Mortal Kombat is about to go through its biggest refresh ever. NetherRealm Studios is preparing to completely torch the continuity fans have come to know and build something new from the ashes with the release of Mortal Kombat 1 in 2023.
This decision shouldn’t shock fans of the franchise who played through MK11, but the drastic steps the developers are taking to give this iteration of the franchise its own identity might. That is because the lore, gameplay, and more will all be completely reworked in multiple ways.
Whether it be Scorpion and Sub-Zero putting aside their differences or the introduction of a tag-like assist system, the game is about to undergo some seriously huge changes and players won’t need to wait too long to get their hands on it.
When does Mortal Kombat 1 release?
MK1 will release on Sept. 19. It is set to drop on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.
The game will skip previous-gen consoles, meaning no PlayStation 4 or Xbox One version will be released. But it is still slated to get a Nintendo Switch port—though fans are split on if it will be an inferior version of the game or a cloud streaming option.
There will also be a beta held for the game ahead of its full release.
When does the Mortal Kombat 1 beta start?
The beta period of MK1 will start on Aug. 18 and run until Aug. 21, according to Mortal Kombat‘s co-creator Ed Boon. PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S owners who pre-order MK1 will automatically gain access to the beta.
Boon’s announcement didn’t mention PC, however. This left the community wondering if NetherRealm Studios is planning a separate MK1 beta period for PC players, but the devs are yet to confirm it.