This is a great topic!

The first thing that came to mind was that there may be an arena with that hourglass we saw in the trailer in the background. We don't know the role of the character that seems to be manipulating the hourglass (yet) but it would be interesting if she was in the background in a boss type arena manipulating time. That's an arena that would contend for my favourite.

I would really like to see the tower and the church like you mentioned! Mostly for the nostalgia factor but still! I would like to see that small pathway with the acid trap. I forget what its called but if memory serves it was in MK9. Again, just for nostalgia.

Honestly, I hope we get a bunch of new arenas. Something amazing that we have never seen before. I hope for only a few of the old nostalgia inducing arenas. Either way though I'll be happy.

I could see something kinda unique playing out with this game given what we know so far from the trailer (ruined Shang Tsung’s Coutyard and time being a major theme).

What if, like characters, arenas got variations as well? I could see playing in different time periods where we play in Shang Tsung’s ruined courtyard, with those dead monks and what not, but also playing in the MK1 era courtyard as well.

Some others that I’d like to see them use throughout the MK history include:

Shao Khan’s Throne Room (MK2) and Kotal Khan’s Throne Room, perhaps in a bombed out castle that’s under seige due to Raiden.

The Church (MK3) and a destroyed church in the present.

The Lin Kuei Temple (MK4 / MKX) and a destroyed temple riddled with the bodies of Lin Kuei warriors, the temple still burning from an ongoing battle.

House of Pekara (MKDA) and a decayed version from the present.

And so on and so forth. I could see multiple stages from each game making appearances as well as brand new stages getting this treatment, though that would likely drive the arena count way up. Either way, it could be a fun idea. Shinnok’s Netherealm versus Liu Kang and Kitana’s Netherealm. The Nethership then and now, etc.

I've never been disappointed by the quality of the arenas in the MK games. Their quantity in MKX was definitely an unpleasant shock tho.

Building on what Baraka407 said

I'd like to the opposite to be true for stages like Wastelands of Outworld (MKII) where due to timeline nonsense it's started to have vegetation and plantlife blooming think of something like Jungle from MKX merging with Wastelands of Outworld

Kahn's Kave (MK3) timeline nonsense again where it's starting to merge with Shang's Throne Roome or Quan Chi's Fortress

The Blood Stone Mines was a locale in Outworld which was originally meant to appear in MK4 this is a cool concept I'd like to see fully realized though Lower Mines from MK:D might be this unfished stage from back then thinking on it now...

We got Dead Pool in MK9 so i'd like to see Acid Bath from MK:DA make a return.

With the return of Evil Raiden & Revanent Liu Kang I think it would be fitting to bring back Liu Kang's Tomb (MK:D)

Yin Yang Island was a personal favorite of mine in MK:D and i'd like to see how NRs would modernize/expand on it

Can we please get an update of the Kombat Tomb? Delapitated or not, we need to see it again.

A portal would be nice in this one as well. All the portal stages since it's a time-bending adventure.

What is Arenas had shaders or we get different versions of the same arena based on different timelines?

I'd love to see this happen. Since we already have the courtyard, they should put in a regular MK1-esque version. If the game does revolve around the various timelines, I'd love to see a few from each game. Courtyard, Warrior Shrine, The Portal, Kahn's Arena, Pit 3, etc etc. Really, I just want them to have more stages with brighter color and vibrance than MKX. MKX had some of the absolute worst stages in the series IMO and there was only like 13 or so, and if there's an Outworld stage, make it fucking purple.

If you're doing a timelines game (and a celebration of 25 years at that), you need some of the iconic ones present; The Pit, The Courtyard, Living Forest, Kahn's Throne Room, ect. Hopefully more than a few make an appearance.

I dig this! Yeah I don’t think everything should just be original version and destroyed version, even though that’s more or less what I put. I like this idea of the Wastelands with nature more or less taking over. I think a mixture of the Wastelands and the Kuatan Jungle sounds awesome and would have a ton of character for a stage. Great call!

Great input, guys. I LOVE the idea of having customization of sorts for stages where you can choose between different versions of it within the timeline. That makes so much sense with the multiple timelines going on in this game and customization of characters. It would be a great way to increase the amount of stages by being able to switch to different versions of the same stage when choosing it, almost like picking an alternate costume for a character.

Digging this thread. Some good speculation in here.

As much as I love new stages, I am a sucker for old stages and nostalgia. When they showed a dilapitated Courtyard in MK11's trailer, I just about shit myself. With the notion of timeline manipulation, I hope that lends itself to seeing more classic renditions again. The two I am most hopeful for are:

1. The Kombat Tomb // This stage has never had a rendtition outside of Shaolin Monks, but in a main entry title it only appeared in MK2. Which, in my opinion is a travesty. I would love to see this reimagined!

2. The Warrior Shrine // Same as above. I don't feel like Shang Tsung's island really got enough showcase in MK9 and would love to see a modern, beat down version of this.

3. The OG Pit // As much as I love how they combined MK1's bottom with MK2's bridge, I would love to see a broken down take of just the standard bridge in the night sky. Could look really cool in UE4.

Highly interactive and destructive arenas (with friable objects), that aren't necessarily square or circular in 3D layout (remade arenas too). I reckon this is more realistic for a MK12 though (not thinking too far ahead).

My list is actually what I expect will happen and people are making too much of the destroyed Kourtyard, it's just demolished. I don't think NRS - given how the screenshots look exactly like MKX - will take any chances with this game and do something crazy like several layers of arenas ala Deception or have different versions of arenas, which are basically like a separate arena. My suggestion to everyone is to tamper your expectations, we will probably get around 10-12 arenas to start with and don't think there will be anything crazy or innovative.

I hear what you're laying down we should be a bit more realistic with our expectations but that's half the fun of these forums & MK in general! In my opinion the speculation leading up to the reveal of a new entry into MK is always the funnest part.

The Chamber of Artifacts/Red Dragon Temple/The Glass Machine would fit perfectly. It was my first thought when I saw the end of the reveal trailer.

Ka-Tra

Were getting at least 18 Arenas!!!

I'm going to cut images of the ones from the Gameplay trailer.

It's 17 arenas of which they showed some great variations to old arenas:

• Cathedral like dungeon with Shinnok's head in the back
• Lin Kuei / Sky temple ruins
• Shang Tsung island ruins
• Nethership (!)

I THOUGHT my eye caught flashes of arenas other than the 3 they were showing in the match ups. Hmmm, so that's 6 arenas we have seen so far?

Okay so after watching all the various trailers and game play videos it seems that we have seen 9 stages so far. Here's a list:

With regards to your number 8: it's a Tarkatan Kamp / Outpost (also found in Konquest of Deception)! I am very happy to see Baraka get his due and actually part of a bigger story, maybe even making him unique from the other Tarkatans. I am even thinking they might retcon the origins of his race as you clearly see Tarkatan's without any spikes or blades sitting around, but even more so in the behind the scenes video (a character with beads just like you see sitting in this arena:

https://imgtc.com/i/VEG2dYE.jpg

As far as your 9th goes, I wouldn't assume that green dragon stage is one where we can fight. Replace it with the Fighting Arena:

https://imgtc.com/i/EgAEaqM.jpg