NetherRealm Ends Support for Mortal Kombat 1

Warner Bros. has confirmed what Mortal Kombat 1 players have been concerned about since the recent Definitive Edition launch: no further DLC characters or story chapters are planned for the game.

Mortal Kombat 1 has sold 5 million copies, pushing the total franchise sales to over 100 million. Previously, Mortal Kombat 11 became the best-selling entry in the series by quickly surpassing Mortal Kombat X's nearly 11 million global sales after launch. By 2022, Mortal Kombat 11 had sold over 15 million units worldwide. In comparison, Mortal Kombat 1 has fallen short of the performance seen in prior installments.

In a post on the official Mortal Kombat social media account, Warner Bros. recognized the disappointment this decision will bring, stating, "our team at NetherRealm needs to shift focus to the next project to ensure we deliver the best experience possible."

Warner Bros. did not specify what this new project entails, but industry speculation strongly suggests it is Injustice 3, the next chapter in NetherRealm's DC-based fighting game series.

The complete statement from Warner Bros. reads:

We have heard the community's desire for continued support for Mortal Kombat 1. While we will maintain the game with balance updates and bug fixes, there will be no more DLC characters or story chapters released going forward.

We know this is disappointing for our fans, but our NetherRealm team must now concentrate fully on the next project to make it as exceptional as we can.

The release of the T-1000 guest character in March 2025, which arrived about a year and a half after Mortal Kombat 1's initial launch, now stands as the game's final major content update. For comparison, NetherRealm announced in July 2021 that it had begun development on its next title (Mortal Kombat 1) and would therefore release no further DLC for Mortal Kombat 11. That announcement came two years and three months after Mortal Kombat 11's launch. The current announcement arrives one year and eight months following Mortal Kombat 1's release.

Players are now referencing earlier remarks from NetherRealm's Chief Developer, Ed Boon, who had pledged long-term support for the game. Notably, many fans are pointing to a September 2024 tweet from Boon, in which he sought to reassure the community, stating: "NetherRealm remains fully committed to supporting Mortal Kombat 1 for the long term."

What Will Be NetherRealm Studios' Next Game?

Mortal Kombat 2Injustice 3Something else (let us know what in the comments)

AnswerSee Results

Mortal Kombat 1 saw a brief revival in January with the secret battle against Floyd, the pink ninja that developer Boon had been hinting at for years. This event ignited a fun, community-wide hunt that injected fresh energy into the game. However, this was an isolated highlight in what has largely been a letdown for many dedicated Mortal Kombat players.

What's next for Mortal Kombat? Parent company Warner Bros. Discovery has expressed continued confidence in the violent fighting series. In November, CEO David Zaslav stated that the company's gaming strategy would focus intensely on just four major titles, with Mortal Kombat being one of them. The film adaptation, Mortal Kombat 2, is scheduled for release later this year.