Mortal Kombat 1 enters the ring in September

We’ve been teased, we’ve been made to wait, and finally, we have confirmation. Mortal Kombat 12 is now officially called Mortal Kombat 1 and it’s coming on September 19. There’s a lot to report, but before anything else, check out the trailer for Mortal Kombat 1. Be warned: it’s gorier than ever.

It’s in our blood

Mortal Kombat 1 confirms what we already suspected—the game travels back in time to reboot the franchise. Liu Kang, who ascended to godhood in Mortal Kombat 11, has established a new universe, a “blank slate” if you will. And while he seeks peace, he makes it clear he won’t shirk from some good old-fashioned violence to anyone who threatens his new era. 

According to the game’s website:

“The game will introduce a reborn Mortal Kombat Universe that has been created by the Fire God Liu Kang, featuring reimagined versions of iconic characters as they’ve never been seen before, along with a new fighting system, game modes, bone krushing finishing moves, and more.”

Among the characters revealed are Liu Kang, Kitana, Mileena, Scorpion, Sub-Zero, and Raiden, so we know these familiar faces will be present at launch. Johnny Cage has also been announced along with “many others.”

The game will also introduce a new combat assist feature wherein you can "choose from a unique roster of Kameo fighting partners to assist you in battle.” It sounds a bit like Marvel vs. Capcom wherein other fighters leap in for a quick attack before jumping out once more.

Mortal Kombat 1 pre-orders start tomorrow

Mortal Kombat 1 is releasing on September 19, 2023, for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, and PC. There will be three editions: Standard, Premium, and the hefty Kollector’s Edition. We’ll discuss these in a separate post.

That said, the next important bit of news is this: pre-orders will begin May 19, at 10 a.m. PT, and those who do so for PS5 and Xbox will be eligible to join the beta test happening this August. Pre-ordering will also get you Shang Tsung as a playable character. If you’re keen on joining the beta test, do grab a Mortal Kombat 1 PS5 key from our comparator as soon as they are available.