Mortal Kombat 1 Is Dead -The Definitive Edition Proves It

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With the drop of the definitive edition, fans believe that Mortal Kombat 1 is dead!

NetherRealm’s latest and very successfully entry in the MK franchise is less than 2 years old.

But this move has players worried that support from Warner Bros. for the game has ended.

Mortal Kombat 1 Is Dead

A little over a year ago, I got my hands on Mortal Kombat 1, which dropped in September of 2023. This bad boy was available across all platforms, including the Switch, and it’s been a smash hit, racking up over 5 million sales! To top it off, it became the fastest-selling Mortal Kombat game to date, with an astounding 3 million copies flying off the virtual shelves within the first month alone.

Yesterday, I learned with excitement that a definitive version of the original Mortal Kombat (MK1) is hitting the shelves. Dropping today, it’s got everyone talking – even the die-hard fans are saying that MK1 as we know it is no more.

It’s important to acknowledge the situation truthfully. Warner Bros has terminated other series under less favorable circumstances. Not too long ago, there were discussions about them prematurely ending Multiversus. What’s causing a stir among fans, though, is that despite its financial success, they are choosing to discontinue it.

While Ed Boon hasn’t made an official declaration that the character is named “Joever,” it seems unlikely given the nature of game development and corporate practices. Companies tend to avoid acknowledging failures, whether to their investors or customers, to maintain a positive public image.

It’s been revealed just recently that Assassin’s Creed Shadows failed to sell 2.4 million units, which might seem impressive given current AAA standards, but the truth is, it doesn’t matter much.

These times demand success without compromise, as each venture must be a massive hit, generating immense profits. The original Mortal Kombat seems to have met its end, and the definitive edition merely underscores this fact.

While Steam statistics may not provide an exact picture for all gaming consoles, they still offer a useful perspective for general comparison. For instance, when compared to Street Fighter 6’s current 27,000 players and Tekken 8’s 7,000 players, Mortal Kombat 1’s 2,400 players appears quite low.

Additionally, the overall atmosphere surrounding Mortal Kombat 1 seems lackluster. There’s not much enthusiasm or conversation about it among fans.

Say what you want about Tekken 8 being bad – season 2-wise, people are still talking about it!

Financial Fatality

Of course I’m not claiming that Mortal Kombat 1 is terrible because it’s still alive; rather, it’s just average to me, similar to other games in the series. It doesn’t meet the high standards of Mortal Kombat, but it’s certainly not bad within the context of the franchise. However, as a shareholder and corporate entity, I have a different perspective on its quality.

The overall spending on the game hasn’t been officially disclosed, but based on my assumptions, which include marketing expenses and production costs, I would estimate that the budget was approximately $120 million. However, these figures are just speculation as rumors often circulate about such matters.

It seems as if the prompt and frequent releases of the DLC packs by Warner Bros imply they may have been dissatisfied with their post-release content. This could suggest that they were eagerly seeking revenue from fans, perhaps to compensate for losses or to meet their targeted earnings.

Given that Mortal Kombat 11 earned approximately 500 million two years ago, and considering a sequel might not surpass this figure, they might be concerned. The significant decline in Steam players compared to MK11, still numbering over 10k even years later, could contribute to this worry. This might lead them to believe that Mortal Kombat 1 is no longer popular or relevant.

It’s highly probable that they are considering potential future projects such as Injustice, or planning for layoffs, to fulfill their executive compensation requirements.

In simpler terms, creating a profitable mid-range fighting video game might be quite challenging, friend. My confidence comes from personal belief, backed by an undergraduate education in business.

Unfortunately, it’s not looking good for Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves either.

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2025-05-17 16:31