Because it is a FANTASY world and made by English-speaking developers. In the real world, English is seen as an international language, not bound to just one people. In Dungeons and Dragons terms, it is the most Common language and is therefore known by most.

It is a game. There need not be a logical explanation to it.
In Tekken, the characters speak both English and Japanese, yet they all understand eachother perfectly. Why? Because it is a game!

This game needs JP voice actors & actresses.

Why does it "need" that?

No.

It doesn't.
On topic, though, like the others said, it's just a fantasy game, and it certainly makes finding voice actors easier.

Probably cause its a video game.

No. Just no...
This is not Tekken or Street Fighter. This is MORTAL KOMBAT

I think it's funny everybody speaks english. Even people from different realms speak perfect english.

Like I said before, this is Mortal Kombat. Nothing has to make sense.

Of course there is no actual explanation, but for argument's sake:

-The Lin Kuei at the very least not only come from all corners of the globe, but it stands to reason they'd be teaching a number of languages to the children they steal. They operate globally. I imagine the Shirai Ryu were not far off.

-Your average young Edenian is ten thousand years old. There are probably a few libraries in Edenia and Outworld detailing Earth culture and its common languages. I can see the likes of Quan Chi and Shang Tsung being fluent in dozens of tongues.

-Gods can speak any language they want. They're gods. Failing any explanation for a given action, you can probably chalk it all up to magical sorcerer-or-god-created fields of universal translation and call it a day.

They speak the universal language. English

nah it doesn't make sense

Don't act like Tekken makes more sense just 'cause they have Japanese in the game too. Some of that game's cast are from Mexico, Brazil, Russia, Germany, where are their languages, huh? The only reason there's Japanese in the game is it was made in Japan.

It's something I've thought about, but I haven't thought of an explaination. Maybe English is the official language of the Mortal Kombat tournament? Maybe all the characters who you wouldn't expect to speak English are very academic when they're not fighting and just study a lot of languages?

It's probably it's just for convenience and authenticity isn't THAT important in the story. After all, if you change the language to Spanish, don't the characters speak Spanish instead?

kick to the face..peter giffin"roadhouse"

What was the report I just read where by 2020 it's estimated that there will be more Chinese people fluent in English than the rest of the English-speaking world? I've got to find that....



Um... I don't know how long it's been since you've played Tekken, but the cast has been gradually been getting a language for every country. Chinese and Korean has been used for years, and as of TTT2 you have the girl from Monaco speaking French and the Spaniard speaking... well... Spanish. The weird part about Tekken is that EVERYBODY understands EVERYBODY - English, Japanese, Chinese, French, Korean, Bear, Wooden Block, Jaguar, Kangaroo....

Honestly, T5 is the first and last Tekken game I ever played. Realizing that out of a cast of like 40, only 3 of them didn't have boring-looking fighting styles kinda did it in for me, but honestly, if it hadn't been that, it would've been the "comedy" bull**** like the bear and kangaroo.

Even then, by Tekken 5 the Chinese and Korean speakers were in place...

Meh.

It's a similar situation with Stargåte. Anyhow, while I accept the English language as a universal language, even if it doesn't make sense – I would've liked to hear the Raiden–Shao Kahn dialogue in a god language; it would've sounded cooler and implied that these guys are indeed divine.

I found that to be incredibly jarring while playing through Tekken 6's Scenario mode. One character saying something in Japanese and the other replying in English, so on and so forth.

Well that would quite counter-productive seeing as:

1. The game is mostly marketed to Americans.
2. The game is not even popular in Japan.


To play devil's advocate, why Roger and Roger Jr. (the kangaroos) are joke characters, Kuma and Panda (the bears) play important roles in the series' storyline. Just sayin'.

Firstly, that's not encouraging me to think better of them or the series. Quite the opposite, in fact. Or at least, that would be the case if my opinion of Tekken's story could get any lower, but I've seen Blood Vengeance...and that is a scar my psyche will bear forever.
Secondly, I remember Kuma's T5 ending. I know an attempt at comedic relief when I see it. Emphasis on the word "attempt".

How do you know its mostly marketed to americans?

I presume they speak French or Spanish or whatever in non English versions.

Isn't there a list of foreign voice actors in the credits?

What's all this about Kuma?

Kuma actually does have some importance in the story. As Heihachi's loyal pet, he tries to obtain the Mishima Zaibatsu from Jin. But is easily defeated and is thrown from a helicopter into the forest. That was his Tekken 6 story.

Kuma's endings since Tekken 3 have always been humorous. From trying to ask Panda out, to almost taking control of the Mishima Zaibatsu, to having taken over the Mishima Zaibatsu only to be overthrown by Heihaichi, to throwing Kazuya and Jin into space and accidently cutting his space suit which pushed him into space. Kuma has had quite a ride.

Roger/Roger Jr. has no bearing on the story whatsoever. Same for Mokujin and all the Jacks.

While Kuma's endings may be funny, he is more important to the story than most characters.