The next Mortal Kombat game isMortal Kombat 1. The game willreset the Mortal Kombat timelinefollowing the events of Mortal Kombat 11’s Aftermath expansion, making Liu Kang’s triumph the canonical ending. With Liu Kang now a god, he ushers in an era of peace uncharacteristic of the ultra-violent franchise. But that peace is soon shattered by the return of Shang Tsung, who soon murders a whole bunch of classic MK characters and draws the ire of Earthrealm’s new fire god.
We’re pretty certain that Mortal Kombat 1’s entire plot hasn’t just been given away by its first trailer, but one thing that might have been is the return of Mortal Kombat 11’s gear system. As spotted by Reddit userLow_Zookeepergame474, Shang Tsung’s forearms are bare during his introduction, but at the end, they seem to be equipped with wicked metal claws.
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However, not everyone is convinced that this confirms gears. Others in the same thread note that Shang Tsung attacks using a new claw weapon during the trailer, and the final image of Shang Tsung’s pre-order bonus could just be those same claws but retracted.
Not everyone is keen to see Mortal Kombat 11’s gear system return for MK1 either. While being able to customize your preferred character’s appearance was certainly a welcome addition, many of those cosmetics were locked away in the grind-heavy Towers of Time game mode, requiring hours upon hours of play to unlock. Gear was largely cosmetic, however, so it provided an aspirational goal for die-hard Mortal Kombat fans.
We’re certain to find out more–and whether those claws reveal MK1’s gear system–in the coming months. Summer Game Fest is right around the corner, and next week, Sony will host its PlayStation Showcase, both of which would be perfect opportunities for a gameplay reveal.
So far we know that MK1 will star Liu Kang, Kung Lao, Raiden, Kitana, Mileena, Scorpion, Sub-Zero, and Shang Tsung as a pre-order bonus character.Johnny Cage has also been confirmedto come in a Kombat Pack with a skin that makes him look like Jean-Claude Van Damme. The trailer description reveals a “new fighting system” (which will hopefully be like Street Fighter 6’s Smash-like system), new game modes, and new fatalities too.
Pre-orders are available now for PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC, and Nintendo Switch. Release date is set for September 19, but pre-orders will get early access on September 14 and access to a beta test in August.
Johnny Cage is also reportedly set to appear in Mortal Kombat 2 and might even be portrayed by Karl Urban.Fans aren’t particularly happy to see Judge Dreddtake the role of the bombastic Johnny Cage, suggesting WWE’s Miz would be a much better fit.
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