Iron Studios is taking inspiration from klassic arcade games like Mortal Kombat II to create a new series of iconic collectible statues. The MK Klassic line features several legendary fighters from the first games including the biggest and baddest boss of them all - Shao Kahn! Take a closer look:

For his Mortal Kombat Battle Diorama statue the sculptor has taken inspiration directly from Shao Kahn's original appearance in the background of Kahn's Arena. The Emperor sits in a flared throne of stone, staring coldly out from beneath a skull-shaped helmet with one hand resting on a throne skull, and the other gripping a long sceptre with red gem.

Although seated, Shao Kahn is consistent with the 1:10 scale of the MK Klassic Battle Diorama series. The design peaks at 9.8" high thanks to his staff, 7.8" wide & deep. The throne makes this one a bit heavier than others: 5lbs of hand-painted polystone for a slightly higher than usual $199.99 price.

Shao Kahn is available to pre-order and set to ship sometime this quarter. Other statues in the series include: Goro, Raiden, and Scorpion. Will you be adding the Outworld Emperor to your personal Warrior Shrine?

Tell us what you think of this one in the comments below and check out more gear in the Media & Merchandise forum! While you're there you'll also be able to vote for Shao Kahn and others in this year's Supreme Mortal Kombat Champion character tournament!

The world of Netherealm Studios' DC Comics fighting game Injustice: Gods Among Us is set to receive an animated feature film adaptation. The alternate reality story will be the next release from Warner Bros Animation, revealed inadvertently in details for their upcoming project.

IGN reported the news, which came via Warner Bros' announcement of details for the upcoming release of Batman: The Long Halloween, Part 2. The home movie animated sequel to the adaptation of Jeph Loeb & Tim Sale's 1997 comic book masterpiece will include a trailer for the Injustice: Gods Among Us movie.

There are no further plot details about the Injustice movie available at this time. The game spawned a 2017 video game sequel and continued to expand upon its backstory in a series of popular comic book tie-ins. Injustice features a world where Superman is driven to establish a dictatorial regime after his wife Lois Lane, carrying their unborn child, is murdered by The Joker. He's opposed by a faction of rebel heroes led by Batman.

[Related Article: Injustice: Gods Among Us Death of Metropolis Story Trailer]

The Injustice movie is speculated to be coming before the end of 2021, and will follow in the footsteps of last year's NetherRealm animated feature Mortal Kombat Legends: Scorpion's Revenge. A sequel is expected. You can watch the red band trailer and discuss more MK in the Media & Merchandise forum.

NetherRealm Studios returned to business at the start of the year to work on "the next show", and rumors of another DC Comics project have been widely speculated about, even as the developer's status becomes less certain.

Are you looking forward to more DC heroes breaking bad? Tell us what you hope to see from the animated feature in the comments below and dive deeper into that world in the DC Universe Injustice forum.

Fans will be able to add the new Mortal Kombat movie to their home video collection when it gets a physical release this July. The film is streaming on HBO Max until May 23rd, but will be available to own on Blu-Ray and 4K disc in a couple of months. Take a closer look:

Best Buy have listings for multiple versions of the release, including an Exclusive 4K Steel Book edition available to pre-order for $36.99. The set comes with 4K Blu-Ray, Blu-Ray and digital copy of the movie. You can also find the blu-ray & digital release for $21.99 , and standard 4K for $30.99 coming July 13th. Take a look at box art below:

The collectible steel book case includes a foldout cover featuring Scorpion (Hiroyuki Sanada), Sub-Zero (Joe Taslim), and Liu Kang (Ludi Lin) & Kung Lao (Max Huang) pictured above via Blu-ray.com. The standard cover features a variation of previously released Scorpion/Sub-Zero banner advertising. Additional special features haven't been announced, but may include previously released featurettes spotlighting the cast and martial arts.

[Related Article: Review: Mortal Kombat Hacks Into Franchise Reboot]

Will you be picking up the film in two months? Tell us all about it in the comments below and find more stories in the Media & Merchandise forum! Special thanks to MK Online users trynax and gorostilllives for sharing part of this story! Save the date by downloading the MKO App via App Store or Google Play and subscribe to the calendar event!

The media landscape is about to undertake another significant shift as AT&T announces the spin-off and merging of WarnerMedia with Discovery Inc. The deal will include reorganizing WB Games, which was reportedly being shopped for separate sale until late last year, under the new company. Read on for more detail:

The focus of the corporate merger is predominantly the development of entertainment programming and a new streaming powerhouse, combining WarnerMedia assets like Warner Bros, HBO, Cartoon Network and more, with Discovery's global infrastructure and stable of brands, including The Discovery Channel, Food Network, HGTV, and international regional programming.

According to Variety the deal was achieved as a result of COVID-19 pandemic restrictions, when golfing enthusiast and AT&T Chief John Stankey discussed concerns to prioritize a push into the streaming market with Discovery CEO David Zaslav during AT&T Pebble Beach pro-am delays. Zaslav said at a press conference, "We’re not just better together, we’re the best together".

The $43 billion dollar consolidation will facilitate further investment in original programming content and embellishment of existing assets, freeing WarnerMedia of some of the burden of AT&T's multi-billion dollar debt, and divided priority of the telecommunication giant's development of 5G infrastructure. The deal has been achieved through a tax efficient method called Reverse Morris Trust and is expected to pass regulatory approval in 2022.

Jason Kilar will remain CEO of WarnerMedia, with Zaslav to lead the new company, but John Stankey notes, "David's got a lot of decisions to make on personnel." The incoming head talks a good game, so far, philosophizing on the company's content production outlook: "Our core operating philosophy will be more investment on the screen, more resources for storytellers".

The recent Mortal Kombat movie was part of a Warner Brothers led rebound at the box office after pandemic shutdowns. The film also set HBO Max viewership records.

WarnerMedia's focus on streaming was already apparent during a corporate shuffle in 2020 and downsizing at WB owned businesses like DC Comics. The impact, if any, on WB Games remains to be seen, with no forecast for the company's other multimedia interests.

Update: IGN's Julia Alexander reports via Twitter that not all of WB Games and Warner Bros Interactive Entertainment will be included in the sale. Stephen Totilo of Axios relayed a rep's remarks on the division of WB Games, "Some of the gaming arm will stay with AT&T and some will go with the new company".

NetherRealm Studios recently posted positions for Senior Advanced Software Engineer and mobile development positions, adding to March's search for software engineers, senior artists, and quality assurance testing. A new project is expected in the near future, with the studio back at work in January.

Mortal Kombat Online will continue to follow these stories as they develop, You can share your thoughts in the comments below and enter a realm of further speculation in the Future MK Games and DC Universe Injustice forums.

Brazilian statue maker Iron Studios has impressed with a series of sculpted merchandise inspired by the klassic games. Most have taken designs from the first, but for their Raiden offering they've drawn from the colour flourishes of Mortal Kombat II to create a dynamic thunder god! Take a look:

Raiden holds the power of lightning in his hands with translucent blue bolts adding authentic appeal to the Mortal Kombat Battle Diorama statue. Ripples in his blue MKII smock add a touch of drama, implying whipping winds surrounding the powerful storm god. A smirk hidding beneath his trademark hat adds a sense of dark humor to Earthrealm's protector: "Have a nice day."

Like other entries in the series: MKII Klassic Raiden is 1:10 scale hand painted polystone. From top to bottom he stands 9.4" tall, 6.6" wide, and 5.5" deep and weighs 2.2lbs. The limited edition statue has a bone laden diorama base and is available for pre-order on the website for $169.99 to ship in Q3 2021.

Raiden is part of a series that also features Scorpion and Goro. We'll continue to feature more of the series soon. Tell us what you think of Raiden in the comments below and find more stories in the Media & Merchandise forum.

When fans stepped up to the original Mortal Kombat arcade cabinet they were confronted with a looming menace more threatening than the final boss. Goro was the four-armed man-dragon immortalized in statue form at the centre of the Warrior Shrine -- and thanks to Iron Studios you've got a fresh chance to own your own stone tribute to the champ! Take a look:

Goro is one of the first entries into the Brazilian statue maker's Mortal Kombat Klassic Battle Diorama series. The Shokan Prince roars powerfully with a pose that shows off his physique in the klassic style of the original game. He may be reduced to 1:10 scale, but he'll still loom over the collection with fist raised triumphantly over the skulls of his enemies!

At an impressive 14.1" he reaches half a foot higher than the 1:10 scale Klassic Scorpion statue, 7.8" wide and 7.4" deep -- dimensions befitting a character whose hulking sillhouette was once almost as iconic as the dragon logo itself!

Goro was originally achieved using digitized stop motion puppet animation, and as John Tobias recently detailed, he was the greatest MK Champion in history! Now he's a limited edition, hand-painted polystone statue available in limited supply for $199.99!

You can currently see Goro appearing in the new Mortal Kombat feature film, and vote for him in this year's Supreme Mortal Kombat Champion character tournament! Share your thoughts about the Goro statue in the comments and find & discuss more in the Media & Merchandise forum!

Since his very first appearance: Scorpion has been an icon for gaming and the Mortal Kombat franchise. Now Brazilian merchandiser Iron Studios is paying homage to the ninja's earliest incarnation with a dramatic new statue in the klassic style! Take a closer look and find out more:

We've seen plenty of merchandise inspired by the arcade trilogy, but the Battle DIorama series from Iron Studios sets itself apart in a few ways. 1:10 scale means it's a little more compact and a little more affordable than previous high-end statues, but still manages to deliver a touch of Hell with a "rustic" bone-laden base, and Scorpion's trademark blood soaked rope spear!

Scorpion is hand painted polystone standing 8.9" tall, 4.7" wide, 4.3" deep and weighing a modest 1.9lbs. With white eyes and a stern scowl this is an impressive adaptation of the klassic sprites and carries an impressive $179.99 price tag. If that sounds fair you can pre-order now for delivery in Q4 2021.

Scorpion is currently appearing in the Mortal Kombat movie, and you can vote for him in this year's Supreme Mortal Kombat Champion character tournament! Share your thoughts about this statue in the comments below or discover more in the Media & Merchandise forum!

One of the biggest talking points coming out of the new Mortal Kombat movie is the possible casting of Johnny Cage for a sequel. Martial arts star Alain Moussi is one of the emerging names being bandied about by fans -- and he's making it known he's ready for the call!

Alain Moussi is a Canadian martial artist and actor with the distinction of black belts in jujitsu and karate. You may've seen him recently starring opposite Nicolas Cage in Jiu Jitsu, or as Batman in the DC live-action series Titans. His most compelling credit to date is as Kurt Sloane: heir apparent to Jean-Claude Van Damme in the revived Kickboxer franchise.

Moussi's martial arts are a strong point of difference, but it's starting to seem like you're really only in the chase if you've been photoshopped to look like the iconic gaming character. WWE's Mike "The Miz" Mizanin submitted himself with fan art that captured some fans' imaginations, while Ryan Reynolds turned widespread Twitter talk into a promotional opportunity using his own mockup.

Not to be outdone: Alain Moussi has enthusiastically shared a fan's effort via Twitter, getting behind the Johnny Cage version of character posters created for the film [pictured below].

Before he was one of the breakout stars of martial arts cinema, Moussi did extensive doubling work, performing stunts for Mike Mizanin in The Marine 3: Homefront. He even doubled for Van Damme in a commercial that required the injured star to perform the splits! A trademark Johnny Cage acquired from his 90s cinematic inspiration!

Alain Moussi may have to work on disguising a French-Canadian accent, but he has the Johnny Cage moves and confidence, tweeting: 'Let me start by saying I am NOT cast as Johnny Cage in Mortal Kombat 2... but I SHOULD BE. When you want something you don’t sit back and wait for a phone call, you get up and GO FOR IT!!'

Who do you think is the most interesting name put forward for the role? Share your thoughts in the comments below and discuss more about the movie sequel in the Media & Merchandise forum!

Although it was long assumed that all the codes and secrets from the first Mortal Kombat game had long been discovered, the Mortal Kombat community manages to keep diving deeper! Today, longtime MKO user and content creator TotalMK managed to discover a way to unlock a hidden screen:

The code itself does not reveal all that much, except the following block of text:

THIS IS MORTAL KOMBAT

COPYRIGHT (C) 1992 MIDWAY MANUFACTURING
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

It was long known that this text was contained somewhere in the arcade's ROM code, but it was never known it was possible to display this text in-game. Now, thanks to the dedication of a longtime fan, it's revealed that is indeed possible.

Check out the video here, including all the details of how he discovered the code:

This is the first discovery of a new code since the EJB menu was discovered in 2016 [full story here].

To perform the code, simply (or not so simply) hold down the High Punch button while entering the EJB code, which involves alternating the block inputs between P1 and P2:

P1 (5x), P2 (10x), P1 (x2), P2 (x1), P1 (x2), P2 (x3), P1 (x4)

Similar text is included in Mortal Kombat II and Mortal Kombat 3, and while there is no known way to make the game display that text, it's still possible that such a code may be discovered for those games in the future.

Again, shout-out to TotalMK for this discovery! Check him out on Twitter and YouTube. And of course, follow us at MK Online on our own Twitter and YouTube. Also, check out our 2D Kombat Klassics Forum!

After a strong international performance early last month, and better than predicted opening weekend in North America: Mortal Kombat has taken a steep drop in its second week at the domestic box office. The brutal ten-day drop is in stark contrast to the lingering resilience of Warner Brothers' other big screen franchise brawler: Godzilla vs Kong. Read on for details:

Forbes reports the dramatic drop in trade for Mortal Kombat, calculating a 79% downturn Friday to Friday with only $1.85 million grossed in the second week. The takings kept MK narrowly ahead of anime rival Demon Slayer -Kimetsu no Yaiba- The Movie: Mugen Train, which dropped 81% with $1.81 million.

The general impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on public confidence shouldn't be overlooked, but Forbes analysis presents a case for a more broad decline in interest, based on fan-driven audience appeal in the first week, and tepid reviews that broadly described the movie as appealing to fans of the games -- an idea challenged by MK Online's review, among others. The film currently has a 54% freshness from critics on Rotten Tomatoes, with a more favourable 86% fan score.

Mortal Kombat is reportedly HBO Max's most watched programming so far, which Forbes speculates reflects casual interest and a minimum of impact on theatrical business, where movies like Godzilla vs Kong and Tom and Jerry maintained more consistent theatrical trade. Godzilla vs Kong picked up another $700,000 in its fifth Friday at US theatres, reach $400 million worldwide.

Forbes draws comparisons with 2016's sharp 81% decline in first week trade for Batman vs Superman: Dawn of Justice, and Warcraft's 70% fall from a $24 million opening in that same year. Wonder Woman 1984 was another pandemic-era franchise release that saw a similar drop.

It's too soon to count Mortal Kombat out, with potential for continued trade in the coming weeks, but a wave of major new releases are rapidly approaching and expected to draw interest elsewhere. The movie seems likely to remain solvent, with popular casting rumors and the promise of unused characters & concepts likely to boost sequel chances.

[Related Article: UK Mortal Kombat Digital Rental Premieres Next Week]

MK Online will audit the battles of the big screen in the annual Supreme Mortal Kombat Champion fan-voting tournament. Share your thoughts in the comments and enter the Media & Merchandise forum for more discussion about the movie!

The new Mortal Kombat movie didn't feature a tournament, but we can fix that! The 10th Annual Supreme Mortal Kombat Champion tournament aims to take stock of the franchise and its most recent installments. This year we'll audit the battles of the big screen and reflect on Mortal Kombat 11 Ultimate! Who's next? You decide by voting in daily fight polls!

64 characters have been chosen to take part in daily match-ups in the MK Online User Poll! Selections are inspired by the Mortal Kombat movie, MK11 Ultimate, Scorpion's Revenge, and Mortal Kombat (2011) -- also celebrating its 10th anniversary! Check the latest forum updates for Supreme Rankings data and share your current thoughts about the combatants in the comments!

• Round 1: Raiden (66.7%) d. Delia (33.3%)
• Round 1: Shinnok (94.1%) d. Dark Kahn (5.9%)
• Round 1: The Dragon King (80.0%) d. Blaze (20.0%)
• Round 1: Argus (52.6%) d. Kronika (47.4%)
• Round 1: Kung Lao (52.4%) d. Nitara (47.6%)
• Round 1: Liu Kang (78.3%) d. Kabal (21.7%)
• Round 1: Bo' Rai Cho (65.0%) d. Kung Jin (35.0%)
• Round 1: Great Kung Lao (52.0%) d. Shang Tsung (48.0%)
• Round 1: Scorpion (57.9%) d. Quan Chi (42.1%)
• Round 1: Goro (84.2%) d. Cole Young (15.8%)
• Round 1: Shujinko (59.1%) d. Taven (40.9%)
• Round 1: Ferra/Torr (57.1%) d. Johnny Cage (42.9%)
• Round 1: Mileena (68.8%) d. Sonya Blade (31.2%)
• Round 1: Reptile (55.6%) d. Kano (44.4%)
• Round 1: Jax (68.8%) d. Reiko (31.2%)
• Round 1: Noob Saibot (59.1%) d. Sareena (40.9%)
• Round 1: Kitana (52.4%) d. Sindel (47.6%)
• Round 1: Cetrion (57.1%) d. Jacqui Briggs (42.9%)
• Round 1: Jade (52.6%) d. Sheeva (47.4%)
• Round 1: Shao Kahn (66.7%) d. Stryker (33.3%)
• Round 1: Fujin (61.9%) d. Hotaru (38.1%)
• Round 1: Havik (83.3%) d. Geras (16.7%)
• Round 1: Kintaro (55.0%) d. Rain (45.0%)
• Round 1: Ermac (57.9%) d. Baraka (42.1%)
• Round 1: Kenshi (73.3%) d. Takeda (26.7%)
• Round 1: Tremor (64.3%) d. Cassie Cage (35.7%)
• Round 1: D'Vorah (52.9%) d. Kollector (47.1%)
• Round 1: Skarlet (57.1%) d. Kotal Kahn (42.9%)
• Round 1: Cyrax (52.6%) d. Smoke (47.4%)
• Round 1: Nightwolf (88.9%) d. Erron Black (11.1%)
• Round 1: Frost (52.6%) d. Sektor (47.4%)
• Round 1: Sub-Zero (59.1%) d. Tanya (40.9%)


• Round 2: Shinnok (52.2%) d. Raiden (47.8%)
• Round 2: The Dragon King (92.9%) d. Argus (7.1%)
• Round 2: Liu Kang (65.2%) d. Kung Lao (34.8%)
• Round 2: Bo' Rai Cho (66.7%) d. Great Kung Lao (33.3%)
• Round 2: Scorpion (62.5%) d. Goro (37.5%)
• Round 2: Shujinko (63.2%) d. Ferra/Torr (36.8%)
• Round 2: Mileena (52.2%) d. Reptile (47.8%)
• Round 2: Jax (56.2%) d. Noob Saibot (43.8%)
• Round 2: Cetrion (58.8%) d. Kitana (41.2%)
• Round 2: Shao Kahn (62.5%) d. Jade (37.5%)
• Round 2: Fujin (60.0%) d. Havik (40.0%)
• Round 2: Kintaro (52.0%) d. Ermac (48.0%)
• Round 2: Kenshi (83.3%) d. Tremor (16.7%)
• Round 2: Skarlet (55.0%) d. D'Vorah (45.0%)
• Round 2: Nightwolf (66.7%) d. Cyrax (33.3%)
• Round 2: Frost (61.1%) d. Sub-Zero (38.9%)


• Round 3: Shinnok (52.9%) d. The Dragon King (47.1%)
• Round 3: Liu Kang (66.7%) d. Bo' Rai Cho (33.3%)
• Round 3: Scorpion (52.4%) d. Shujinko (47.6%)
• Round 3: Mileena (61.9%) d. Jax (38.1%)
• Round 3: Shao Kahn (63.2%) d. Cetrion (36.8%)
• Round 3: Kintaro (61.9%) d. Fujin (38.1%)
• Round 3: Kenshi (52.6%) d. Skarlet (47.4%)
• Round 3: Nightwolf (64.7%) d. Frost (35.3%)


• Quarter Final: Liu Kang (69.6%) d. Shinnok (30.4%)
• Quarter Final: Mileena (60.0%) d. Scorpion (40.0%)
• Quarter Final: Shao Kahn (57.1%) d. Kintaro (42.9%)
• Quarter Final: Nightwolf (51.9%) d. Kenshi (48.1%)


• Semi Final: Liu Kang (64.3%) d. Mileena (35.7%)
• Semi Final: Shao Kahn (60.0%) d. Nightwolf (40.0%)


• Championship: Liu Kang (52.0%) d. Shao Kahn (48.0%)

The tournament is an annual kommunity tradition designed to ignite discussion and track the progress of characters. Winners advance to the next round until there is only one Supreme Champion! Who should win? Reply with your thoughts to each battle and find more fun & games in the Fan Koliseum. You can find and vote in the latest User Poll by using the site menu or following this link!

The release of the new Mortal Kombat movie has given everyone a case of MK fever, but The Late Late Show has gone back to the nineties to catch Techno Syndrome in a sketch revealing the original recording of the famous Mortal Kombat shout. Watch:

Remember the nineties? That's the sketch as James Corden struts into the recording booth in double denim to record the vocal for MK's anthemic tie-in track. You might not be with his producer's choice of shirt, but favour turns as he struggles to get the right performance out of the increasingly confused vocalist.

Fans know Techno Syndrome was originally recorded for Mortal Kombat: The Album -- a concept soundtrack released in 1994 under The Immortals moniker. It samples the iconic shout of the Mortal Monday television commercial which featured recently identified and rediscovered actor Kyle Wyatt.

Techno Syndrome became the unofficial theme for Mortal Kombat after it gained further exposure through its inclusion in the 1995 feature film and its soundtrack compilation. A new version called Techno Syndrome 2021 was recorded by Benjamin Wallfisch and released to tie-in with the new feature film.

[Related Article: Surprising MK Anniversary Reference on The Tonight Show]

Listen to the song Emergence from the new movie and catch-up with the official red band trailer, then discuss more movies and music in the Media & Merchandise forum! Or go deeper into the timequake by revisiting the nineties in the 2d Kombat Klassics forum!

Mortal Kombat has officially returned to theatres but one of the iconic klassic fighters didn't make the final cut. Now everyone is trying to cast the perfect Johnny Cage for the sequel and frequent fan choice Ryan Reynolds has responded to his adoring public.

Social media followers and online pundits know Ryan Reynolds as much for his irreverent promotional campaigns as his starring roles in action movies. Never one to miss an opportunity: he responded to widespread Twitter discussion with a photoshopped finisher and a promotional message for the telcom he co-owns Mint Mobile

"What do I do with casting rumors and wireless competitors upset that @usnews just named @Mintmobile 2021's best cell phone plan? Finish ‘em!!"

It's a jokey self-serving move right out of the Johnny Cage playbook and it caught the attention of Ed Boon, who got in on the fun responding: "Uh.... @VancityReynolds ... we should talk" MK movie producer Todd Garner didn't need convincing, either. He's already been talking about Reynolds for many months.

Rumors persist that the filmmakers want to cast a big name for the sequel role, which was prominently teased at the end of the 2021 action blockbuster with a close-up on a Johnny Cage poster. What a big name means in today's Hollywood is still to be determined, with fans bandying around Marvel stars like Chris Pratt and Chris Evans.

Reynolds isn't the first actor to photoshop himself as the video game character: WWE's The Miz did it last week -- jumping immediately onto sequel discussions after the film's theatrical & streaming premiere. Sub-Zero actor Joe Taslim submitted Scott Adkins for the part before the movie was even released.

[Related Article: Mortal Kombat Producer on Johnny Cage & Rain Omissions]

Ryan Reynolds has built up quite a filmography as the snarky action star of Deadpool and The Hitman's Bodyguard, but is the 44 year old right for the part? Share your thoughts in the comments below and join more movie discussion in the Media & Merchandise forum!

The new Mortal Kombat is out now in theatres & video on demand on HBO Max and the streaming service is celebrating the release with cake! It's gratuitous cross-promotion in the best possible taste as Nerdy Nummies feasts upon your fandom with an MK decorated cake. Watch and learn:

Watch: Mortal Kombat Cake Design | Black Widow Red Velvet Cake

HBO Max's Baketopia host Rosanna Pansino and judge & cake artist Timbo Sullivan are cooking up a red velvet dragon cake fans can sink their teeth into by following a previous recipe. The cake design is the Mortal Kombat main event and takes inspiration from the original & iconic Dragon Logo and its textured Mortal Kombat 2011 reinvention.

Mortal Kombat Cake Ingredients:

• 2 ¼ cups all purpose flour
• 5 tablespoons cocoa powder
• ¾ teaspoon baking soda
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ½ cup + 2 tablespoons milk
• 1 ¼ cups sour cream
• 5 ounces butter, unsalted
• 2 ¼ cups granulated sugar
• 4 eggs
• 1 ¼ teaspoons vanilla extract
• 4 teaspoons red food coloring

The cake making duo amusingly discuss the quirks of the new feature film and its dragon-shaped birthmarks -- inspiration for the more game-authentic dragon logo cake. You can find out more about that by watching the red band trailer and reading MK Online's spoiler-filled review! If that's not sweet enough for you, flash back to Cakewatch 2015 and check out the deadly dessert that celebrated Mortal Kombat X!

Mortal Kombat is available now to watch in theatres and streaming in the United States until May 23rd. The movie is the most viewed HBO Max programming and once you've seen it - you can look for Baketopia! Find and discuss more topics from the movie in the Media & Merchandise forum!

The new Mortal Kombat movie may not feature the martial arts tournament the series is famous for -- but it does pay homage to its ancient traditions. Series co-creator and original scribe John Tobias has been setting the record straight on various social media topics, and he's graced us with an original timeline for the Mortal Kombat tournament and its famous winners!

The first Mortal Kombat video game lauded iconic Shokan sub-boss Goro as the undefeated champion for five-hundred years! Far from any garden variety loser: it was his success that put Earthrealm in the precarious position of nine defeats in the ancient tournament. Borrowing the pro wrestling parlance used by fans, John Tobias makes it clear Goro 'was no jobber'!

Thanks to opening attract screen text that described Goro's dominant reign, we've always known he claimed the title by defeating a revered Shaolin monk known as "Great" Kung Lao -- but who did the legendary hero beat to become champion?

An official comic book written and drawn by John Tobias told us it was Shang Tsung all along, and in a series of tweets he lays out a timeline of tournaments that occurred roughly every fifty years over the course of a millennium. That spaces each contest out a bit farther than the average standard generation of 20-30 years, but he notes the timeline, similar to what they conceived during development of the original game, is a "paper napkin approximation" subject to the specific dates of a story, such as the 1992 of the original game's Liu Kang victory.

• 1000 -- Unspecified Winner representing Outworld
• 1050 -- Unspecified Winner representing Outworld
• 1100 -- Unspecified Winner representing Outworld
• 1150 -- Shang Tsung representing Earthrealm
• 1200 -- Shang Tsung representing Outworld
• 1250 -- Great Kung Lao representing Earthrealm
• 1300 -- Great Kung Lao representing Earthrealm
• 1350 -- Great Kung Lao representing Earthrealm
• 1400 -- Great Kung Lao representing Earthrealm
• 1450 -- Great Kung Lao representing Earthrealm
• 1500 -- Great Kung Lao representing Earthrealm
• 1550 -- Prince Goro representing Outworld
• 1600 -- Prince Goro representing Outworld
• 1650 -- Prince Goro representing Outworld
• 1700 -- Prince Goro representing Outworld
• 1750 -- Prince Goro representing Outworld
• 1800 -- Prince Goro representing Outworld
• 1850 -- Prince Goro representing Outworld
• 1900 -- Prince Goro representing Outworld
• 1950 -- Prince Goro representing Outworld
• [1992] -- Liu Kang representing Earthrealm

Tournament lineage became a topic of fascination last year when Mortal Kombat 11: Aftermath sent Liu Kang to the ancient past of Great Kung Lao with a plan to rewrite history using the powers he claimed as Fire God and Keeper of Time. He also appeared in Liu Kang's arcade ending. Tobias acknowledges his original conception for the sequence events may no longer apply in the new canon.

The bald fighter can be seen defeating what looks like Shang Tsung in a mural in the recent feature film. He also defeated the sorcerer during live-action series Mortal Kombat: Conquest, which featured his tournament victory in the first episode. Great Kung Lao was also depicted in the original John Tobias collector's comics, licensed adaptations by Malibu Comics, and the Mortal Kombat II arcade ending of his descendent and namesake: Kung Lao

It would seem the next Shaolin tournament is still a few decades away, but fans will be able to decide a champion for 2021 when the 10th Annual Supreme Mortal Kombat Champion voting tournament gets under way very soon in the MK Online Fan Koliseum! You can also discuss more classic canon in the 2D Kombat Klassics forum and catch-up with the movie in the Media & Merchandise forum!

NetherRealm Studios has announced it will no longer allow games to be utilized by eSports organizer WePlay after a single season of Mortal Kombat 11 competition in the "Ultimate Fight League". The announcement was made amidst controversies surrounding the fledgling, cash rich tournament organizer. Read on for details:

The developer posted a statement to Twitter yesterday citing a commitment to serving fans and "differences in vision" with the Ukraine hosted oraganization, who entered the eSports market late last year with an injection of cash incentives that attracted several top players.

Competitive staples SonicFox and Tekken Master took top spots in the Mortal Kombat 11 competition held in Kiev in March, splitting $25,000 between them from a total $150,000 prize pool. The source of WePlay's abundant funds is speculated to be part of the problem.

Kotaku reports a controversial deal with Russian gambling site 1xBet as a mounting cause for concern for observers. A report by The Sunday Times documented various practises that led to a suspension of business in the United Kingdom, including gambling on children's sporting in Kenya, and advertising on illegal streaming websites.

Tekken 7 and Soul Calibur VI developer Bandai Namco joined NetherRealm Studios in the boycott, almost simultaneously releasing their own social media statement with similarly vague reasoning, adding "professional standards" to almost identical phrasing. WePlay Ultimate Fight League posted a response calling the development a surprise.

In a statement to Esports News UK, Weplay stated "We are aware of the fact that 1xBet does not operate in certain countries.. 1xBet has assured us that the brand abides by all the relevant laws and regulations in every jurisdiction in which it operates."

Final Round tournament organizer Josh "Icege" McWhorter gained traction earlier in the month when he expressed speculative concerns over potential links between 1xBet and organized crime, and the implications of WePlay's deal with the company. These claims appear unverified at this time.

The boom in spending has seen eSports develop rapidly, following and pioneering models employed in professional sporting competitions, but lacking in the organized independent regulation associated with monitoring and upholding standards and practises in sport, and other industries. Catering to a niche where the lines between players and fans are blurred, the field has been ripe for corruption and controversy.

Esports News UK reports that former NetherRealm partner, ESL, is investigating and reviewing their sponsorship with 1xBet. ESL took steps toward eliminating doping in eSports with a drug testing program in 2015, but the ethics of gambling advertising in this space remain a topic awaiting further examination.