Will Injustice 3 Ever Happen With Recent DC Changes?

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Players have been anxiously hoping for news about Injustice 3, the next installment in the popular DC fighting game series, which takes place in a world separate from the standard DC comic universe. There were early reports that Injustice 3 was in development, but it turned out those plans were actually for Mortal Kombat 1. Now that Mortal Kombat 1 is finished, it’s uncertain whether shifting priorities at DC and Netherrealm Studios will allow Injustice 3 to ever be made.

Honestly, as a fighting game fan, I’m a little worried about Injustice 3. It’s not the game itself, but what’s been happening at Warner Bros. and DC lately. They’re completely rebooting the DC universe with the new Superman movie coming in 2025, and that’s under new leadership with James Gunn running things. Plus, with Warner Bros. merging with Discovery and then Netflix, they’ve already cancelled a bunch of games they were working on. It just makes me wonder if Injustice 3 will really happen, or if it’ll get caught up in all the changes.

Injustice 3 Seems Unlikely With Overhaul Of DC Properties Under New Creative Control

James Gunn has stated that developing games based on the new DC Universe characters will be a major focus for the studio. He emphasized that while these games will take time to create, he wants them to feel connected to the rest of the DCU, including movies and TV shows. This means actors from those live-action projects will likely voice their characters in the games, and events happening in the games could potentially be considered official parts of the overall DCU storyline.

As a big fan of the Injustice games, I’m a little worried about what Injustice 3 might look like. The games take place on an Earth where Superman becomes a dictator, and the whole story—his rise to power, his fall, and what happens after—has been so unique. We’ve seen sides of DC characters in Injustice that we just don’t get in the main DC Universe. Now that James Gunn is building a unified DCU, it feels like these ‘what if?’ stories might not be as important anymore, and I’d hate to see that kind of storytelling get lost.

The collaboration between DC Studios and Netherrealm Studios is facilitated by their shared publisher, Warner Brothers. Warner Brothers’ gaming department has been talking with DC about potential characters and storylines for new games, but it’s currently unknown if the Injustice series is part of those discussions. Given the number of DC characters already planned for other projects, it would be challenging to create an Injustice 3 game that includes a large cast not already featured in those projects.

Netherrealm Studios Almost Made Injustice 3 Before Mortal Kombat 1

As a long-time fan, one of the biggest rumors going around about Mortal Kombat 1 was that it actually started as Injustice 3. It made sense, because NetherRealm usually alternates between Mortal Kombat and Injustice games – they’ve been doing that since the early 2010s. After Mortal Kombat 11 and its DLC, everyone was expecting a new DC fighting game. Honestly, a lot of people weren’t thrilled with how MK11 played, so the idea of Injustice 3 felt like a natural next step.

It looks like Mortal Kombat 1 is borrowing some ideas from the Injustice games. Specifically, the character introduction before a match – where they face off and exchange words – is very similar to a feature in Injustice 2. While this introduction is currently just for dialogue in MK1, it could be a hint at how character interactions will work in a potential Injustice 3.

The Kameo system in MK1 is a bit unusual for a Mortal Kombat game, but it’s similar to features found in fighting games with comic book characters. It seems Injustice 3 may have originally been planned to play more like the Marvel vs. Capcom series, where players call in supporting characters during fights. This type of team-based assistance fits better with a superhero and villain setting, suggesting that some of MK1’s main ideas were first developed for Injustice 3.

Warner Brothers’ Focus On Mortal Kombat Might Prevent Injustice 3 From Being Made Any Time Soon

For a long time, fans have speculated that Warner Bros. chose to make Mortal Kombat 1 instead of a new Injustice 3 game because they prefer the Mortal Kombat series. With a Mortal Kombat 2 movie already in the works, a new game in that series makes sense. However, the quick release of MK1 and the fact that it doesn’t follow Netherrealm’s typical release schedule suggest this is true, especially considering how much Mortal Kombat 1 borrows from the Injustice games.

Generally, Mortal Kombat games are much more commercially successful than Injustice games. Even though Mortal Kombat 1 wasn’t perfect, it still sold significantly better than Injustice 2 at its peak. Warner Bros. might be hesitant to start a new project, especially considering the recent questions about the DC Universe’s future. Therefore, it’s likely NetherRealm will continue developing Mortal Kombat games, as it’s the more reliable option compared to exploring other franchises.

Fans are hoping NetherRealm’s next game will be Injustice 3. The Injustice games offer a unique experience compared to the studio’s other titles, bringing a fresh take to the fighting game genre. With the DC universe more captivating than ever, a new Injustice game feels particularly well-timed.

Wondering if Injustice 3 might happen? Share your thoughts in the comments or discuss it with other fans on the ComicBook Forum!

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2026-01-31 21:16