With the drop of the definitive edition, fans believe that Mortal Kombat 1 is dead!
NetherRealm’s latest and very successfully entry in the MK franchise is less than 2 years old.
But this move has players worried that support from Warner Bros. for the game has ended.
Mortal Kombat 1 Is Dead
One year and 8 months ago, Mortal Kombat 1 released in September 2023. It was released on all consoles, even the Switch, garnering over 5 million sales. Also, it became the fastest-selling Mortal Kombat ever, selling 3 million copies in the first month!
But just a day ago it was announced that a definitive edition of MK1 was coming out. It dropped on the 15th, and fans since have been saying that Mortal Kombat 1 is dead.
Because let’s be real. Warner Bros have killed other series for less. In fact, not long ago I was talking about them dropping Multiversus sooner than expected. However, what has fans riled up is that despite its financial success, they are pulling the plug.
But ok, there’s no official statement from Ed Boon coming out and saying it’s Joever. Although we know that there would never be one. Companies hate admitting failures both to shareholders and consumers.
Just a week ago it came out that it was the case Assassin’s Creed Shadows flopped at 2.4 million copies. Even though that sounds like a lot in today’s AAA industry, that means nothing.
You cannot afford a flop these days, as every game needs to be gangbusters and make billions. Mortal Kombat 1 is dead, and the definitive edition just proves it.
Although it’s not accounting for every console, Steam charts are a good general figure study. Compared to SF6’s 27k current players and Tekken 8’s 7k, MK1’s 2.4k is looking rough.
Also, just the entire vibe for the game suggests Mortal Kombat 1 is dead. No one is really excited for it or talking about it.
Say what you want about Tekken 8 being bad – season 2-wise, people are still talking about it!
Financial Fatality
But of course I am not saying Mortal Kombat 1 is dead; therefore, it’s bad. Nah, it’s like every other MK and is just kind of OK in my eyes. It’s not bad by MK standards by any means. However, we are talking from the eyes of a shareholder and suit-wearing automaton here.
The total budget for the game is not stated, although I’m going to guess marketing plus production, and rumours lead me to believe it cost in total around $120 million.
Also, the quick releases of the DLC packs suggest that Warner Bros were not happy with post-launch releases. They were squeezing fans dry quickly to make up for the loss or to reach projected figures.
Because MK11 made 500 million 2 years ago, and God forbid a follow-up does not beat it. The steep drop in players compared to MK11 on Steam, which held 10k plus years later, may have also put the fear of God in them. This may have led them to think Mortal Kombat 1 is dead.
It’s most likely they are looking into future titles like Injustice or layoffs to meet executive payout standards!
It’s impossible to make a successful mid-budget fighting game, sir. My source is trust me, bro, and my entry degree in business!
Unfortunately, it’s not looking good for Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves either.
