I think it might just be a skull because of his revenancy.

Not so sure about this, I think it's because he's a revenant now and they've altered his design to reflect this. It would be interesting though if this were the case.

Yes I am aware of this, but in MKX he has his (normal) fireballs only then in red. And the stage/ environment is a bit like goro's lair, but that is maybe whishfull thinking....

I totally believe it's Shang posing as Liu.

Liu has NEVER had skull fireballs - That's an ability of Shang Tsung and the odds of them randomly taking it from him and giving it to Liu is minimal, so is the fact that they'll both have it.

It's totally Shang.

Shang Tsung mimics a character flawlessly when he morphs into them and that includes their special moves. I highly doubt it is Shang Tsung but simply Liu Kang getting updated model for his fireballas it better fit his revanent form. The revanents all have a skull motif and design aesthetic. NRS probably copied that to Liu Kangs fireball.

As if you have any context for which this scene is in. You don't. He can use his skull-fire balls posing as Liu in a cut scene for ANY reason. This isn't gameplay.

They wouldn't give Liu Kang skull fireballs. Period. That's like giving Scorpion Sub-Zero's ice balls. Quit being so thick headed.

thats not very nice i was born thick headed

And you do have context for the scene? How do you know Shang Tsung can use his skull fireballs while posing as another character? You have seen it before? How would you possibly know NRS would not give Liu Kang skull fireballs? All you have suggested is conjecture and you accuse me of being thick headed for stating facts? Unbelievable. Just because you think it is Shang Tsung does not mean everyone else has to.

Your acerbic and aggressive tone does you no favours. Grow up and learn to accept other people's opinions.

...

I'm inclined to think they just made it a skull because he's dead now, and it looks cool, and many of you are overthinking it.

That said, funny thing about guessing: I don't know any better than the rest of you.

The thing about that is, when Shang Tsung takes the guise of another fighter, he will typically use that fighter's ability. Therefore even if that was Shang in the guise of Liu Kang, it would still mean that Liu Kang must know how to do the skull fireball.

It's an interesting idea, but I think it's more likely that this version of Liu Kang has just learned to do skull fireballs. Remember he has been in the netherrealm for 25 years in this timeline, and is now one of the leaders of that realm. He's pretty far removed from being the MK champion, and being surrounded by death and lava all that time probably just made him like the macabre style more.

The scene in question could be the moment he reveals himself to be Shang Tsung.

Bingo.

I'm fine with either scenario.

Makes sense

Well that makes sense

Actually, I believe it is Shang also. I think that everyone assumed that Liu (getting combo'd by Raiden) was the teaser reveal that was mentioned when the dev said "I can't believe no one has mentioned the subtle reveal in the trailer" or something to that effect... but it could have easily have been this part of the vid (Liu firing off a flaming skull) that he was referring to. Or not. It could be either one. However this could be a possibility. I mean it's subtle enough to miss while watching the vid for the first time with all the hype floating in the air at that event. Personally? I believe that it was this subtle reveal of Shang Tsung that he was referring to. I mean think about it, Liu was confirmed at the event due to the same story footage everyone saw (seeing him with Kung Lao and fighting his evil self etc..) So there was nothing subtle about evidence to Liu's inclusion this game. The flaming skull though? That was subtle enough to miss, like I said. Either way, we'll find out soon enough.

edit: and yikes... I used the word subtle waaaay too many times!

I was just about to say that TomTaz. This skull fireball scene yall are discussing might be the ONE that the NRS developer tweeted about. How he is surprised that nobody is talking about "something he thought was an obvious hint"

I love how people are throwing around words like "thickheaded" in a thread that's focus revolves around fan theories. That 's about as narrow-minded and ignorant as one can get. Just because someone disagrees with your theory, providing their own in the process, doesn't mean you have the right to go around throwing around terms that, frankly, could be applied to you for expecting everyone to believe your theory above all others simply because you think you're right. If it's revealed that, say, johnny1up's theory is true, I doubt you have the self-awareness to acknowledge that you were the only one who was thickheaded and explain that, just maybe, you should have learned to take other factors and/or theories into account instead of believing that only you and those few in agreement with you could be right. There does exist the possibility that you're wrong, so I suggest you take your attitude down a notch or three.

Your claim that inserting skulls into Liu Kang's fireballs is the same as giving a fire-wielding character ice powers is not at all a fair or apt comparison. Don't be so blinded by your emotions that you're unreasonable. Now, if Liu Kang started launching blue fireballs that possessed the ability to freeze on contact, that comparison would be applicable. But, at no point in the history of the series has this ever been the case. In some installments, Liu Kang's fireballs assumed the shape of a dragon's head, while in others (MK4, for example) the fireballs possessed no distinctive features. I didn't see fans clamoring to shell out theories to explain away that anomaly.

It's entirely possible that Shang Tsung adopted Liu's appearance, but it's also possible that Liu, seeing as how he's now a revenant, now possesses a more demonic version of his trademark projectile . Either way, you don't get to dictate who is right and who is wrong, especially when you consider the fact that you've had nothing to do with the development of MK11. You don't have to listen to this bit of advice, but you could learn to be more open-minded.

Well, like I mentioned, it’s only a possibility... but it does seem to fit, right? We’ll all see soon enough though.

Well put, VenoMark. Could not agree more.

It could go both ways, but I also think it's one of the hints they were surprised nobody was talking about yet.

I really hope so, I would like Shang back in his shapeshifting-horror role, you never know which character he is! That is just so cool! I love shapeshifters, so I hope he is back!

Well to give my theory some extra back-up.

In the story of MK9 sindel has got her powers threw Shoa-Kahn wich let to the death (if we can call that) of Shang-Tsung. If Kronika is able to reverse time, that should mean that Sindel is loosing her powers to restore Shang-Tsung in the Netherrealm.

Either way I am super curious if the rumour of Shang-Tsung actor in the movie is also in the game is thrue or not.

I think Kronika can bring up alter egos from the past without creating paradoxes. Otherwise, she would pull Liu Kang and Kung Lao out of MKII and immediately there would be no Revenant versions of themselves to face. So she might be able to bring back Shang Tsung without compromising Sindel.