Mortal Kombat 1's development chief, Ed Boon, recently shared a sneak peek of the upcoming guest character T-1000 Terminator's Fatality on social media, sparking excitement among fans. This reveal coincides with the release of another guest character, Conan the Barbarian, and Boon announced that Mortal Kombat 1 has now surpassed five million copies sold, up from the previously reported four million.
The teaser clip of T-1000's Fatality showcases a thrilling moment where the character drives a smashed-up truck into his opponent, reminiscent of the iconic chase scene from Terminator 2. This nod to the film franchise is sure to delight fans of both Mortal Kombat and Terminator.
Boon's accompanying tweet hinted at more to come, stating, "With Conan getting into player’s hands, we are excited to keep trucking forward with future DLC!" This comment has fueled speculation within the Mortal Kombat community about the possibility of additional DLC characters beyond the current Khaos Reigns expansion, which includes T-1000 as its final character alongside Cyrax, Sektor, Noob Saibot, Ghostface, and Conan the Barbarian.
The anticipation for more content is heightened by the success of Mortal Kombat 1 and the ongoing support from its parent company, Warner Bros. Discovery. In November, CEO David Zaslav expressed the company's commitment to the franchise, stating plans to focus on just four titles, including Mortal Kombat.
Despite the focus on Mortal Kombat, fans are also curious about the future of NetherRealm's other major franchise, Injustice. In September, Boon mentioned that the studio had decided on its next game three years prior but assured continued support for Mortal Kombat 1. While many expect a third Injustice game, neither NetherRealm nor Warner Bros. has confirmed this yet.
The decision to release Mortal Kombat 1 instead of an Injustice game was influenced by several factors, including the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the switch to a newer version of the Unreal game engine. In an interview with IGN in June 2023, Boon explained, "There were a number of factors, some of which I can talk about, some of which I probably shouldn't." He highlighted the transition to Unreal Engine 4 from Unreal Engine 3, used in Mortal Kombat 11, and the need to ensure team safety during the pandemic.
Boon also reassured fans that the door is not closed on the Injustice franchise, stating, "Not at all," when asked about its future. This leaves room for hope that NetherRealm will return to the DC fighting game series after further developing Mortal Kombat 1.
