Category: Videos

It’s Old Skool Kombatants Vs. New Skool Kombatants!

Sony Interactive Entertainment hosted their first episode of their “PlayStation State of Play” stream yesterday — which they’ll be doing periodically throughout the year to showcase updates on various new titles coming to the platform, in a similar vein to Nintendo’s Directs. Though there wasn’t much of anything to report on the fighting game front for this maiden broadcast, the initial episode did end with a new “Old Skool Vs. New Skool” story trailer for the upcoming Mortal Kombat 11, which also confirmed that franchise veterans Jax, Liu Kang, and Kung Lao would officially be returning to the roster — joining the already-confirmed Scorpion, Raiden, Sub-Zero, Baraka, Skarlet, Sonya Blade, Kano, Kabal, Jade, Johnny Cage, Cassie Cage, Jacqui Briggs, D’Vorah, Kotal Khan, Erron Black, Noob Saibot, and newcomer Geras — bringing the current roster total up to 20. Shao Khan will serve as the game’s pre-order bonus, while the nefarious soul-stealing sorcerer Shang Tsung will be the first of six post-launch DLC characters contained in the Kombat Pack, which is included with the game’s Deluxe Edition. In addition, we can see the past version of Kitana joining the fray with the other younger versions of the warriors, but she was not explicitly confirmed to be playable during the broadcast. You can see the full trailer below, but be warned, as with anything Mortal Kombat-related, it is NSFW.

Mortal Kombat 11 will be released for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and Steam on Tuesday, April 23rd. A Closed Beta, available for all players that pre-ordered the game, will begin this Wednesday, March 27th, at 8:00 AM PDT, and will run until Sunday, March 31st, at 11:59 PM PDT, and will feature five playable characters: Scorpion, Baraka, Skarlet, Kabal, and Jade. A Kombat Kast will also be taking place later this week, to provide an overview of at least two kombatants that have been previously revealed without gameplay — which likely means some combination of Erron, Noob, Liu, Jax, D’Vorah, or Lao.

Source: PlayStation (YouTube)

Two Klassic Kombatants return to the ring!

Earlier today, NetherRealm Studios hosted “The Making Of Mortal Kombat” panel at the 2019 Chicago Comic and Entertainment Expo, otherwise known as C2E2. During the panel, in addition to discussing subjects such as the franchise’s lore and the fatality creation process, NRS revealed the next character to join the MK11 roster: the “Shadow of the NetherRealm”, Noob Saibot.

The shadowy wraith who was once the original Sub-Zero — Bi-Han — before he was slain by Scorpion during the original Mortal Kombat tournament, returns from Mortal Kombat 9 with his signature slide, shadow klone, shadow teleports, and a nasty-looking bladed sickle that he uses for devastating Krushing Blows and combos. His first fatality also sees him force his shadowy essence into his victim’s body, hatching a klone that literally tears them in half from the inside. We also see a new stage, which appears to be some type of Lin Kuei or Special Forces research facility, as the body of a cyber ninja is suspended on a platform.

Saibot joins Scorpion, Raiden, Sub-Zero, Baraka, Skarlet, Sonya Blade, Geras, Kano, D’Vorah, Kotal Khan, Erron Black, Cassie Cage, Johny Cage, Jacqui Briggs, Jade, and Kabal on the ever-growing roster. Shao Khan will also be a pre-order bonus day 1 DLC character.

Additionally, Shang Tsung, played by his Mortal Kombat film actor, Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa, will be the first of six post-launch DLC characters available in the Kombat Pack — and will also serve as the host and guide for The Krypt. You can find Noob’s gameplay trailer — as well as the entire near-hour-long panel — below. NRS Creative Director Ed Boon also confirmed (in an answer to a fan question) that the company will be making an official announcement soon regarding competitive tournament rulesets, and how the title-defining Kustom Variation System will be implemented.

Mortal Kombat 11 will be released for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and Steam on Tuesday, April 23, 2019. A Closed Beta will be held from Wednesday, March 27th to Sunday, March 31st, and will allow players that have pre-ordered the full game to test out Scorpion, Baraka, Skarlet, Kabal, and Jade, in both online Player Matches and Klassic Towers, with limited customization options also being made available.

Sources: Mortal Komat (YouTube); NRMgamingHD (YouTube)

If you’re the ruler of Outworld, brutality really seems like the way to go.

NetherRealm Studios have revealed the Outworld Emperor Kotal Kahn for the upcoming Mortal Kombat 11, as well as some information on the impending closed beta.

From the press release:

Kotal Kahn is an Osh-Tekk warrior and Emperor of Outworld. Years ago, Kotal saved the Empire from chaos and claimed the throne of Kahn. Now his reign is plagued by rising tensions at home and abroad. Determined to keep order, Kotal wrestles with the temptation to exercise the same brutal tactics as his predecessors. Kotal summons the power of the sun to strengthen his abilities against his opponents. Additionally, a more in-depth look at the fighting style of Kotal Kahn’s opponent, Jacqui Briggs, is showcased in the trailer with her implementing experience as a competitive fighter trained in kickboxing and martial arts.

If you missed the official story trailer that sets the scene for this time-hopping bloodfest, here it is:

Mortal Kombat 11 is hitting the streets on April 23rd — but if you pre-order the title you will gain some early access, thanks to next week’s closed beta test. The test begins on March 27th.

From the press release:

The Mortal Kombat 11 closed beta begins next week on Wednesday, March 27 at 8:00 a.m. PDT in North America and will run through Sunday, March 31 at 11:59 p.m. PDT. All players who pre-order Mortal Kombat 11 on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 4 Pro, Xbox One or Xbox One X at select retailers will receive access to the closed beta, which features five different characters, each with unique abilities and Fatalities, including fan-favorite fighters Baraka, Jade, Kabal, Scarlet and Scorpion.

Players participating in the closed beta will experience a preview of the all-new Custom Character Variation System, which will offer nearly infinite customization options to personalize fighters with a variety Skins, Gear, Special Abilities, Intro and Victory Cinemas, Taunts and Brutalities. Gameplay modes offered in the close beta will include online multiplayer matches, along with Towers of Time, a single-player mode where players can test their skills through various challenges, providing more ways than ever to continue the Mortal Kombat 11 experience.

Sources: Mortal Kombat 11 [press release]; Mortal Kombat