclaims his name is now simply Scorpion. It should also be noted that the respective actors for Shang Tsung and Quan Chi actually appeared in the credits last week, hinting the Deadly Alliance's involvement in the treachery this week.

With only one episode remaining of Mortal Kombat: Legacy Season 1, the creators of the series are still looking for your input. With hope of a second season abound, be sure to leave your comments on Machinima's Youtube page for this video! Season 1 completes next week with Cyrax and Sektor!

She's the eagerly anticipated new character and she's coming to an Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) near you! Skarlet missed out on a spot in the April 19 box release of Mortal Kombat, but will be among the crop of DLC features coming soon!

IGN have the exclusive first-look trailer showcasing the "Lady in Red" in her gameplay debut! With a blood soaked moveset that would make Nitara blush; Skarlet appears unleashing various knife and blood oriented special attacks against the classically garbed gentlemen of MK -- themselves available in a DLC pack June 7 [full story].

Skarlet will be a feature of the booth when Warner Brothers Interactive Entertainment appear at E3 in Los Angeles, June 7-9!

The long awaited, official arrival of the character ends a cycle of speculation that began in October of 2010, when Ed Boon tweeted a teaser image of Skarlet's leg [full story]. She has since featured prominently as the newest slave in Shao Kahn's Koliseum, before being attached to downloadable content alongside Kenshi.

The downloadable extras will begin June 2nd with the release of Xbox Live Avatar accessories and outfits [full story]. Skarlet DLC is expected to carry patches for online fixes and tweaks beyond the recent hotfix tweaks made to the game. News of the expected concurrent return of Kenshi remains unverified.

In the early stages of development, Netherrealm Studios announced plans for an active post-release DLC for their latest game, Mortal Kombat. After the confirmation of the first two DLC characters, Kenshi and Skarlet, due for release in the near future, today we can confirm the very first DLC package available for the game: Klassic Skin/Fatality pre-order pack!

Leading up to release a whirlwind of information regarding pre-order bonuses from the likes of Gamestop, Best Buy, Wal-Mart and even the Mortal Kombat movies on Blu-ray disc formed leading to tough decisions for Mortal Kombat fans everywhere. The classic costumes were old school "retro ninja" costumes recalling the original glory days of Mortal Kombat back in the mid 90's. Characters given this treatment included Scorpion, Sub-Zero, Reptile, Ermac, Jade, Mileena and Kitana. The classic three male ninja listed first were also given a retro fatality, what amounts to their signature finishers from the 2D era. A video promo was included to hype the release:

According to some sources, the DLC package will cost 400 MS points or $4.99 on PSN. As hinted by the official Mortal Kombat twitter account, this DLC package should go on sell on June 7th. Featured in the pack is the following content: 7 alternate retro themed attires (Scorpion, Sub-Zero, Reptile, Ermac, Jade, Mileena, Kitana) and 3 classic fatalities (Scorpion's Toasty, Sub-Zero's Spine Rip, Reptile's Head Eat).

Still a hotly debated issue, downloadable content has created somewhat of a rift in the gaming community. Is the pricing fitting for the content? Was the timing of this release sensible? Be sure to share your thoughts about DLC with us here or over on MK Online's twitter!

With a full slate of downloadable content coming soon, including new characters and klassic costumes, Mortal Kombat continues to be the game that keeps giving! Fresh from the official MK Facebook, an announcement reveal of new costumes and accessories coming for Xbox Live Avatars!

The new crop of extras offers Xbox Live users the chance to deck themselves in a variety of iconic visages from the games, or just tasteful logos for NetherRealm Studios or Mortal Kombat. There is something for everyone, with masks and heads inspired by Reptile, Smoke, Noob Saibot, Sektor, Cyrax, Mileena, and Baraka, as well as complete outfits from Shang Tsung, Kabal, Ermac, Sub-Zero, Scorpion and the palette swap "klassic" costumes.

Additional accesories include; Shao Kahn's helmet, Kano's cybernetic eye, and Raiden's hat. All of these wonderful new looks will be available for your digital wardrobe June 2nd!

The parade of coming DLC continues tomorrow with a trailer announcing the klassic costume and fatality DLC pack [full story], ahead of Monday's first official action reveal of new character, Skarlet, ahead of her E3 playable debut!

Original Facebook link and news via @MK_MortalKombat. Follow MKO on Twitter, @MK_Online.

When developing the gameplay engine for their new Mortal Kombat, the team at NetherRealm Studios knew that there would be a necessity for a tweaking process to ensure optimum balance at the highest levels of play. With that in mind, they created the game with a "hotfix" system, which allows incremental changes without the need of a full Sony or Microsoft approved patch.

A string of hotfix tweaks have already been unleashed as the game undergoes its first wave of minor balancing changes. The majority of tweaks pertain to damage levels and attack priorities, with Kung Lao a target in both combos and damage levels since his domination at the PDP National Tournament in Las Vegas, and online. Test Your Might, via tester Tom Brady, have reported the complete list of tweaks and how they play out, as follows:

• Reduced some of Kung Lao’s combo and overall damage.
• Reduced the damage on some special moves.
• Increased the damage scaling after Kitana’s Enhanced ground fan toss.
• Adjusted some juggle’s damage scaling.
• Reduced the damage on some basic combos that were doing too much damage without using any meter.
• Increased Sheeva’s damage output for several of her moves and attacks.
• Temporarily Changed around some of Sonya’s fighting style properties to reduce her ability to lock someone down in block stun.
• Changed Kano’s Towards + FK to a low block.
• Reduced the recovery on Kano’s Upball to be closer to Johnny Cage’s Flip Kick recovery.
• Increased the damage of some of Baraka’s special moves and attacks.
• It is easy to juggle combo after hitting someone with Baraka’s chopchop on the ground.
• Increased the damage scaling on a frozen opponent.
• Baraka’s Away + FK FP combo is now a true popup.
• Reduced some of Reptile's combo damage.

Making the shift to a 2D fighting plane, 2011's Mortal Kombat has made a conceited effort to appeal to the hardcore fighting game audience. This first wave of hotfixes is all part of NetherRealm Studios' dedication to the gameplay experience, which has been good enough to see Mortal Kombat gain entry into the 2011 Evo Championship, later in the year [full story].

When Mortal Kombat Online talked to National Mortal Kombat Champion and seasoned tournament veteran, Justin Wong, he showed optimism toward the longterm effects of patching the game, "I believe that if MK9 keeps getting patches, it [definitely] will be [a] longterm for fighting tournaments."

In an interview with G4TV, series co-creator Ed Boon confirmed that upcoming downloadable content featuring new character, Skarlet, will include more extensive updates to gameplay and online functions. The Skarlet DLC is expected to be announced within the month, with a Klassic Costume pack just revealed for an official Friday announcement [full story]!

For more details about DLC, gameplay patches, and thoughts from the National MK Champion, stay tuned to Mortal Kombat Online! For regular updates, follow us on Twitter, @MK_Online.

After months of speculation and vague references, confirmation has finally come from the face of NetherRealm Studios himself, Ed Boon: Klassic Costumes and Fatalities are coming to downloadable content servers soon!

On the subject, Boon tweeted:

The 7 Klassic outfits & 3 Klassic fatalities that were retailer exclusives will be bundled into one DLC package. Trailer coming on Friday.

Classic costumes inspired Mortal Kombat and Mortal Komabt 3 for Scorpion, Sub-Zero, Reptile, Ermac, Kitana, Mileena and Jade have thus far been available as part of exclusive deals for purchases of Mortal Kombat and other items [ie; Blu-Ray DVDs].

Limited supply and high demand has seen codes for the extras fetch high amounts on auction sites like eBay, while unaffiliated scam sites have risen to take advantage of the interest [full story]. Details regarding availability of the content pack can be expected Friday, with a promotional trailer.

More DLC is expected in the near future, with much speculation regarding absent 'secret' character, Skarlet, and Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance's Kenshi, believed to be among the coming additions. Toys 'R' Us recently published a premature announcement of DLC, which is speculated to have been allegedly delayed in part due to persisting problems with the PlayStation Network. No such confirmation has been made, but with services returning to normal, there should be no problems accessing new content on the PlayStation 3 format.

Mortal Kombat Online will continue to follow DLC stories as they develop, with the official trailer, Friday. For direct updates follow us on Twitter, @MK_Online!

This week on Mortal Kombat: Legacy, the wait for the iconic series ninja comes to an end as the story of Scorpion and Sub-Zero unfolds in a two-part thriller!

Hanzo Hasashi (Ian Anthony Dale) is introduced as the general of the Shirai Ryu clan, known for his skill with the kunai he has been given the name Scorpion. Much like the game version of Scorpion, he is revealed to have a wife (Maurissa Tancharoen) and a son. Shown to be a family man, he is preparing to welcome the Shogun to his province when he is informed that he has arrived earlier than planned. This was actually a ruse created by the Lin Kuei, who have seemingly murdered the Shogun. Sub-Zero (Kevan Ohtsji) admits to as much and engages Scorpion in combat. He is addressed by the name Bi Han, revealing that he is in fact the older of the Sub-Zero brothers from the games. Meanwhile, Lin Kuei operatives are seizing Scorpion's village and are shown to be within his own home.

Of note, the entire episode is set in Japan and all dialogue is Japanese (with English subtitles). If previews are to be trusted, part two will very likely continue the rivalry established within the game, as the sorcerer Quan Chi was shown speaking to Scorpion during the official preview trailer for the series last month. Be sure to check back next week for the continuation!

With the release of Mortal Kombat last month and the rebirth of the storyline so many of us had become familiar with a new age of kombat was ushered in. With it, changes to existing characters were made and new plots were introduced while old ones were washed away. The landscape of the realms have been altered so dramatically by Raiden's attempts to prevent Armageddon that long-time fans must now learn and accept these changes. Like most franchises, the fandom often theorizes the basis of future releases and often times creates mock versions of these events, generally a wishlist of sorts. Embracing this tradition, we are MK Online are proud to present the sixth incarnation of the website's officially sanctioned Kreate-a-Kharacter tournament.

The Kreate-a-Kharacter tournament invites fans of Mortal Kombat to use their imaginations to the fullest extent; create an original character and insert them into the Mortal Kombat universe. In doing so members can exchange ideas about the future of Mortal Kombat's storyline and showcase their original creations to the rest of the community; along with the chance to win free Mortal Kombat merchandise! Interested? Registering is easy! Simply complete the worksheet below with the necessary data about your character. Be sure to read the few rules outlined below as well. Most importantly however, have fun and let your imaginations run wild!

General rules:

• This is a fan fiction themed contest in no way affiliated with Warner Bros. or Netherrealm Studios. Winning doesn't mean your character will be used in any future games; this is for fun (and our in-house prizes).
• Only one character per user may be submitted.
• Characters must be ORIGINAL creations; no recreations of minor characters (i.e. Tremor, etc.) or crossover characters from other games. No DC Universe based characters either.
• Absolutely no plagiarism. Users found stealing characters from others will be disqualified as well as being temporarily banned from this site altogether.
• Once you have filled out the worksheet and are ready to submit your character into the contest, please send me (~Crow~) a private message rather than posting them in this topic. Alternately, you may email me at my MK Online address. Please note: If you send me an e-mail, please include your MK Online account/user name.

Entry sheet:

Character name: (Name of your character)
Gender: (Gender of your character)
Age: (Age of your character; unknown is acceptable)
Height: (Height of your character)
Weight: (Weight of your character)
Origin: (Home realm of your character)
Alignment: (Moral/ethical stance of your character; Good/Neutral/Evil)

Character bio: (Your character's story and connection to the Mortal Kombat universe. Please use your judgment on what is a proper amount of information. Your biography should be at least as long as those in the game itself, but it may be longer if you wish. Please do not submit novel-length fan fictions, however. Please base your character around the most recently released game's timeline.)

Fighting style: (A description of your character's fighting style. You may base this off an actual martial art style exclusively, include your own touches and tweaks or create something altogether original. The choice is yours; but be descriptive enough so those reading about your character can get a sense of how he or she would fight. You may or may not include weaponry in the style of certain characters in Mortal Kombat (2011).)

Special moves: (Minimum of 3, maximum of 8. Please include descriptions of each of your character's special moves.)

X-ray attack: (Your character's signature X-ray attack; limit 1)

Round entrance taunt: (How your character makes its entrance into a fight)

Mid-match taunt: (Your character's reaction to winning a single round)

End-match taunt: (Your character's reaction to winning a fight)

Fatalities: (A description of your characters finishing moves. Please limit to two.)

Character appearance: (A physical description of your character's appearance and attire. Images are optional but encouraged. You may draw your character. You may use games such as MK: Armageddon or Soul Calibur IV's creation engines to create your character as well. You could also use character generators such as Hero Machine. However, images are optional and if you cannot or do not wish to submit an image, a text description will suffice. You will not be penalized for failing to submit an image, but if you do not you must submit a text description.)

Alternate costume: (Read the above and please submit an alternate costume for your character as well.)

Character ending: (Your character's arcade ending.)

Tournament details:

There will be 32 characters (at least) in this tournament. Registration will end when 32 characters have been successfully accepted. If the contest proves more popular than this, I will expand the field as needed. The first 24 entrants are guaranteed slots in the tournament, those that come after may be forced to participate in sudden death contests to determine the final 8 slots. Once 32 characters have been selected, they will randomly be placed into a bracket and fight against one another until there is but a single character remaining.

Characters win their matches by popular opinion; voting. There will be 5 judges. Myself, Ghostdragon, Mick-Lucifer, TonyTheTiger and the MKO Community itself. Whichever character has the most votes at the end wins. During a match, there will be a time period of 24 hours for the MKO Community to vote on their favorite character within the thread itself. The MKO Community's popular opinion on the match will decide where its vote goes. Official judges will rate characters by their originality and believability along with various intangibles that go into making a successful kombatant.

More information and prizes will be announced as we progress through the registration phase. Once again, have fun and may the best character reign supreme as Mortal Kombat champion!

Today, Rigo Cortes, the Community Manager for NetherRealm Studios, sent us over some concept art renders of the games characters' alternate costumes with the exception of Quan Chi and Cyber Sub-Zero.

These renders have been previously featured in the Art of Mortal Kombat Book which accompanied the Kollector's Edition of the game but are now widely available to kommunity!

Keep up to date with all things Mortal Kombat related by following us over on Twitter at @MK_Online or by liking us over on our Facebook Page.

Think you've got a news story? Send your submissions to our MKO Newslead.

Mortal Kombat: Legacy marches onward this week after a two-parter featuring the likes of Shao Kahn, Kitana and Mileena. This week, we see the other side of the coin as Lord Raiden makes his debut in Episode #6.

Raiden (Ryan Robbins) begins the episode locked in an mental institution suffering from what specialists believe are psychotic episodes and delusions of grandeur. He plummets to Earth and creates a small crater in his wake; unfortunately, this is how he is captured by the asylum. The mysterious Blue (Tracy Spiridakos), a mental patient prone to suicide, befriends Raiden in the facility and is the first to discover him.

Raiden is tortured by numerous lobotomy attempts and injections of Ketamine to restrain him. Perhaps weakened by his fall to Earth, Raiden is unable to escape his captors until he absorbs some amount of electricity from tasers and is assists by Blue, who destroys his physical body so that he is able to reform elsewhere. Presumably, this location is somewhere in Asia as hinted to by the surroundings. As the episode draws to a close, Raiden takes a straw hat from a man nearby and places it on his head, electricity brimming behind his eyes.

Of note, director Kevin Tanchaeron placed a special disclaimer before this episode and hinted on Twitter that this episode dealt with a mystical character in a more realistic way, as his original Mortal Kombat: Rebirth short did last summer.

During the Mortal Kombat PDP Tournament held over the weekend (Full Story), Leah Jackson from G4TV sat down with the games co-creator, Ed Boon to discuss the upcoming downloadable content.

Upon quizzing him about what to expect in the first instalment of kontent, Ed replied that the main focus would be the entrance of new kombatant, Skarlet, who appeared as a glitch back in Mortal Kombat II where Kitana and Mileena's costumes would turn red, very similar to how the 'rumour' of Ermac started. No word was mentioned of previously announced, Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance alumnist Kenshi but rest assured his presence will be revealed in due time. Ed Boon also stated that alongside Skarlet, there will be some free DLC bundled with her. Specifics aren't known yet but we will report on this as soon as the information becomes available!

Also brought into the brief interview was discussion of Patches on the horizon. Ed cited that they are currently working on one which will combat some of the online lag issues their multiplayer is experiencing alonside many other tweaks and alterations. Most notable however is that they will also be releasing Patch Notes on the official Mortal Kombat website so players who want to be in the know can see exactly what is included in the patches.

No concrete release date has been set in stone just yet, only that it will be released this month! You can view the interview with Ed in it's entirety right here over at G4TV.

Keep up to date with all things Mortal Kombat related by following us over on Twitter at @MK_Online or by liking us over on our Facebook Page.

Think you've got a news story? Send your submissions to our MKO Newslead.

From nearly two hundred competitors, an elite field of sixteen emerged from day one of competition in the National Mortal Kombat Tournament!

Staged and sponsored by Peformance Design Products in the Las Vegas Ballys Hotel and Casino; day two of the tournament was all business as it set about the very simple task of finding a US Mortal Kombat Champion worthy of the $10,000 grand prize and title of Supreme Champion!

For MK, the tournament has been a positive affirmation of the series' readiness to join the ranks of competitive fighting tournaments, supported by NetherRealm Studios' efforts to reinvent a classic style of gameplay in Mortal Kombat. With a position for the game at Evo 2011 already confirmed, the PDP tournament provides a main event preview of things to come in the MK tournament scene!

Evo stalwarts who've mastered popular, rival Capcom games were well represented in the final sixteen of the PDP National MK tour, leaving few overly surprised by the eventual victory of Justin Wong, aka; Jwonggg -- world champion of games like Marvel vs Capcom 2 and Street Fighter IV, and, yes. Recipient of that Daigo combo!

Wong beat out fellow seasoned player FLoE for the top spot and major purse! With a total prize pool of $21,000, runners up certainly weren't going home empty handed! Second place fetched a tidy $4,500, while the rest of the top eight enjoyed dividends down to $500.

As it had through the majority of rounds, the tournament hosted a flurry of Kung Lao players, with Ermac, Raiden, and Cyrax adding some colour to the roster of the most used. The seventh-placed Michelangelo deserves special note for his contributions as Kabal, proving there's still plenty of versatility and depth to be found in the MK roster!

The top eight winners [via TestYourMight.com] were:

• 1. Justin Wong ($10,000)
• 2. FLoE ($4,500)
• 3. LI Joe ($2,500)
• 4. Fubarduck ($1,500)
• 5. Perfect Legend ($750)
• 6. Trophy Club ($750)
• 7. Michelangelo ($500)
• 8. Ike S. ($500)

You can find video archives of the entire streamed event via TeamSpooky, with more bytes expected to come from iPlayWinner.com.

As services return to the PlayStation Network [full story], stay tuned to Mortal Kombat Online for more competitive action as MKO Fight Klub unfolds the forums! Just back from Las Vegas? Be it of hardluck or triumph, be sure to share your $10,000 story from the PDP National Tournament!

By plane, train, automobile, and perhaps Nethership, they flocked to the Ballys Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. Fighting for personal gain, glory, revenge, and the right to be crowned Mortal Kombat Champion, players from across the United States entered into the first official tournament in MK's home country, sponsored by Performance Design Products -- makers of the official MK gamestick!

Under the forgiving conditions of a double elimination bracket, players were pitted against each other in a fight for supremacy and a total purse of $21,000 in the latestMortal Kombat, released April 19.

From the many, a round of sixteen qualifiers emerges thanks to live reports from iPlayWinner.com.

Emerging victorious from eight pools: Eb3n3zer (1), EG Justin Wong (2), Michaelangelo (3), LI Joe (4), Trophy Club (5), Perfect Legend (6), UFO Fubarduck (7) & Ike S (8). Surviving the second-chance: Hugo101 (1), JOP (2), Sochettra Math (3), Big Marcus (4), BE Rivers (5), Floe (6), Noobe (7) & MarkMan (8)!

Kung Lao has played a prominent role in the competitive ranks, while Kitana made only a few appearances contrary to pre-tournament speculation in PDP's strategy preview. Ermac has earned special props when in the hands of players like Michaelangelo and Floe, while many punters pick Justin Wong v JOP as one of the true highlights of the tournament!

Characters like Kano remind us that MK fans love a good rogue, and who could look past MarkMan as a darkhorse surviving the double-elimination to make the final sixteen? When he isn't making waves with his mastery of Smoke, he's a lead product developer for PDP rival in peripherals, MadCatz! MarkMan, or marked man?

The event has and will continue to stream live via TeamSpooky.tv from 12PM PST, with a mammoth archive version of first day competition footage still available online. Tomorrow's winner receives a whopping $10,000 grand prize and title of MK champion!

Competing in the tournament? Be it a tale of hardluck or glory, share your $10,000 tournament story with the Mortal Kombat Online community in our PDP Tournament Forum Thread!

It was reportedly between April 17 and 19 that Sony's PlayStation Network and Qriocity services were compromised by hackers in well documented attacks that have rendered services inoperable ever since [full story]. For Mortal Kombat fans, these unfortunate events coincided with the release of the new game, which has already sold over one million copies in the US since the April 19 release. PlayStation 3 owners, of course, have yet to get the fullest experience out of their game, with online features inaccessible to date.

After almost a month of waiting, Sony have finally announced the near completion of first phase efforts to restore services and upgrade their system!

With the help of industry experts, Sony have undertaken measures to stress upgrades to security features such as increased encryption and additional firewalls, as well as an early warning detection system. These details and more have been laid out in a courtesy video message by Kazuo Hirai, Representative Corporate Executive Officer and Executive Deputy President of the Sony Corporation and CEO of Sony Computer Entertainment.

As part of security updates, PlayStation 3 users will be forced to change their PlayStation Network password using verified consoles or e-mail before accessing online services. This comes with a PS3 System Software Upgrade that all users will be encouraged to download in preparation for restored Network functionality [via PlayStation.Blog].

PlayStation.Blog now reports that all United States PSN servers should be restored and ready to host games, but users are encouraged to continue to remain patient should problems persist.

International users will need to monitor regional sources to be made aware of accessibility changes, as well as the details of Welcome Back packages of free content that Sony have issued as a sweetner for the delay. They are also offering identity theft protection programs where available, but as previously reported, users will need to exercise their own vigilance to detect any threat.

MK fans should also be reminded to exercise caution where DLC scam sites are concerned. MKO reported last week on the scams surfacing since the release of the game, which are not affiliated with Warner Brothers Interactive Entertainment or NetherRealm Studios.

Today, the official sales data for Mortal Kombat has been released courtesy of online gaming website, Giant Bomb.

Mortal Kombat has dominated all new releases and other games already available on the market by accumulating over 900,000 sold copies of the game, thwarting competition from Portal 2 and Lego Star Wars III: Clone Wars.

Ed Boon, the co-creator of Mortal Kombat posted on his official Twitter account (@Noobde) shortly afterwards explaining that the game had actually sold over one million copies as the data did not include the sales figures from the Kollector's and Tournament Editions that were released alongside the standard version of the game. Sales information was compiled by research company, the NPD Group. Expect a consolidated sales amount here once the information becomes available!

This is definitely fantastic news for Warner Bros and Netherrealm Studios as this already indicates Mortal Kombat is a commercial success given it's not even been a month since the game launched! Congratulations.

Keep up to date with all things Mortal Kombat related by following us over on Twitter at @MK_Online or by liking us over on our Facebook Page.

Think you've got a news story? Send your submissions to our MKO Newslead.

Less than a month after the highly publicized release of Mortal Kombat, a game rebirthing the Mortal Kombat series, Netherrealm Studios has released information regarding a new port of several classic games. Three games have been announced for this collection, which will feature online play, leaderboards and achievements. The port is promised to be arcade-perfect and is brought to you by Other Ocean Interactive, the same company responsible for porting 2007's Ultimate Mortal Kombat.

Below is the official press release:

Burbank, Calif. – May 12, 2011 – Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment today announces Mortal Kombat Arcade Kollection for PlayStation®Network, Xbox LIVE® Arcade for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, and Windows PC. For the first time ever, the original Mortal Kombat arcade trilogy - Mortal Kombat, Mortal Kombat 2 and Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3 - have been brought together into a single collection which will be available for download in late summer 2011.

“We are very excited to finally have the first three Mortal Kombat games available in one download package for long-time and new fans to play,” said Ed Boon, Creative Director, NetherRealm Studios. “With the release of our 2011 Mortal Kombat, and its return to 2D game play, players have been asking for these classic titles and we are happy to deliver them.”

Developed by Other Ocean in conjunction with NetherRealm studios, the Mortal Kombat Arcade Kollection will offer fans the chance to play through the games in their original arcade state and rediscover all their favorite characters, fatalities and environments as well as relive some of the franchise’s most memorable secrets. In addition, this new collection will feature online play, leaderboards, achievements and trophies.

An arcade-perfect port, the Mortal Kombat Arcade Kollection brings players their favorite Mortal Kombat arcade classics for $9.99 on PlayStation Network or 800 Microsoft Points, to put it in arcade terms - 40 quarters ($10).

To help players create an arcade experience at home, GameStop will exclusively offer a limited run of the new Mortal Kombat™ Klassic Fight Sticks designed and manufactured by Performance Designed Products (“PDP”), creators of the sold-out Mortal Kombat Tournament Edition Fight Sticks, bundled with a code to download Mortal Kombat Arcade Kollection. Both the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 versions of the Mortal Kombat™ Klassic Fight Sticks are available for pre-order now for $129.99 at www.gamestop.com.

For more information about Mortal Kombat, please visit www.themortalkombat.com, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/mortalkombat or on Twitter @MK_Mortalkombat

As we at MK Online learn more about this exciting new game due for release in just a few months, such as the actual release date, we will be sure to inform you of it.

This week's edition of Mortal Kombat: Legacy completes the genesis of Kitana and Mileena began last week. As Shao Kahn seeks to complete the conquering of Edenia for good.

As the episode begins, Shao Kahn (Aleks Paunovic) is overseeing a sparring match between Kitana (Samantha Tjhia) and Mileena (Jolene Tran). Despite growing up together, the two girls are not very close due to Mileena's resentment for Kitana's presumed place in Shao Kahn's heart. After a brief encounter, Kitana gets the better of Mileena as Kahn calls off the engagement.

The girls are given a series of assignation assignments in which they are to eliminate King Jerrod's imposters. Though this would ensure Kitana never learned the truth of her heritage, with each passing murder Kitana's feelings of confusion and doubt grow stronger. Finally, Kahn locates the true King Jerrod (Kirby Morrow). Jerrod attempts to reveal the truth to Kitana, but Mileena strikes him down from behind. In his dying breath however, he plants the final seed of doubt within Kitana, triggering her memories and secretly turning her against Shao Kahn. The episode ends as Kahn plans his invasion of Earthrealm.

With tantalizing rumors of new characters on the horizon, and a string of store-exclusive classic costumes and fatalities, the downloadable content revolution has officially come to Mortal Kombat with this newest game!

The gamut of currently available extras has many fans eagerly chasing methods to collect all bonuses, but a spate of phony scam websites, potentially designed to take advantage of this enthusiasm, have renewed the need for vigilance and patience.

Several scam sites are offering seemingly free "DLC" options in exchange for potentially sensitive information. Users need to be aware that these sites are in no way affiliated with Warner Brothers Interactive Entertainment or NetherRealm Studios and are not part of any legitimate giveaways. In order to protect themselves, users must be encouraged to exercise caution in any online transactions. Websites that do not bare Warner Brothers legal information and copyright lines are easily identifiable as unofficial and unaffiliated.

The last fortnight has seen considerable controversy play out as Sony scramble to renew protection and resume services after their PlayStation Network was disabled and information was stolen [full story]. The gaming giant continues to deny active concerns regarding credit card details [via PlayStation.blog], but the threat of phishing scams and other information exploits persist. Vigilance in all online activities is encouraged.

If you have concerns about a suspicious website or giveaway you can contact Warner Brothers Customer Support at support@wbgames.com or by phone, (410) 568-3680.

With regards to recent rumors about upcoming Skarlet DLC, NetherRealm Studios offered up their assurance via twitter that they will communicate availability. A Toys R Us catalogue wrongly advertised DLC for this week [full story]. For up to date information on DLC and more, stay tuned to Mortal Kombat Online (@MK_Online).

After three separate episodes featuring Earthrealm warriors, episode four of Mortal Kombat: Legacy shifts the focus to Outworld. Created using a combination of live action and anime-style animations the tale of twin sisters Kitana and Mileena begins this week.

Following closely the game's storyline of Edenia's invasion by Shao Kahn (Aleks Paunovic), the episode begins with the telling of how Edenia lost 10 straight Mortal Kombat tournaments to Kahn's Outworld forces. A new element was introduced however, with Baraka (Fraser Aitcheson) leading the assault against Edenia much in the same way he led it against Earthrealm during Mortal Kombat II. King Jerrod (Kirby Morrow) fled the palace and used a decoy in his steed to protect Queen Sindel (Beatrice Ilg) and his infant daughter Kitana (Samantha Tjhia), but the plan ultimately failed and Shao Kahn seized control of the realm. As told in the game series, Mileena (Jolene Tran) is created after Kahn fears betrayal in the future by Kitana. Enlisting the aid of sorcerer Shang Tsung (Johnson Phan), Mileena is born in Kitana's image, however she has been infused with savage Tarkatan elements. Sindel commits suicide, her motive revealed as merging her soul with Kitana's so that she may know the truth someday. A character depth not shown in the game is also demonstrated by Mileena in this episode, showing her fear and anger over being an imperfect clone to her sister.

As a fight scene between the sisters begins under their father's watchful eye, the episode ends promising a conclusion next week.

With unspecified services expected to resume Tuesday after a string of hacker-related controversies; PlayStation Network may go live in time for the first wave of Mortal Kombat downloadable content extras coming soon to Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3!

GamesRadar have drawn attention toward a Toys 'R' Us sale catalogue [pictured right] revealing the advertised Wednesday availability of new downloadable characters. Previous reports reveal the first wave will include complete builds for Kenshi and the much discussed Lady in Red, Skarlet, with the potential for a playable version of Kintaro still rumored.

EDIT: The official twitter (@MK_MortalKombat) has somewhat put the kibosh on an immediate date for release with their tweet, "Skarlet does not come out on Tuesday. Trust me, we will let you know when she is ready." No reason for the discrepancy has been provided.

Producer Hans Lo told CVG that NetherRealm Studios are committed to more than mere costumes and background tweaks. Fully realised additional characters are their primary interest, with the gamut of moves and features expected of any fighter to be included.

"They won't be copy and pasted from characters already in the game - they're going to have their own unique fighting styles, moves, fatalities and x-rays - all the good stuff..."

Kenshi -- blind sword saint introduced in 2002's Deadly Alliance -- will mark the first expansion of the games' roster beyond Mortal Kombat 4. Skarlet is the first original character to be added to the main roster, the realization of an old arcade rumor based on a supposed glitch. Pictured in chains in Shao Kahn's Koliseum [full story], Skarlett was the subject of much speculation, fuelled by a teaser image posted by series co-creator, Ed Boon.

Given the uncertain situation surrounding system online function, information concerning DLC may be subject to change.

Update May 26: Ed Boon has confirmed [via Twitter] that Skarlet will be a playable character at the WB booth at this year's E3 (June 7-9). A trailer showcasing her moves will be available Monday. The DLC update is expected to also contain patches for online modes and gameplay tweaks [full story]. A "klassic" costume and fatality pack will also be made available soon, with a trailer coming tomorrow [full story].

Mortal Kombat was released for home consoles April 19 (US), April 21 (EU). Mortal Kombat Online will continue to follow updates on DLC and online accessibility. Follow us on Twitter, @MK_Online.

Mortal Kombat: Legacy may be well on its way to attracting a following of millions, but the digital success of the first three episodes hasn't stopped Kevin Tancharoen playing directly to the online diehard fans!

In his latest Twitter teaser, the director shows off a toothy preview of Jolene Tran's yet to debut Mileena. Trailer footage has already shown off the famous fighting feud between Shao Kahn's adopted pseudo-siblings, Mileena and Kitana.

@KTANCH's accompanying message, "What's wrong young Mileena?," suggests the image has flashback significance, but for a character who was partially cloned in the canon of the games [see; character vignette], that suggests little in the way of a certain timeline. It is also uncertain if this indicates an animated flashback sequence, episode, or storyboards.

What is certain is the presence of some nasty teeth, a trademark of the character that will delight fans. Eagle-eyed viewers will have already noticed glimpses of an extended mouth in the trailer, appearing opposite Sam Tjhia as Kitana. A previous teaser showed off their martial arts prowess.

Episodes of Mortal Kombat: Legacy debut Tuesdays via Machinima. You can also find each episode posted on Mortal Kombat Online, with discussion in the Media Forum. Episodes so far feature Jax (Michael Jai White), Sonya (Jeri Ryan), Kano (Darren Shahlavi), Stryker (Tahmoh Penikett) and Johnny Cage (Matt Mullins).

• 4/12/2011 Episode 1: Jax, Sonya and Kano (12:25)
• 4/19/2011 Episode 2: Jax, Sonya and Kano (8:49)
• 4/26/2011 Episode 3: Johnny Cage (11:49)
• 4/11/2011 Mortal Kombat: Legacy Series Trailer (1:48)

For a complete listing of cast and crew and overview of development on the series, check out the complete Legacy compendium. Find more live-action Mileena in the recent Playboy Mortal Kombat preview, and in the new game, released April 19 (US) and April 21 (EU). Find Mortal Kombat Online on Twitter, @MK_Online.