Ed Boon Confirms New Mortal Kombat is "In the Works"
The fatalities aren't over yet. NetherRealm Studios chief Ed Boon has officially confirmed that a new Mortal Kombat project is currently being developed, even as the studio remains tight-lipped about its immediate release schedule.
The news comes while Boon is on the promotional trail for the Mortal Kombat 2 theatrical sequel. Speaking with Collider, Boon teased that the studio has multiple projects simmering behind the scenes.
“We're definitely pursuing another Mortal Kombat game, and we're definitely doing more, as well, so there are a lot of parts on the stove, not just with games, though, with other forms of media and whatnot. So, we’ve got a lot of great announcements that are coming.”
While Mortal Kombat is now confirmed to be in the pipeline, many industry insiders believe Injustice 3, the third entry in NetherRealm’s DC Comics fighting series, will actually be the studio's next major game release. Historically, the developer alternated between the two franchises every two years, a cycle that was broken when the studio released Mortal Kombat 1 in 2023 instead of a new Injustice.
With James Gunn’s new DC Cinematic Universe gaining momentum, a return to the Injustice world would be a timely move for Warner Bros. Games.
The confirmation of a sequel follows a somewhat polarizing chapter for the franchise. While Mortal Kombat 1 was a commercial hit, selling 8 million copies, it fell short of the 15 million units moved by its predecessor, Mortal Kombat 11.
The game also faced criticism for its "Kameo Fighters" mechanic and a sudden end to post-launch support. Warner Bros. Games confirmed roughly a year ago that no further DLC or story chapters would be added to MK1, leading many to speculate that the team had already shifted focus to their next project.
Fans are already speculating on whether the next game will be a direct sequel to the recent reboot or another complete overhaul. There is also hope that the next title will leverage the power of newer hardware, with rumors suggesting a possible release on the Switch 2 alongside PlayStation and Xbox.
Boon also expressed optimism for the genre as a whole, noting that with both Mortal Kombat and Street Fighter films hitting theaters this year, he would "love to see them both do well" to prove that audience appetite for fighting game media is stronger than ever.
Image: https://www.deviantart.com/chrono-strife/art/Mortal-kombat-84527011
