The Best-Selling Fighting Game This Generation Was Killed by Its Own Publisher

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In simpler terms, Mortal Kombat 11, the 11th installment in the series, broke franchise records by selling over 15 million copies – an impressive feat. However, despite being expected to sell well and outselling every other fighting game this generation, Mortal Kombat 1, the reboot, has faced criticism for poor business decisions and is generally considered a letdown. It’s as if this new version was hastily sent to some imaginary realm of failure instead of success.

As a devoted fan, I can’t contain my excitement after witnessing the electrifying debut of MK1 during Summer Game Fest Live 2023. The wait for this game has been quite long due to NetherRealm Studios’ meticulous approach, and the anticipation among us fans was palpable, especially considering that the more strategic MK11 had begun to feel overly familiar.

The action-packed footage shown seemed like a promising correction of MK11’s issues, offering a fresh breath of air for the franchise. It’s as if they listened to our collective prayers and delivered a game that promises to rejuvenate the series!

Mortal Kombat 1‘s Poor Launch Haunted It

After the initial excitement, it soon became apparent that the game lacked many standard features typically found in similar games. Absent were crossplay, online rooms for playing with others, and various practice settings. Compared to previous NetherRealm titles, it fell short, lacking character-specific tutorials, costume acquisition details, a ping filter, multiple custom gear slots, and even basic functions like pinning moves to the screen – features that were common in earlier games. The seasonal store was present but was a significant downgrade from the comprehensive Krypt in MK11, which stood alone as its own game.

Despite receiving generally positive reviews for its combat systems, MK1 was often criticized for what it lacked, with those elements that were present also undergoing intense scrutiny. For instance, characters had fewer dialogue exchanges during introductions and conclusions, and they didn’t have specific taunts based on matchups. The initial character designs, known as Kameos, were silent and had limited costumes. The single-player Invasion mode was a significant downgrade compared to the rotating challenge towers due to its repetitive one-round fights that were frequently disrupted by party game modifications and an excessive number of armored enemies. The single-player campaign, a feature that the team had helped introduce in Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe in 2008, started off well but was heavily criticized for its disappointing final act, which was overly focused on nostalgia at the expense of coherent storytelling.

It seems unusual for a trailblazing studio like NetherRealm to lag behind current standards, especially considering the many issues at launch that MK1 encountered. Given these problems, it appears highly probable that Mortal Kombat 1 was released prematurely, another example of Warner Bros. Games’ heavy-handed involvement.

Since Mortal Kombat 9, NetherRealm has consistently released games in April and May. With a lighter release schedule during these months, players usually have ample time to prepare for the first EVO tournament in August. However, MK1 was launched in September, a month that seems to have been chosen to fill the gap until the frequently delayed Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League‘s launch in January.

Warner Bros. Games had few major games scheduled for fall, other than re-releases, so it appears that MK1 was chosen to fill this slot, whether or not it was ready for release.

WB Games Has Had a Rough Decade

WB Games has a reputation for meddling with their games, and this has led to some issues:

* Batman: Arkham Knight was initially sold with an expensive season pass, which primarily offered cosmetic items.
* Middle-earth: Shadow of War originally included obtrusive loot boxes and a grueling endgame, aspects that were revised following public criticism.
* Since Mortal Kombat X, NetherRealm’s games have seen an increase in microtransactions, peaking with $10 character skins and overpriced Fatality DLC (both later reduced after receiving negative feedback).
* MultiVersus faced significant backlash for its high shop prices and the excessive grinding required to unlock content.

The challenges faced by MultiVersus extend beyond just its monetization strategy, offering insights into broader concerns within Warner Bros. Games. Initially developed by Player First Games specifically for Warner Bros., this small team – reportedly seven members at launch as per YouTuber Matt McMuscles – experienced significant issues when the game became popular. Allegations suggest that Warner Bros. intervened to alter the monetization, let go of several staff towards the end of development, and provided a limited budget due to their recent merger with Discovery. Despite delivering the desired fighting game utilizing various franchises and generating notable interest in a competitive free-to-play market, Player First Games ultimately ceased operations due to mismanagement.

As a gaming enthusiast who’s been eagerly awaiting the next installment in the Arkham series, it feels like Warner Bros. missed the mark with both Gotham Knights and Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League. Instead of capitalizing on the success of the Arkham games, they seemed to have abruptly halted projects for Suicide Squad and Damian Wayne by WB Montreal. In place of these promising titles, we got Gotham Knights, a game that, despite initial expectations, didn’t capture the essence of the Arkham games. Rumors suggest it was intended to be a live service title, but those elements were eventually removed. To make matters worse, WB Montreal spent an entire decade developing just one game.

Rocksteady Studios’ Suicide Squad, too, faced similar challenges under Warner Bros.’ live service mandate. After nine long years, the result was a mediocre game that failed to meet expectations. Interestingly, only six of those years were actually dedicated to developing Suicide Squad.

The game based on Wonder Woman, developed by Monolith Productions, was unfortunately never released. It was canceled before a significant trailer could be produced. Over the past generation, WB Montreal, Monolith, and Rocksteady have all experienced significant leadership changes, leading many to speculate that the frequent project cancellations and corporate mandates may have contributed to this. According to Bloomberg reporter Jason Schreier, WB Games has been characterized by chasing trends, lacking vision, and abandoning projects over the past decade, which has negatively impacted the studios under its control. While some blame for the studio’s failures lies with them, it appears they were set up to fail.

Mortal Kombat 1 Was on the Upswing

NetherRealm has continuously improved “MK1” since its release, enhancing the game with features initially expected upon launch. Notably, they’ve made careful adjustments to the roster, making fights more intricate and thrilling. The vast majority of the DLC characters were well-received due to their flashy appearances, except for Peacemaker and Homelander who were deemed excessively overpowered. Additionally, they began offering free cosmetic changes regularly, which some speculate was a form of apology.

Initially, the substantial updates for game MK1 had it gaining momentum, allegedly because the expensive Khaos Reigns expansion didn’t sell well. It seemed additional DLC was in the works, hinted by findings from within the game, and series co-creator Ed Boon suggested MK1 would be supported for a long period. However, despite continued minor balance patches, further support as implied by Boon’s comments won’t occur, which contradicts many assumptions. Placing MK1 on life support while it was improving is disheartening, especially considering Tekken 8 has numerous DLC planned even after the tumultuous Season 2 update. Unlike Bandai Namco, who gives their titles time to recover, it appears WB doesn’t afford this luxury to its studios.

The history of Mortal Kombat 1’s creation has been shrouded in secrecy, often referred to as being hidden away like a secret treasure. However, considering Warner Bros.’s infamous management issues and constant interferences that have led to the failure, delay, or cancellation of numerous games, it’s challenging not to speculate that Mortal Kombat 1 may have been affected by these troubles too. Despite being released prematurely, it doesn’t necessarily mean that Mortal Kombat 1 had to share a similar fate and meet an early demise.

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2025-09-04 00:17