It has been almost four years since Mortal Kombat 11 dropped, and something new for the series is on the horizon. During an earnings call, Warner Bros. Discovery’s CEO announced that Mortal Kombat 12 was planned for a 2023 release. As surprising as this announcement was, many fans are almost as surprised by the game’s identity being purely centered around Mortal Kombat. Ever since the 2008 release of Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe, Mortal Kombat and a DC fighting game have been alternating releases roughly every two years, and MK12 will break that pattern.
Rumors over the past couple of years have pointed to NetherRealm Studios’ next project being anything from Mortal Kombat 12 and Injustice 3 to a Marvel vs. DC fighting game. Mortal Kombat 12’s prolonged silence and rebooted setting should breathe some new life into the franchise, but it may be time for NetherRealm to look at doing another crossover title. Setting Marvel aside, Mortal Kombat and DC Comics have had a special synergy for years, and Mortal Kombat 11’s own take on the crossover supports this idea.
Mortal Kombat and DC Have Built Up a Strong Bond
Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe was the last title developed internally at Midway Games before its bankruptcy, and it has not been seen favorably by the modern NetherRealm community. At the time it was noted for being a sloppy and unbalanced fighter compared to past MK entries, lacking in side content, constrained by its "T for Teen" rating, and hosting one of the most underwhelming story modes in the Mortal Kombat franchise. Going from that to NetherRealm’s acclaimed Mortal Kombat (2011), made by many of the same hands who once worked under Midway, felt like a massive leap in quality.
Despite that, the two brands remained friendly and continued collaborating. One of Injustice: Gods Among Us’ final DLC characters was Mortak Kombat's Scorpion, and the existence of Injustice indicates that NetherRealm and WB Games were willing to give things another shot. Sub-Zero and Raiden appeared in Injustice 2’s DLC, and Mortal Kombat finally reciprocated by adding The Joker as a downloadable fighter in MK11. The logic behind this selection dates all the way back to Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe, where Joker’s Gunshot Fatality was considered such a stand-out that Shang Tsung borrowed it in Mortal Kombat (2011). At this point, the next step for the Mortal Kombat and DC properties is obvious.
Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe Could Fulfill Its Potential Now
A new Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe game should be made at some point in the near future. Joker’s inclusion in MK11 speaks to how much better a modern crossover title could be than what emerged from the dying Midway. The chance for an M-rated title is even possible now, which would help the MK side of the roster feel like themselves as the DC superheroes hit as hard as they please. Add on a setup involving Fire God Liu Kang arranging the crossover using Injustice’s pre-existing multiversal narrative as a framework, and the potential for a crossover speaks for itself.
Returning to DC’s world will probably be good after potentially six years straight of Mortal Kombat. It’s one of the world's most popular fighting game franchises for a reason, but players can still get tired from too much of a good thing. This major crossover could also serve as a platform for other guest appearances, such as Mortal Kombat’s typical vintage movie cameos or a high-profile cameo by a Marvel character. Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe may have once been the last gasp of a failing company, but it could now serve as the springboard for one of the most exciting mainstream crossover fighting games yet.
Mortal Kombat 11 is available for PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
