There's a target on your back and Kung Jin is drawing a long bow! The Shaolin archer with a dark past can be yours if you complete the latest Mortal Kombat X Mobile free-to-play challenge!
Unlocking Marksman Kung Jin means hitting the bullseye on five tiers of hard targets! Each tier consists of 12 battles, with the exception of the final 15-fight challenge! Tier 1 is a lightning round of all Bronze Kards, Tiers 2 & 3 promote you to Bronze & Silver kards. You'll need all Gold Outworld fighters in your Tier 4 team, before Tier 5 demands you use D'Vorah to swat aside the staff of Kung Jin!
As speculation over Mortal Kombat X's content future defiantly simmers post-MKXL; GameInformer have tapped into the always engaging, often contentious subject of guest characters - past, present and future.
Ed Boon revealed the best selling downloadable characters of the most recent game were Alien and Predator. It follows a trend started by Freddy Kreuger and Scorpion, who topped DLC sales in Mortal Kombat (2011) and Injustice: Gods Among Us respectively.
Mortal Kombat X featured the most downloadable characters of any NetherRealm Studios fighting game to date: eight in total. Four of those were guest fighters, meaning the combative Alien vs Predator mega-franchise trumped classic horror icons Jason Voorhees (Friday the 13th) and Leatherface (Texas Chainsaw Massacre) in latest sales. That fact hasn't stopped Ed Boon being open to the idea of a dedicated horror fighting game [full story].
On the appeal of the crossover characters, Boon says, "There was a coolness and a novelty factor to seeing the mixing of the things." Supported by a history of monetized success, Boon noted of guest fighters in Injustice 2: "... I would be surprised if we didn't do any of that." Potential good news for those who enjoyed Scorpion in the first DC Comics fighter, and may be holding out hope Todd McFarlane's well documented interest in a Spawn crossover.
How does a character like Spawn make it to the roster of another company's fighting game? The tangled web of corporate licensing and intellectual property has the final say, but Boon broke down the basic process for GameInformer:
"Probably the biggest one is simply someone suggests someone," he says. "With Mortal Kombat, we stepped outside of the universe with characters like Freddy Krueger, Jason, Alien, Predator, and stuff like that, so the movie stuff kind of mixes things up. Fan feedback is another big one; just hearing some very loud, insistent people saying what they want. And what's available; obviously we can't just choose what we want to do, like 'we want Robocop so he's in the game!' You have to do something that can be accommodated as far the company. So there are a number of variables, including what the players have been asking for. We're always listening to feedback."
For every guest character that makes the cut, there are several that don't go beyond consideration. In the past, Boon has revealed several fights they almost started with: Sweet Tooth (Twisted Metal), Marcus Fenix (Gears of War), Michael Meyers (Halloween), and characters from the Terminator franchise.
Comic book creator Todd McFarlane has also been notably interested in his independent creation Spawn crossing over with both Mortal Kombat X and Injustice. He has claimed to have Warner Brothers permission to use the character in the past, even though nothing came of it.
Mortal Kombat characters themselves are no strangers to being invading presences. Characters have been crossing over with klassic Midway arcade games since NBA Jam. Their in-house proliferation has continued with Kombatants in titles like The Grid, Injustice: Gods Among Us and WWE Immortals! Appearanes in Unreal Championship 2 and NFL Blitz made Raiden one or Mortal Kombat Online's Top 10 unlockable kombatants!
Since being acquired by Warner Brothers, the makers of Mortal Kombat have spent a lot of time thinking about other properties.
After developing the 2008 crossover Mortal Kombat versus DC Universe for Midway; the fighting game developer entered a new era of ownership, and a new decade with Mortal Kombat -- a game packaged with Kratos for PlayStation, and Freddy Kreuger as the first downloadable guest character.
The console exclusives may have ended with Sony's God of War mascot, but the proliferation of horror movie icons has continued. Freddy Kruger's nightmare appearance inveitably led to calls for Friday the 13th rival Jason Voorees. His Kombat Pack appearance opposite Predator - another recipe for the expected arrival of Alien in Kombat Pack 2. Whether or not obscure movie trivia connected the Xenomorph to Texas Chainsaw Massacre's Leatherface by accident, or by design -- the fourth guest in MKX was again a horror icon.
The perpetual fixation with horror movie monsters and slashers may be a tenuous link for the martial arts fighter, but the constant has inspired many calls for NetherRealm Studios to break-off their guests into a separate game for movie maniacs! GameInformer asked Ed Boon about the possibility during an interview at the ESL Season 3 Finals. The Creative Director was well armed to answer the question:
"Yes, yes! You know, as we've been accumulating them, that idea has been coming up more and more frequently," he says. "You brought it up and a few other people have brought it up like 'why don't you do a horror movie fighting game?' Maybe one day we'll do it."
While assembling a cast of horror cinema's darkest death dealers could pose a challenge, the modern era of the crossover has certainly opened up the realm of possibility more than ever before!
The biggest question: Who would make the cut in a movie maniacs fighting game? The bonus round: Which Mortal Kombat character is terrifying enough to turn the tables as a horror fighting game guest? Lets hope your answer is better than Casey Becker's!
After a week of news making in Los Angeles for the unveiling of Injustice 2; Mortal Kombat X Creative Director Ed Boon is drawing eyes back to the home team with a hint of news upcoming!
evEn with the recent announcement of injustice 2 .... we'Ve got some cool mortal kombat x news cOming! :)
Today's tweet promises Mortal Kombat X news with the unsubtle capitalization of three letters: EVO.
Fandom being what it is: the teaser will quickly prompt speculation over an announcement of new downloadable content for the annual July event. The fires of fantasy were stoked as recently as May, when Boon himself polled fans on NetherRealm's prospective next project. The MK-centric survey returned support for a third Kombat Pack, even though Mortal Kombat XL wrapped in March.
Expectations may be better served by anticipating news regarding the tournament major - rather than taking place at it.
An Injustice demonstration is relatively likely, presenting a reason for Boon to try to attract attention back to MKX with the tenuous practice of pre-hype hype. MKXL is already under fire from internal competition. A typically fickle fanbase is showing wavering signs of short attention spans amidst anticipation for the 2017 DC sequel.
NetherRealm Studios and Warner Brothers recently reaffirmed their dedication to the tournament scene with a $10,000 prize pot for next week [full story]. This follows a massive $500,000 put behind ESL Season 3 Finals. Competitive play of their games has been an on-going priority since re-establishing a foothold in 2011.
Update: True to form; Ed Boon has followed his initial tease just two hours later with confirmation that the studio and Warner Brothers will pitch in $50,000 to the Mortal Kombat XL 2016 Evo winnings.
Debuting during the "Golden Age" of comics; Wonder Woman first appeared in All-Star Comics #8 in 1941. She joined a growing stable of iconic comic book superheroes led by Superman and Batman, whose rise fostered the escapist fantasies of World War II era America.
The enduring heroine was the creation of William Moulton Marston -- inventor of the polygraph test and noted admirer of the fairer sex, who adapted his interests into the heroine's legendary golden lasso. The warrior for peace has conquered all mediums in the 75 years that followed, tackling cinema in 2015 with Gal Gadot's debut in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice.
Wonder Woman will star in her own theatrical feature June 2nd, 2017 -- but not before Injustice 2 throws the Amazon back into the fray with her fellow DC heroes and villains against Regime Superman, and another emerging global threat [read more].
Wonder Woman returns as a major player in the upcoming video game “Injustice 2,” the highly anticipated sequel in development by NetherRealm Studios to be published by Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment in 2017.
An Injustice 2 T-shirt given to winners at the ESL Mortal Kombat X Finals alluded to several characters not included in the Injustice announcement, including; Wonder Woman, Dr. Fate and Harley Quinn.
When Wonder Woman is revealed she'll join a confirmed cast that already includes: Batman, Superman, The Flash, Aquaman, Supergirl, Gorilla Grodd & Atrocitus! Watch the Official Gameplay Trailer to see the newcomers in action!
Looking forward to Wonder Woman's return? Register to make your warrior cry heard on the DC Universe Injustice forum! Join the sisterhood by liking & sharing stories via @MK_Online and Facebook.
Mortal Kombat and high fashion: Two great tastes that taste great together? Not according to social media hecklers who mocked popstar Zayn Mailk's choice of attire for the 2016 Met Gala last month. As things turn out, it may be that the joke is on the doubters.
Gotcha!Zayn Malik dons Versace metal for 2016 Met Gala [via Yahoo].
Accompanied by date Gigi Hadid; the former One Direction singer attempted a cyborg chic look for the May 2nd ball. It wasn't unprompted: The theme for this year's annual fundraising event was "Manus x Machina: Fashion in an Age of Technology".
Citing Mortal Kombat icon Jax as his inspiration, Malik explained the origin story behind his striking look in an interview with Dazed & Confused Magazine.
"... I was asked to design my own costume by Donatella Versace!” He lets out a laugh. “It was cool. I had seen a few people hitting me online, saying negative things about it. But I enjoyed it because they were saying I looked like a dude from Mortal Kombat, and it was actually based on a character (from the video game series), called Jax. He had metal arms, and the theme was technology, so I just took it from him... It’s a bit easy to just dress up in a suit. I like to do things that are a bit outside of that.”
No points for originality, but what ever the inspiration behind the metallic arms - we think he looks sharp! The fusion of pop culture, technology and design is the kind of fashion forward we like. Just mind the wall.
Malik also credits the fashion forward daring of late pop legend Prince as an influence. Fitting, given Mortal Kombat's own long standing tribute to the singer.
The Injustice 2 footage from this year's E3 keeps coming with the greatest abundance provided by IGN. They've featured fifteen minutes of unbroken gameplay, showcasing more of the expansive arenas, characters and Gear System unlocks.
Injustice 2 expands on the scale of arenas, shown in battles in Atlantis and Gotham City. In the latter location, fighters can battle their way off the street and into an arena, weaving through transitions back to the street. Arena interaction keeps the action smooth and delivers extra impact.
Classic Aquaman villain Black Manta is a confirmed arena interaction - likely crossing him off the playable roster for the foreseeable future
Developers who play together - stay together. So the team at Techland probably didn't need to apologize when they were caught with blood red hands playing Mortal Kombat X!
As picked up by Kotaku; the Xbox Reddit community noticed Dying Light racking up achievements in the 2015 fighter. They soon explained: "We forgot to log-out. We end up playing it. Had a blast. Sorry for the confusion."
Dying Light was a 2015 survival horror game published by Warner Brothers Interactive Entertainment. According to the Polish developers, the Sound Team won their Mortal Kombat session. NetherRealm Studios had some fun with it, congratulating the victors.
Hey @TechlandGames we have quite a few dying light achievements! Congrats to your sound team.
It's not the first time we've seen the Warner Brothers stable enjoying each other's company. NetherRealm paid tribute toAvalanche Studios when they published Mad Max. The love-in between NRS and Batman developers Rocksteady Studios gave us Scorpion cosplay and Cake Watch 2015.
Who's next? How many achievements did you knock off? Register to get braggy on the Mortal Kombat X! Tell the world by liking & sharing stories via @MK_Online and Facebook!
Most fans would agree: Ed Boon has had it far too good for far too long. As co-creator of the monster Mortal Kombat franchise and head of Injustice 2, Boon has had a ticket to ride where he wants, when he wants.
After almost twenty-five years of writing and cashing his own cheques - GameInformer has finally brought the gamesmaster to task to pay the bill on the questions he's been avoiding for decades!
The full E3 interview broaches many of the outstanding issues surrounding the Mortal Kombat franchise. These excerpts reflect but a few of our favourites.
Game Informer: Why doesn't Scorpion realize he could go to his opponent rather than always demanding they come to him? Ed Boon:That's a really good question. I think he's a control freak. Like, he's one of those people who has to bark orders to kind of lift himself up.
Who do you most like to kill with those fatalities? Sub-Zero I guess. Contrary to popular belief, I actually don't hate Sub-Zero, but he's the opposite of Scorpion, so he has to kill him. There's no other way.
Has [Reptile] given up on his cosplay career? Yes. Ironically, many people like his [palette swapped] clone of the other characters as their favorite. I think it has a lot to do with a nostalgia or childhood thing.
Why doesn't Raiden always travel back in time each time EarthRealm loses a tournament? You know what? I ask myself that same question and um... we're going to have to address that in the future. [laughs] We gotta come up with something that makes sense because that's a really good point.
Does Noob Saibot ever question where his name came from? Yes. He thinks the creation of his name was very backwards thinking and didn't look forward to the future. Ironically, I was the one who named him. I think he wonders why it's so backwards.
"Backwards" - get it?... Unfortunately, GameInformer neglected to ask the most burning question of them all: Where do they come up with all those crazy fatalities? Maybe next year, fellas.
Creative Director Ed Boon is in Los Angeles to promote the announcement of new game: Injustice 2! Appearing live on the GameSpot stage, the NetherRealm Studios face discussed the ins and outs of their superhero sequel.
New characters and the new Gear System are the hot topic at E3. Fresh additions Atrocitus, Gorilla Grodd and Supergirl are on display, along with Injustice veterans Batman and Superman!
Addressing the potential imbalance inherent in the Gear System, Boon notes there will be some form of modified mode available for the die hard tournament scene. Gear allows players to modify character properties through the acquisition and storage of upgrade equipment, which adds an RPG-like statistical element to powers and abilities. Ed also clarifies: while the system includes cosmetic alterations, it's by no means a "create a character" engine.
On the subject of the competitive scene, Ed notes extended support for content in their games could effect future release of titles. For the past two decades the developer has established a consistent cycle of new releases every two years. Kombat Pack 2 extended Mortal Kombat X's downloadable content the farthest of any NetherRealm game, releaed. Mortal Kombat XL was released in March.
MKXL upgraded online modes with adapted GGPO rollback technology designed to retard latency lag [read more]. Injustice 2 will follow the same mould, encouraging a more smooth and tactile online experience. Fans can also expect updates to the Story Mode, with new twists to be discussed more later ni the year.
MKX also controversially offered a broader range of purchasable micro-transactions [read more]. Asked if the Gear System will go further down this line, Boon kept things vague.
NetherRealm Studios may have moved on to their DC superhero sequel Injustice 2, but they want fans to know they aren't abandoning their 2015 best seller: Mortal Kombat X! Thanks to Warner Brothers, they're putting their money where their collective mouth is - adding $10,000 to the CEO prize total!
CEO 2016 takes place over the weekend of June 24-26 from Wyndham Orlando Resort in Orlando, Florida. Mortal Kombat pools are scheduled to start 10am Saturday 25th, with finals taking place Sunday at 2pm. Start times subject to change.
The event is one of the final stops on the road to the 2016 Evo World Championships. 201 confirmed registered players will duke it out for Mortal Kombat XL supremacy on the PlayStation 4.
Will you be in attendance? Register to share your story and issue challenges on the Gameplay & Matchmaking forum! MK Online wants to hear from you!
Mortal Kombat co-creator John Tobias recently unearthed a treasure from the series' past: A hand painted cel sheet from the animated series - Mortal Kombat: Defenders of the Realm!
Originally broadcast in 1996 on the USA Network; the series incorporated a design sensibility influenced by Mortal Kombat 3 and previous games, while loosely continuing the story from the 1995 Mortal Kombat feature film. Speaking of the kid friendly cartoon, Tobias tweeted: "Series tone was mismatch but luv the simple character design."
The character sheet showcases the regular cast of the Saturday morning series, who served as a team of globetrotting heroes defending Earth from inter-dimensional invaders.
Raiden provided guidance as a typically elusive mentor, while Nightwolf directed the team from a high-tech facility in their mountain headquarters. By merging with his pet wolf Kiva [pictured], Nightwolf transformed from tech geek to warrior Shaman in special circumstances. Sub-Zero (Kuai Liang) joins the already established team in the first episode, receiving a frosty reception from the heroes, including Liu Kang, who is dealing with his role in killing Sub-Zero's older brother [in the movie].
Enemies in the series included a who's who of the games, such as; Shao Kahn, Scorpion, Kano, SheevaSektor &Smoke, as well as a variety of new warriors based on existing mythology. The series is notable for featurnig one of the first appearances of Quan Chi.
You can read more of John Tobias' thoughts about Mortal Kombat on screen in MK Online's now classic 2-part interview.
Do you remember the cartoon? Do you hope to see more? Register to discuss Mortal Kombat's past, present and future on screen in the Media & Merchandise forum! Share this and more stories by following @MK_Online, Facebook & YouTube!
A couple of weekends ago Indianapolis arcade Boss Battle Games hosted a special Mortal Kombat High Score Kompetition! Only the bravest chosen warriors faced the Mortal Kombat cabinet, as the Facebook highlights montage shows:
Original digitized actors Daniel Pesina (Scorpion, Johnny Cage) and Philip Ahn (MKII Shang Tsung) were in attendance as special guests. The pair can be seen signing autographs and watching on as the fists were flying around the arcade joystick.
When the tournament was over "Kombat King" Patrick won the day with an impressive score of 11,396,000 points! He narrowly bested arch-nemesis Roberto who scored an admirable 9,358,500 points. We're pleased to report he was allowed to leave with both his soul and testicles in tact. Big Boss Games shared the high scorer's win poses via Facebook:
Long time friend of Mortal Kombat Online]{0MBAT was not only in attendance at the event, but also provided directions to an arriving Pesina! He didn't offer to carry the superstar martial artist's lugguage. He did, however, come third in the contest, and shared his own video from the event:
GameSlice and host Geoff Keighley have kicked off their live E3 coverage with an exclusive Injustice 2 demo presented by EdBoon! They showed off Atrocitus, Gorilla Grodd, Supergirl and more while chatting the new NetherRealm Studios fighter.
Customization is the magic word for Injustice 2. An all new gear system takes the Character Variations of Mortal Kombat X to an all new extreme, allowing players to individualize the appearance and play of their chosen DC Comics hero or villain.
The exclusive gameplay preview also offers more vision of the three DC Universe fighting locations: Atlantis, Gotham City and Metropolis. The original announcement came with the promise that arenas in Injustice 2 have "evolved in scale". Something that's sure to emerge in the coming months.
The saga of the Mortal Kombat Encyclopedia has been a long and winding one. Mortal Kombat Online first reported on mounting fan interest for a printed tome in the middle of last year [full story]. In the time since, the project has evolved and escalated under the guidance of dedicated fan Ninja_Arts aka; Myke Snow.
Earlier in the year, Snow provided MK Online with early drafts of the mock-ups that provide proof of concept for the book. The designs provide a hypothetical blueprint for DK Publishing, potential consumers, and the ultimate hold-out: Ed Boon and NetherRealm Studios. Click to enlarge examples below:
Support for the We Want An MK Lore Encyclopedia petition has reduced to a steady trickle in the past eleven months, last achieving the 6,000 e-signature milestone. Enthusiasm from die hard supporters, however, has remained an intense, undeterred torrent of moltenous passion!
The subsequent contribution of additional champions, such as designer Anthony Wenc and the @EncylopediaMK Twitter account, has kept the concept alive and developing before our very eyes. Wenc's designs in particular lend further credibility to the concept, bringing the sensibility of newer mock-ups even more in line with existing Mortal Kombat products.
Exactly what's stopping the publication of an MK Encyclopaedia is a little uncertain, but it's likely there are multiple factors in consideration. The demands of a definitive source certainly ask creative questions the developers have shied away from in an era defined by inconsistency, retold history, and other development priorities.
A franchise reboot in 2011 muddied the waters of Mortal Kombat's once steady and expanding lore. The introduction of third-party content through DC Comics, while enjoyable for fans, further imposes inconsistency incompatible with an authoritative encyclopaedia publication. Comics writer Shawn Kittelsen has shown support for the project, but parent companies may prefer the ambiguity supplied by the modern games. The greatest c hallenge of an in-fiction encyclopaedia: quality control.
The most important factor behind any printed Mortal Kombat source will be interest from cash carrying consumers: the fans. You can show your support by signing the petition, following @EncyclopediaMK and making your voice heard through constructive comment on the forum!
Register to find and discuss all products coming from the Mortal Kombat license in the Media & Merchandise forum! Support the kommunity by liking and sharing all things Kombat via @MK_Online, Facebook & YouTube!
Presented during a special live unveiling during the ESL Mortal Kombat X Season 3 Pro League Finals - Injustice 2 has revealed some of its new characters in the first Gameplay Trailer!
Injustice newcomers Supergirl, Atrocitus and Gorilla Grodd feature heavily in the trailer. The trio inject exciting new style into the DC Comics fighting game unvierse, bursting with new powers and mythology!
Batman, Superman & Aquaman also feature heavily, unleashing their iconic super abilities through the RPG-like armor upgrade system, as well as the returning cinematic super move modes!
Drawing upon almost eighty years of DC Comics mythology, there are plenty of references littered throughout the trailer. Rage-filled Atrocitus vomits raw energy, but manages to form constructs as well as being accompanied to battle by Dex-Starr the Red Lantern Corps kitty! He takes on Supergirl, who's introduced in her anonymous alter-ego before kicking butt with Kryptonian heat vision and more!
Deep sea villain Black Manta makes an appearance, as well, causing trouble for King of Atlantis and his old arch-nemesis Aquaman. Will the armored Black Manta join the cast as a playable character, or does his mostly faithful comics appearance suggest a mere cameo in transition?
An Injustice may have fallen over NetherRealm Studios, but Mortal Kombat kontinues thanks to the free-to-play platform of Mortal Kombat X Mobile!
For the game's first anniversary Warner Brothers Interactive Entertainment and NetherRealm Studios announced a komplete update to MKX Mobile. The new version introduces new kurrencies, new challenges, new characters and a Fujin's Blessing kard to all who updated [full story].
Do you krave more kombat? Check out the anniversary update trailer above and download Mortal Kombat X Mobile for free via Apple Store, Google Play or Amazon Games!
Find hundreds more archive clips by visiting Mortal Kombat Online on YouTube! Show your love for MK by registering to give us your feedback on all the Mortal Kombat goings on in 2016! Rate the best Mortal Kombat XL fighters by voting for your favourites in the Supreme Mortal Kombat Champion tournament!
The best in the ESL Mortal Kombat X world leagues will converge on Burbank, California today for one purpose: The Season 3 Final! Their journey is the culmination of three ESL seasons. and two years of competitive play in the latest instalment of the franchise. It brings them to what might be the most competitive stage of the game's life!
The final bracket brings together the best players from the United States, Great Britain, Germany, Russia, Ireland, Canada, Finland, Spain, Italy, Austria, and Chile! They'll be competing not only for personal and national pride, but also their taking of a massive $200,000 prize purse!
As always, 2-Time ESL Mortal Kombat X Pro League Champion cR_SonicFox comes into the tournament with a lot of eyes on him! Moments of vulnerability have created some uncertainty, but the pressure is unlikely to rattle this instinctive young player. Some of his toughest competition will come in the form of UK dominator A F0xy Grampa - a stalwart of the scene who rose to new prominance during the Mortal Kombat X era! He'll have his own big game hunters to worry about: IrishMantis and Crathen both claiming notable victories over him.
Another seasoned veteran fighting from underneath is Perfect Legend - the aging Evo World Champion with a big name and a lot to prove! He earned his spot with a late charge at the Combo Breaker qualifying event. He faces Madzin in the first round - the German iceman whose competitive drive and consistent performances have earned him favourite status with fans! A definite match to watch out for!
The tournament is schedueld to begin at 10:00 AM PST [7:00 PM CET, 9:00 PM MSK] and will stream live via Twitch. Register to watch it live in the player above and share all your thoughts as the action unfolds on the forums!
The face of Mortal Kombat and NetherRealm Studios Ed Boon will also make a special presentation during the live stream - unveiling the first gameplay footage from Injustice 2! Read the original story for details and discussion! Be sure to tell a friend by liking & sharing this story and others via @MK_Online and Facebook!
As previously reported; the world will get its first glimpse of Injustice 2 gameplay this weekend during a live presentation by NetherRealm Studios Creative Lead Ed Boon [full story]! Those in attendance will also receive swanky new promotional t-shirts for the DC Comics fighter - which appear to hint at some of the heroes we'll be seeing soon!
Click To Enlarge: ESL's Joshua Gray wearing the tee via Ed Boon.
Fans who've seen the Injustice 2 Announce Trailer will already be familiar with the slightly retro wireframe display style seen on the tee. Nine objects allude to iconography familiar to any DC Comics fan!
Aquaman, Batman, Flash, Supergirl and/or Superman all appeared in the trailer and can be easily identified by their trident, armored cowl, winged boot, and S shield, respectively.
Wonder Woman's shield, Harley Quinn's mallet, the helmet of Doctor Fate, a Red Lantern power battery. and an unidentified gun all appear to hint at as yet unseen fighters. The Red Lantern leader Atrocitus was announced with the trailer, along with Flash villain Gorilla Grodd.
Captain Cold! The Rogue was alluded to recently in a fan character poll posted by Ed Boon and has gained greater attention as one of the recurring characters of TV's Legends of Tomorrow.
Perrenial Creative Director and the Lord and Master of NetherRealm Studios has opened the gates to fandom to ask for preference in an Injustice 2 character poll. Ed Boon's Twitter quiz rated three DC Comics characters, ranging from the legendary to the cult. Results follow:
Blue Beetle edged out the competition in a vote that attracted 17,956 hits. 39%, or just over 7,000, narrowly beat runner-up Swamp Thing, who grew a crop of 35%. Ice gun wielding Flash Rogue Captain Cold made an admirable show of things, taking 26%.
The question now inevitably turns to which Blue Beetle earned victory. Three characters have prominently laid claim to the superhero mantle, the most recent introduced in 2006. That version was super-suited teen Jaime Reyes, whose alien costume blasted its way out of the comics into cartoons like Young Justice and Batman: Brave and the Bold.
The Reyes Beetle's alien tech certainly suits the new RPG armor gimmick to be introduced in Injustice 2 [full story], but gadget powered cult favourite Ted Kord is a beloved precursor with his own power-up potential. Kord was a favourite of fans in the 80s and 90s, part of a buddy-hero duo with Booster Gold in the comedically inclined Justice League of the time. After forty years of comic book adventures, the character was killed off in 2006's Infinite Crisis -- but is making a popular comeback to the DC New 52 in Rebirth.
Though Swamp Thing trailed narrowly, the iconic hero of evergreen stories by writers like Alan Moore has a lot of upside. The visually dynamic character stands totally unique from most of the DC Universe, and could challenge NetherRealm to invent some exciting alternative power-ups to the armor seen so far.
While the characters polled have reasonable chances in a line-up already confirmed to include Atrocitus and Gorilla Grodd, Ed Boon's polls haven't always eventuated in results.
Most recently; fans backed downloadable content in a Mortal Kombat future project poll [full story]. In 2013, support for Powergirl failed to add the character to the original Injustice, though she did appear in the Injustice Mobile app [read more].
Who do you want to see among us in Injustice 2? Register to discuss the poll or start threads about other characters in the DC Universe Injustice forum! Support the kommunity by liking & sharing stories via @MK_Online.
Fans embraced an announcement trailer with gusto, making it a worldwide trend -- but the cinematic introduction to Injustice 2 only tells us so much about the game. Fans eager to see how the fighting sequel actually plays will get their first glimpse in a special presentation - this weekend!
The exclusive Injustice 2 gameplay reveal will beam live from the ESL Mortal Kombat X Season 3 finals tournament Saturday, June 11th. [Click here to watch and discuss the tournament live!]
The event brings together the best Mortal Kombat X players who qualified to compete for a massive prize in the final bracket! The finals stream and gameplay unveiling will stream live via Twitch!
Mortal Kombat Online wants to know your thoughts about the new system! Register to immortalize your first impressions on the DC Universe Injustice forum! Support the kommunity by liking & sharing the story via @MK_Online!
Injustice 2 worked its way into the worldwide trending topics almost immediately after the trailer's release. It signals the sustained power of NetherRealm Studios, and Warner Brothers' developing DC Comics fighting game franchise.
In the last twenty-four hours the trailer has attracted well over 1.5 million views on YouTube! Not quite the ratings juggernaut of Mortal Kombat X, but a very impressive start to a game that didn't have quite the orchestrated preamble that buoyed MKX.
Although only the first sequel to the 2013 fighting game - Injustice taps into the global franchise power of DC Comics, which extends beyond the comics that spawned the characters into feature films, cartoons, toys, video games, and extensive merchandising. Injustice itself spawned various toys and tie-ins, including a hugely successful digital-first comic series that lasted for five years!
Injustice 2 brings several well known characters straight into the fight, not just Batman, but figures from the growing television and film stable: The Flash, Supergirl and Aquaman!
Much like action figures come to life - fans will be able to customize the DC superheroes and villains as they collect various upgrades and accessories.
Where were you when Injustice 2 was announced? Register to share the countdown and immortalize your thoughts on the DC Universe Injustice forum! :ike and share more trending stories by liking @MK_Online!
Every battle defines you in Injustice 2 - the next project from NetherRealm Studios. The first official trailer announces the game that will bring versions of DC Comics superheroes in conflict for a second time! Watch it below:
Superman, BatmanFlash and Aquaman return for the trailer, fighting with exciting new addition Supergirl! The reason for the heroes' conflict this time is unknown, but the mysterious new threat seems decidedly gladiatorial.
"Injustice 2 continues the epic cinematic story introduced in Injustice: Gods Among Us as Batman and his allies work towards putting the pieces of society back together while struggling against those who want to restore Superman’s regime. In the midst of the chaos, a new threat appears that will put Earth’s existence at risk. Players can play from the biggest DC roster ever offered in a fighting game, from classic fan favorites such as Batman, Superman, Supergirl and Aquaman, to astonishing new villains like Atrocitus and Gorilla Grodd. Battles will take place across arenas that have evolved in scale and span across iconic locations such as Metropolis, Gotham City and Atlantis."
Fans will "define" themselves with each fight, able to customize their DC heroes and villains with a variety of armor options that change the design and play properties of each character. It's a fresh gimmick that once again distinguishes the DC Comics fighting game from NetherRealm Studios' better established Mortal Kombat series. Players will collect loot in-game, outfitting their fighters with RPG-like upgrades that the character will wear.
"Expanding the DC Universe in games continues to be one of our top priorities, and Injustice 2 showcases amazing gameplay and an original story to bring the characters to life for players," said David Haddad, President, Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment. "NetherRealm Studios is offering fans an experience of customizing and battling with DC’s iconic characters in an entirely new way."
Fans can look forward to confirmed villains: Atrocitus and Gorilla Grodd -- villains famed for their longstanding rivalries with heroes like Green Lantern and Flash. Their inclusion - confirmed in a press release today - should narrow down speculation on the mystery foot shared by Ed Boon.
Injustice 2 will be available in 2017 for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. Mortal Kombat Online will continue to follow further updates. Register to follow the unfolding reveals and tell us everything you're thinking on the DC Universe Injustice forum!
The poster features Batman and The Flash in all-new designs that continue NetherRealm Studios' unique take on the classic characters. There are evident aesthetic influences going both ways between the burgeoning DC Extended Universe films. Parts of Batman's bulkier armored suit have green lighting - a possible Kryptonite defense? Other upgrades for a unique threat presenting in Injustice 2, from Earth - or beyond?
The tagline "Every Battle Defines You" is reminiscent of often repeated mantra from the Christopher Nolan directed Batman Begins, with moral implications that may imply further distortion of the once incorruptible Justice League.
The poster has been issued to Gamstop stores as part of a pre-order offer. A similar poster leak spoiled the announcement of Mortal Kombat X in late May, 2014 [full story]. An official announcement is expected sometime before E3.
We still don't know for sure what NetherRealm Studios' soon to be announced project is, but we're already getting the first character tease from master of puppets: Ed Boon!
The Twitter teasers returned with a new avatar, and now we're back on boot scooting territory with the first glimpse at a mystery character's appendage.
A solid red boot design seems to favour the superhero aesthetic of DC Comics, further supporting the notion Injustice: Gods Among Us is headed for a 2017 sequel [full story]! Who does the boot suggest? Among the most popular fan guesses has been Atrocitus: rage fuelled Red Lantern who made a cameo appearance in the first Injustice. Also gaining traction is the often dishevelled, sometimes confused villain Bizarro.
With its unusual partially exposed toes, another possibility is a split red boot on the foot of a Doomsday mutated Superman. This would provide an alternate version of the morally corrupt Superman of the first Injustice. The Man of Steel underwent just such a transformation in DC Comics' 2014 story Superman: Doomed.
Doomed:The hero became his own worst nightmare in DC Comics' New 52.
Be it Earthbound or in distant space, the unidentified location has the trappings of a good old fashioned barroom - perfect brawling arena for the likes of Lobo. That may or may not explain the horizontal arrangement of furniture.
Its becoming a routine of every couple of years: Ed Boon has updated his Twitter avatar and background -- signalling the ritual cycle of speculation for NetherRealm Studios' newest upcoming game project.
All rumors and reason point toward a follow-up to the franchise starter: Injustice: Gods Among Us. A presumed development back and forth begun with Warner Brothers' post-acqusition Mortal Kombat (2011), and the soon-to-be DC Comics fighting game series of 2013.
Not content to play it entirely safe, Boon's pushing ambiguity in the face of expectation. The "DAMN good question" being asked: Does his teasing image indicate the Roman numeral II (two) for Injustice, or the number 11 for a Mortal Kombat X sequel?
Et Tu? Ed Boon's newest Twitter avatar.
Bolstering broad expectations for more Injustice are rumors of growing connections to the 2017 Justice League feature film that would be out the same year [full story]. This isn't the first time Ed Boon has floated the prospect of an immediate Mortal Kombat follow-up, though. He polled fans for their preferred project last month, returning interest in more Mortal Kombat X downloadable content.
Fans have been steadily conditioned to expect routine from the Mortal Kombat developer for quite some time. The two year release cycle began with 2002's Deadly Alliance, continuing until 2008, when Midway Games published Mortal Kombat versus DC Universe. The crossover was the final installment before Midway declared bankruptcy and was purchased by Warner Brothers. The complicated handover accounts for a lost year.
A remote possibility is that the "II" in Boon's avatar represents two worlds, two games, or indeed a version of both proposed sequels.
The Creative Director knocked back prospects of another Mortal Kombat/DC Universe crossover in 2012 [full story], but with Mortal Kombat X reportedly selling in excess of five million copies, and nearly ten years between MKvsDC and a speculated 2017 mystery release - the pitch holds more water. Alternatively, DLC channels could conceivably create a new era for franchise crossovers - as discussed in a previous Mortal Kombat Online feature.
No, those aren't beer goggles. You read that right! Global Beverage Traders in conjunction with Warner Brothers and Sound Brewery have announced the launch of a new range of limited edition Mortal Kombat X inspired beer!
It may seem like a tenuous tie, but according to the makers their beer "boasts bold flavors aimed to match the intensity and excitement of Mortal Kombat X." The range packages three distinct brews with familiar character tie-ins -- no Bo' Rai Cho, sadly.
Sub-Zero Imperial IPA: Refreshingly cooling on a warm day, an Imperial India Pale Ale that’s not all about the hops or the malt but is a whole lot of both fighting it out for your palate’s supremacy. Drink icy for more of the hops or warmer for more malt. [22 Oz. bottles @ 8.5% alc]
Raiden Imperial Saison: This amped up Imperial Saison has a blast of hops and CO2 that will hit your tongue with a bang. The aroma jumps out of the glass with its earthly and herbal notes not far behind. [22 Oz. bottles @ 8% alc]
Scorpion Imperial Stout: A unique blend for great Imperial Stout brings both fire and ice into your glass. The fiery southwest chilies and cooling Madagascar Vanilla Bean pair nicely with the exotic notes produced by our own yeast strain. [22 Oz. bottles @ 8% alc]
Mortal Kombat X beer can be order online via Global Beverage Traders. Global Beverage Traders is a San Diego based international beverage management and distribution company. Orders must comply with local law.
Are you an adult Mortal Kombat fan? Will you be trying this strange brew? Register to share your strange story with us on the Media & Merchandise forum! Vote for your favourite kombatants in the 2016 Supreme Mortal Kombat Champion tournament while you're there!
Ties between the Injustice video game franchise, and Warner Brothers' burgeoning DC Extended Universe could be growing according to rumor mongering from HeroicHollywood!
Quoting HH; Comic Book Resources reports there are four prospective working titles for 2017's Justice League feature film, including the familiar Gods Among Us sub-title.
Scenes in this year's controversial Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice film have already drawn comparisons to Gods Among Us, hinting at a villainous turn for Superman in a world ruled by Darkseid.
The Man of Steel featured as a tyrannical overlord final boss, driven to suppress the people through a thin plot seen in NetherRealm Studios' 2013 foray into dedicated DC licensing.
With the second Injustice video game expected to be announced very soon [full story], the promotional relationship between DC's small and big screen stables has already been the subject of considerable speculation. Warner Brothers found notable success when breaking from the traditional film tie-in model for their Batman: Arkham series, but have spent recent years consolidating their properties in an increasingly co-dependent, film-focused corporate structure. This would be the first time games provided significant inspiration for the comic book based franchise.
Injustice featured two downloadable skins based on the first in Warners' ambitious film universe: Man of Steel Superman and General Zod.
Other rumored working titles for the Justice League film include: "Justice League: United", "Justice League: Angels and Demons" and "Justice League: Gods Among Men".
Looking forward to the continuation of Gods Among Us? Register to join the speculation and discuss the new games & movies in the DC Universe Injustice forum!
With the 2016 Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) right around the corner, speculation is mounting that NetherRealm Studios will announce their next game project very soon.
All expectations are Injustice: Gods Among Us will return for the first sequel to the DC Comics superhero fighting game. French site GameBlog.fr cites unnamed sources close to the imminent announcement, projecting an unverified 2017 release for PlayStation 4, Xbox One and PC.
The first Injustice: Gods Among Us was released this time, 2012, preceding its debut at the E3 of the same year [original story]. Emerging speculation places an announcement at the ESL Mortal Kombat X Season 3 finals, June 11th.
In their many incarnations, NetherRealm Studios has produced regular fighting game releases every two years. Since being purchased by Warner Brothers Interactive Entertainment, we've seen Mortal Kombat (2011), Injustice: Gods Among Us (2013) and Mortal Kombat X (2015) released in April. A Gods Among Us sequel follows the increasing familiar pattern, even as Creative Director Ed Boon polls interest in more Mortal Kombat projects [full story].
In January, Mortal Kombat Online reported on NetherRealm Studios hiring for several key positions, speculating toward the Injustice sequel [full story]. This was quickly followed by an abrupt announcement for Mortal Kombat XL: the 2016 complete edition that incorporates NetherRealm's longest downloadable content cycle, including Kombat Pack 2. MKXL was released in March.
Further supporting expectations of an Injustice sequel is Warner Brothers' ambitious 2017 film slate, which sees the release of major movies based on Wonder Woman and the assembled Justice League. It's part of a cinematic universe plan initiated this year in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice. Some fans have noted an Injustice-like quality to the "Knightmare" sequence in the film, which includes allusions to Superman as a totalitarian aggressor. Reporting the success of Mortal Kombat X and Batman: Arkham Knight; The Wall Street Journal mapped the emerging importance video game properties have as a compliment to Warners' traditional film business.
VG 24/7 notes the Gods Among Us sequel will likely be built using the Mortal Kombat X engine, which Injustice laid the groundwork for by introducing new concepts, such as stage interactions.
Looking forward to more DC superhero fighting? What do you hope to see in an Injustice sequel? Register to share all your thoughts and feedback on the DC Universe Injustice forum! Don't forget to join the feedback fun in the 2016 Supreme Mortal Kombat Champion, as well! Special thanks to Kommunity Users cek12345 & subzert for sharing the news.
