I expect a split timeline story where 1 time line is after Raiden went back and the other is original. I also expect stage weapons. I expect Fatalit'y to be as brutal as ever but also have humor. In terms of characters I would say some new characters from MK4 like Reiko and Fujin.

I expect MK in all it's glory & gorey hokey self, I want that "mystic" and eastern martial arts theme / architecture, unlocking characters & alt costumes through cryptic ways like a shadow flying in front of the moon, getting a double flawless on the pit, and doing a fatality. back on MK1 like the old man MK fan that I am but in my heart of hearts I know that's not what a successful fighting game looks like today and i'm realistic about that now.

I just want incredible gameplay, solid netplay, a diverse set of modes & ladders to keep me playing, I want DLC supporting MK11 for more that 2 years similar to what SFV has been doing with seasons, Krypt must make a return, HUGE amount of QUALITY stages both new & returning, I want a HUGE amount of alities that are QUALITY, friendships

Havik, Fujin, Reptile, Li Mei, Hotaru, Ashrah, Frost, Dairou

I don't think these expectations are asking for too much of MK11

I do not expect anything in terms of plot snce details about it are very thin but in terms of length I expect it to be longer than MKX. I do not think there will be any NPCs we will be able to fight.

In terms of gameplay I think it will be very similar to MKX but the variations system will be changed in my opinion. NRS are always looking to im prove what they have. The variation sytem was successful to a point but can be streamlined and be made more intuitive.

I expect a roster of 25-30 characters. I expect many characters returning from MKX , maybe 60% the roster is made up characters returning from MKX.

Agreed on everything, although I'd put the % of returning MKX characters even higher. The only ones who I don't see returning from the OG roster are Quan Chi, Shinnok, Kano, Mileena, Jax and Ferra/Torr, which is 6 out of 24 (excl DLC) and leaves 75%.

In terms of plot I expect a very illogical story, a serious clusterfuck of retcons yet at the same time a very simplistic current timeline vs. old timeline. I don't know how it will affect characters and really hope it won't just bring back everyone and has a normal Raiden going up against the dark version, but I can see it happening.

I expect the horrible revenant story line including the look to continue and have again a white non-asian looking Liu Kang with red eyes and just an exaggerated dark robe / armour / shield look. I expect the worst for characters who were killed off in last game and revenants, i.e. no Quan Chi, Shinnok, Baraka, Mileena, Kabal, Jax, Smoke, Nightwolf. Sindel I see somehow making it back to life.

I know almost 90% sure that the following characters are in:

• MKX returnees: Scorpion, Sub-Zero, Reptile, Ermac, Raiden, Liu Kang, Kung Lao, Kenshi, Kitana, Johhny Cage, Sonya, Cassie, Jacqui, Kung Jin, Takeda, D'Vorah, Kotal Kahn & Erron Black (18)
• Other returnees: Sindel, Jade, Shang Tsung, Sektor / Cyrax, Bo Rai Cho, Frost, Nitara, Li Mei (8)
• New ones: Oracle, Kano's son, another Kotal ally and a few others (4-6)
• Onaga, possibly as playable
• DLC candidate: Noob Saibot

I’m hoping 30 kharacters to start with Shao Kahn as bonus plus two kombat packs of 6 each and they need to step up on the number of stages. How do you go from over 20 stages in MK9 to 14 in MKX. With the timeline they need to have multiple version of stages like Shang’s courtyard in the trailer that was destroyed and another version in perfect shape in an earlier timeline. Also please bring back Friendships but with a darker approach like Kitana gives a cake that blows them up

Well, expectations are a tricky thing, but in terms of predicting what we’ll get, here’s my offer:

Roster (29 to start including bond character):

Confirmed: Scorpion, Raiden, Shao Khan (preorder bonus) and the time goddess(?)

100% Expect: Sub Zero, Liu Kang, Kitana.

90% Expect: Shang Tsung, Jade, Noob, Cassie, Takeda, Kotal Khan, Erron Black.

So that’s nearly half the roster and I consider those to be near mortal locks.

After that, I think there’s a little more wiggle room. Next group is Trilogy era characters that are popular enough to make it regardless of how valuable they are story wise.

80% Expect: Reptile, Kung Lao, Ermac, Kabal and Smoke.

Next is post Trilogy characters that fans either like or have been mildly hinted at.

70% Expect: Fujin, Li Mei, Kenshi and Sareena.

After that, I’m thinking five more new characters in addition to the time goddess.

50% Expect: Kano’s son, Tasia, perhaps a new vampire, a new Tarkatan and another, brand new monster.

So at 28, I think the last one will be a kind of off the wall pick, either because the character isn’t as popular or they’re not nearly as expected.

40% Expect: Jaqui.

That said, I think there are plenty of other viable options that wouldn’t surprise me. Characters like Sindel, Dvorah, Kung Jin, Reiko, Havik, any of the cyborgs, etc. But if I had to pick a starting roster, that would be it.

In terms of story, I expect a time bending story with plenty of cameos to really sell the idea that different characters are alive in different timelines, so I expect to fight Mileena, Baraka, Quan Chi, Reiko, etc.

I think this story will serve to unify the timelines in a way that takes the best character development from both and really get past Armageddon and form a sort of one, ultimate, unified timeline where some things get retconned, such as Cyber Sub Zero and many elements get added to to the point where the series is really ready to move forward beyond the remnants, the current conflicts etc and prepare for something new.

in terms of gameplay, I think we’ll see more stylized super moves like the one from the trailer replacing X-rays. I think the variations for many returning characters will be timeline based, so we could get Enenra Smoke, MK2 ninja Smoke and MK3 Cyborg Smoke.

Other examples include:

MK1 Ninja Reptile

Devolved Reptile from MKDA

MKX Reptile.

MK2 Liu Kang

MKD Zombie Liu Kang

Dark Liu Kang from MKX

MK1 Sub Zero

MKD Noob

MK9 Noob

Some might be more subtle, of course in terms of changes to appearance and what not, but I think they could do enough to differentiate them in their move sets.

I also expect we’ll be able to swap multiple specials between variation and I think the story of the timelines merging will be an excuse for that. I expect we’ll get gear to customize their appearance but I kinda doubt that gear will come with new moves or stat boosts.

I also expect the actual gameplay in terms of animations, zoning priority and all those little things MK games are known for to remain largely unchanged.

In terms of new elements, I could see stage transitions making a comeback, though they’d likely look more natural than uppercutting someone out of hell and in to Shao Khan’s Throne Room or whatever.

I also expect a new “ality.” No clue what that would be. Maybe tag team fatalities? Tagality? I think we’ll see a tag team mode in this game, so that might make sense on top of brutalities, stage fatalities, and the regular fatalities. These would likely only be available if certain players are picked together, but maybe each character could have several of these instead of only being able to do them with one partner.

Story: Following up on the Earthrealm vs. Outworld tournament that several arcade endings in MKX hinted at, then segueing into the old timeline vs. new timeline plot with the mystery goddess playing a key role. Kang and the revenants also being involved and having that storyline arc wrapped up.

Gameplay: Building off of Injustice 2, but faster paced and making full use of the GoreTech system to deliver some seriously nasty visuals. Not too thrilled that the bullshit customization mechanics from IJ2 are back, can't wait for the grindfest. Thanks Boon.

Characters: 30-35, 60% of the MKX roster returning, Ferra/Torr, Jacqui, and D'Vorah being cut (hopefully), more returning less popular Trilogy-era characters returning ala Deception. Better 3D era representation (4-5 characters max). Maybe a handful of new characters.

Above all, I expect the game to be good.

I expect to be thrilled and in total awe just like when I first played MK9 coming of off the last gen(for it's time) games and MKvDCU and when I played MKX after MK9.

Honestly, I expect to be disappointed.

I expect MK 1& 2 characters to once again make up half the roster. I expect the story to once again be an utter mess. I expect very few new characters from MKX to return. I expect the DLC to once again be saturated with guest characters.

I pray I am wrong about this.

I agree on MK1 and MK2 characters taking up half the roster which honestly frustrates me. Look at how much people seem to want Jade, Noob and perhaps to a lesser extent Shang Tsung and all NRS has to do was give them a game off.

I could very easily see a game where Kung Lao, Reptile, Ermac, Cage, Sonya, Jax, Kano, Mileena and Goro sit out working just fine from a roster standpoint while possibly giving fans time to miss these characters and I think that’d be a win / win. You also make the Kombat kids immediately less redundant and you let them stand on their own. Finally, you free up some space for other, lesser utilized Trilogy characters and 3D era characters, and you can really put together a roster that centers around the story WHILE giving fans of each era (Trilogy, 3D and the new era) enough of what they like but not too much so as to feel like a retread.

But Yeah, like you, I don’t see that happening. They’ll put Kung Lao, Reptile, probably one of Cage or Sonya and maybe even Jax I’m because that’s what they think the most fans want, even if they have little to do with the story and we’ve already seen them 6,m or 7 times already. Be disappointed if you want, but at least go in expecting the worst so you hopefully won’t be too let down. I hope we’re both wrong there.

I also expect lots of guests in the DLC, perhaps as many as half which sucks even more for me given that I have absolutely zero interest in horror characters. Spawn would actually be a step up to me, but all the talk of Pennywise and Michael Myers? Bleh. No thanks. Not even interested in Ash. I’ll be completely shocked if there’s less than four guests.

The story... Eh, I’m sure it’ll have its issues. They all have plot issues, especially when there’s time involved, which leads me to believe this one will have more issues than most. Still, I just take it for what it is and have fun with. Don’t pull at any loose threads, tempting though it may be and try and excuse any horrendously stupid character decisions when you can.

MK is at the point where they’re telling longer, more involved, more intricately designed stories than any other game in the genre, but that still doesn’t put them at the level of best storytellers in gaming by any means. There’s not nearly enough situational awareness, raw emotion, or complex themes explored in a realistic, compelling way to put this kind of storytelling on a literary level, so I choose not to dissect it in that way. To me, it’s a fun action movie with some intrigue thrown in. Would I dissect Fast 5 the same way I’d dissect Casablanca or Leaves of Grass or even Uncharted? No.

Thats not giving MK a free pass to be less than what it could be and I’ll always advocate for more nuanced stories with more well rounded characters, but I also have to accept their vision for what it is when they give it to me, otherwise I’m just torturing myself and belittling them for not giving me, one person, exactly what I want. I try to keep my expectations a little more realistic, even if I still hope that MK could take the next step beyond the positive, rather exemplary steps they’ve taken so far.

It’ll likely be a mess, but hopefully it’s a fun and entertaining mess.

Only part I think you’re more likely to be wrong on is the small number of MKX newbies returning. Here, I likely will get my hopes up, because I legitimately believe the MKX newbies are the best new batch of characters since MK2. Kotal Khan, Dvorah, Erron Black and Takeda in particular have well defined roles, cool, signature fighting styles and unique looks and be really surprised if at least three of them didn’t make the cut for MK11. Dvorah’s The only one I could see sitting out.

I also think Cassie and Kung Jin could be in MK11. Seems odd to leave the chosen one and the first openly gay character out of the very next game after they first appeared. But neither are even remotely limited to those single facets. For all the talk about Kung Jin being a Green Arrow rip-off, I think he still has a lot of unique aspects to his variations and Cassie’s fun to use as well with a cool style of her own. I could very easily see them both making it in for a variety of reasons and both check all the boxes on merit.

Jaqui is a bit more of a wild card to me. She has a good look, she fits into the story remarkably well with Cassie, Jax, Takeda and the Special Forces, but her move lists were arguably the weakest / most uninspired of any of the new characters. I would mind seeing her return, but they’ll really kinda need to reimagine what could make her fun for players. Maybe a fun grappling style? Who knows.

As for Ferra Torr, that character feels very one-off to me. They might bring them back in the future, perhaps in a different form, but I doubt there’s too much of a rush to get them in the next game beyond Boon liking the character IIRC.

So yeah, I could see as many as six of the seven returning and as few as four, which to me would still be pretty decent. Any less than four though and yeah, I’d definitely be disappointed.

I expect a roster of around 30 characters, Kahn making it 31. A Kombat Pack with 6 fighters and Premier skins make a return, bringing the 6-7 skins in as re-skin characters people ask for ( Frost, Khameleon, Kira/Jarek/Kano's Son, Taven/Daegon, Reiko/Kahn)

I expect to be confused and disappointed by the story, because they'll probably just try to mash the two timelines together haphazardly and make even more of a mess of it and then we'll get some big bang game in MK 12 where it's EVERYONE (a la Trilogy)

Overall, I try to set my expectations fairly low - I wasn't thrilled with gear coming into play, but it is what it is and I guess I'll have to deal with it. I hope it doesn't play like Injustice 2 because I hated playing it and the random gear box drops sucked.

Also - counting on 30% of the DLC being guests. I've heard alot of names being thrown around but ones to keep an eye on are Spawn, Pennywise and Mike Meyers.

I did a big write-up on his, but then my internet disconnected and I hit post, so I lost it, haha.

When it comes to gameplay, I expect it to be a slightly updated version of what we all know and love. I think the customization elements will be used to choose between different versions of the characters. For example, you can play as Scorpion with classic garb, or follow him through to more modern or experimental designs. You can have either Raiden in classic blue or evil red. I had this idea that there could be this "spectrum" for different characters, where you can sort of cycle them through good and evil designs, and it will affect how they play, but I think that is too much work. I think the most dynamic difference in characters will be between Liu Kang and Kitana and revanant Liu Kang and Kitana.

Story-wise, I think the timelines are just there to justify putting all the classic characters in. I'd like it if there were two distinct Outworlds -- one ruled by Shao Kahn and the other ruled by Kotal -- colliding, as well as a Netherrealm ruled by Shinnok (represented by Quan Chi and Noob Saibot) and another ruled by Liu Kang and Kitana. I'd like it if the game were set after MK3. But I think it's going to be a bit of a "let's throw things out there and see what sticks" sort of thing.

As far as characters go, I expect most of the classics to return, if not all of them. If you take all of the characters in MK1 and MK2 and put them in, you've got 13 not including the secret characters and bosses. Throw in the MKX characters that will probably return (although Ferra may be updated with a new rider), excluding Triborg (who felt like a gimmick) and you've got 8 slots there. That's 21. I think Quan Chi, Noob Saibot and Kenshi are pretty solid bets. That's 24 returning characters. It might be time to then start thinking about new characters.

2 versions of most characters, feuding or existing in a merged timeline. Obviously not all of them would be usable though.

3 fatalities per charachter, none of that micro transaction bull shit mkx pulled