1. PERFECT EXPECTATION

Full Roster w/ Diverse Cast

Full Stage Select Screen

Highly Detailed Segment on Variations

Highly Detailed Segment on Customization

Dedicated Segment for Story

2. HAPPY EXPECTATIONS

Diverse Roster for Reveal

Highly Detailed Segment on Customization

Dedicated Segment for Variations

Dedicated Segment for Story

3. MINIMUM EXPECTATIONS

Half of New Characters Present for Reveal

At Least 5 post-MK2 Characters for Reveal

Dedicated Segment for Variations

Dedicated Segment for Story

Hm... the best thing you can do to avoid disappointments is to start with no expectations. so, i just let myself surprise what they gonna show us.

For starters, I would say that the January the 17th will be just a gameplay reveal with a few characters and surprises (like the celebrity voice overs and the first demonstration tournament).

I expect extra content and characters to be revealed in future streams.

Other than that, which is a huge drop of infos, we should not expect anything else glad to be wrong though.

A friendly reminder that disappointment is the fault of both parties so set your expectations low and you'll be happily surprised.

As for me I'm expecting mostly a gameplay reveal. Probably less than 10 characters and some straightforward gameplay. Maybe they'll go in depth on what's new in the general combat system. Things like special finishing moves will probably be saved for later

I would be surprised to see any discussion of modes or the story. Unless gear is a particularly revolutionary feature I dont expect it to get much, if any, time.

This event seems more like a showcase than a complete overview. They want to show enough to fully kick off the hype cycle while still leaving plenty of reveals to stay in the headlines from here to release.

I’d say fair expectations to be in the realm of...

• 8-12 characters revealed. I’m not gonna expect major things in the way of generational variety. That’s how one becomes sad.
• Tech videos showing off the new graphics engine and the new “gore tech”
• 2-4 backgrounds shown.
• Gameplay details. Likely centered on Kustom Variations and the implementation of “gear”.
• A few fatalities and brutalities. Maybe a tease at a new “ality”.
• Story details(the less revealed, the better)
• Damage control. Reassuring everyone that, should loot boxes be present, they won’t affect competitive gameplay. Or, better yet, no loot boxes.

And of course...

• ”How do you guys come up with those fatalities” questions galore. *spoilers* Fatality meetings.

The sad thing for me is, my most honest expectation is to be disappointed.

I don't expect the roster to be any better nor the story to be any richer. I hope they are.

No gambling (loot boxes).

Story details (I hope the "Crisis on Infinite Earths" leak is real).

My favorite in (which every single one of you wants for yourself, too, if you're being honest).

Popcorn--but not bloody brain popcorn ala DA.

No gambling (loot boxes).

Story details (I hope the "Crisis on Infinite Earths" leak is real).

My favorite in (which every single one of you wants for yourself, too, if you're being honest).

Popcorn--but not bloody brain popcorn ala DA.

Exactly this.

@Legion Ivory. I'm sorry to hear that you expect to be disappointed. On the bright side anything above the minimum is a happy surprise. Bracing for a few unsatisfying aspects is probably realistic and healthy though

Hopefully they manage to put together a game we can all appreciate. Only time will tell

This would be absolutely amazing! I don't expect it by any means but good lord would I be pumped through the roof for this game regardless of the other details. Hell, SM style adventure mode with a limited roster of 14 characters? That's cool with me as long as I enjoy the adventure mode as much as I enjoyed SM.

This is an extremely tall order and I think almost every fan would be happy with this. You very closely described what my dream scenario would be, minus a few details. Since we are so close to launch, maybe this isn't completely unreasonable.

The main things you mentioned that I don't really care about are the characters. I'll be more than happy with 7-8 characters as long as there is at least one OG, one 3D era, and one newish character (either brand new or Kotal or D'vorah or something).

I really want to see them explain at least a little about the gear, outfit customization, and variation type stuff. All of us have a lot of questions including WTF does NRS consider a battlepass to be? I'll be dissapointed if they don't give us any details on it, I'll be content if they give us some details on it and they aren't what I want. All of these 4 elements are likely to be intertwined in some way and I think there should be a basic explanation of some sort considering how new of a mechanic it is to MK.

Ideal scenario:
Same as OP except I don't care as much about specific characters.

Happy scenario:
Gear, customization, battlepasses, and variations explained at a base level and are not loot box or payment based. How we get them, what they effect, etc.
As @detox said, I love the "How the fuck did they come up with this" when I watch a fatality and it happens almost every reveal. Look forward to it.
Just a show off of the game mechanics. That's not asking for much but I would like to see some people that don't suck ass at the game show us some stuff.

Content Scenario:
The whole thing actually runs.
They give us a basic explanation of gear, customization, battlepasses, and variations.
I see them play the game.

It doesn't take much to make me content, NRS.

PERFECT

"We're actually releasing today because the game is finished! Here you go."

HAPPY

6-8 kharacters, deets on gear and story, technical improvements, etc.

MINIMUM

4 kharacters, 2 backgrounds, just gameplay, Ed Boon teases

I do not have any expectations for the event. I am just going there to enjoy myself and have a good time. Any information we get is secondary for me.

No expectations, just happy to be going to my first live game reveal event and the fact that it's from my favourite gaming franchise makes it even better! The release is so soon, it doesn't matter because after the reveal event we'll get a steady release of info anyway.

I'm a sucker for the series in general so I'll end up pre-ordering regardless. I do have a gut feeling though that this'll be the best MK we've had of the modern era. Storyline wise is around the time of the best 3D era game too imo (Deception). The hype is real!

People with low expectations still expecting much haha

Realistically I am expecting just enough information to satiate our bloodlusts but I think this time around they are going to keep some things to their chest for launch or at least for Kombat Kast reveals.

So at the event on the 17th I suspect to see 8-10 fighters. Four classics (Scrop, Raiden, Sub and probably Kitana or Sonya), two new comers, two Kombat Kids and two that haven't been in the roster for awhile (Fujin, Jade, Noob, etc)

I expect four stages to be shown. In their keynote speech I expect to see a break down of the gear system and these custom variations and all the intracisies surrounding them and how it all works. I then also expect a short trailer opening up a bit about the story.

Those of you hoping to see the whole roster are going to be super disappointed with those types of expectations. Remember, their Twitch Kombat Kast is returning, so they need to save some reveals for then too.

New expectations:

A teaser trailer of about a minute with a voice over, the mystery lady and perhaps a glimpse of Liu Kang, Sub-Zero, Kotal Kahn / kombat kids followed up by very fast gameplay footage of Raiden, Scorpion, Shao Kahn at the end and some of those old ones along with maybe one new character. Then probably a fatality of a classic character. We will see those 2 stages from the screens and maybe 1-2 more. It ends with the customisation, which is the Shao Kahn render that was just released. Then some footage what it looks like in game. Some other modes, a lot of talking with fights in the background and maybe a surprise at the end of a kombat kast w/ a hint at a character, game play mode, the boss or story in general. Then players get a chance to play with 4-6 characters.

Ideal reveal: Pretty much what Barak407 outlined, minus the MKSM style mode. I don't really care for it and I don't think we need it. I also have different character preferences, but to me the ideal reveal would be at minimum 3/4 of the roster.

"Happy" reveal: 1/2 the roster, all modes, same type of Story Mode that we've been getting, details on the types of finishing moves we'll have.

"Minimum" reveal: 10 characters, a few modes, story premise, maybe the first DLC character revealed.

Let's say next week on January 17th at 11am? We'll show you some gameplay, a little story, and maybe give you some character reveals. How does that sound? Just make sure you tune in for The Reveal! #MK11

MK official twitter

Let's temper our expectations, though it's a long ass event...

Since Sonya and the famous actors leak is true, paired with the live actors performing in some form they will probably show Raiden, Sub-Zero, Scorpion, Sonya & Johnny Cage. Maybe Shao Kahn and or one well known face (classic or kombat kid like Cassie). Then there's Geras probably from the leak, perhaps Kotal Kahn and or another kombat kid who will be shown. So around 6-10 characters total. I don't think we should expect any 3D era reveal or even a classic who was out in the last game.

Don't be disappointed if no crazy reveals happen and it's all MK1 + new.

Guys this didn't work. I am pumped and now I want everything and won't be happy unless I am blown away.

Please send help.

Then that'll just confirm my choice not to pre-order this game is the right move.