Mortal Kombat 1's Ed Boon Hints at Future DLC Following T-1000 Reveal
Ed Boon, the creative director behind Mortal Kombat 1, recently shared a sneak peek of the upcoming T-1000 Terminator's Fatality on social media, simultaneously teasing future downloadable content (DLC). This announcement coincided with the release of the Conan the Barbarian guest character and the revelation that Mortal Kombat 1 has surpassed five million copies sold.
Boon tweeted a short video showcasing the T-1000's brutal Fatality, a clear nod to the iconic truck chase scene from Terminator 2. However, it was his accompanying comment, "With Conan getting into player’s hands, we are excited to keep trucking forward with future DLC!", that ignited speculation within the Mortal Kombat community.
While the statement could simply refer to the imminent arrival of the T-1000, many fans interpret it as a hint towards additional DLC characters beyond the current Khaos Reigns expansion. The T-1000 marks the final character in this expansion, following the release of Cyrax, Sektor, Noob Saibot, Ghostface, and Conan.
The question of a potential third DLC pack or "Kombat Pack 3" has been a recurring topic among fans, fueled by uncertainty surrounding Mortal Kombat 1's sales performance. However, Warner Bros. Discovery, the parent company, has reaffirmed its commitment to the Mortal Kombat franchise, stating its intention to significantly invest in only four key titles, with Mortal Kombat being one of them.
Adding to the intrigue, Boon previously confirmed that NetherRealm Studios, the developer, had already chosen its next project three years prior, while pledging continued support for Mortal Kombat 1. Many anticipate this next project to be a third installment in the Injustice fighting game series, although this remains unconfirmed by NetherRealm or Warner Bros.
Past development patterns suggested an alternating release schedule between Mortal Kombat and Injustice titles. However, Boon explained in a 2023 interview with IGN that several factors contributed to the decision to release another Mortal Kombat game (Mortal Kombat 1) before returning to Injustice. These included the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the transition to a newer version of the Unreal Engine (Unreal Engine 4 for Mortal Kombat 1, compared to Unreal Engine 3 for Mortal Kombat 11). Boon explicitly stated that the Injustice franchise is not closed off.
The continued success of Mortal Kombat 1, coupled with Boon's cryptic message, leaves the door wide open for further DLC announcements and keeps the future of both Mortal Kombat and Injustice franchises excitingly uncertain.
