In a couple of weeks from now, Mortal Kombat 11's Kombat Pack 2 will be released and will feature three new DLC characters in the game: Rambo, Mileena, and Rain. Ever since the announcement of Kombat Pack 2, NetherRealm Studios has given fans a preview of what to expect from these characters, and it is obvious that they would be great additions to Mortal Kombat 11's roster.
It is worth noting that Mortal Kombat 11 fans have been patiently waiting for the release of Kombat Pack 2, given the popularity of Rambo, Rain, and especially Mileena. The latter, in general, has been a long time coming for fans. Kombat Pack 2 is already on the right track to become the best DLC expansion for the game, especially if the gameplay can match the popularity, which MK11 has done time and again. Indeed, if this is the case, it will make it quite difficult for NetherRealm to top it should the studio release a Kombat Pack 3 in the future, unless, of course, it introduces this fan-requested character.
Ash Williams from Evil Dead
Like Mileena, Mortal Kombat fans have been requesting NetherRealm to add Ash Williams as a DLC character in Mortal Kombat 11 since day one. Evidence of Ash Williams joining the roster of fighters in Mortal Kombat 11 first appeared in April 2019, just a month after the game was released. Dataminers uncovered scripted dialogue between Ash and the then-to-be-announced DLC characters in the game, such as Spawn and The Joker. Fans were hopeful that this could mean that Ash would eventually be added to the game, but sadly, nothing transpired. Ash's actor Bruce Campbell even went on to Twitter to deny these rumors.
Of course, given the popularity of the character among the Mortal Kombat community, adding him to the roster via a future Kombat Pack 3 DLC is really the only way NetherRealm can outdo Kombat Pack 2. At the moment, the exact reason that's keeping Ash Williams from Mortal Kombat 11 is still a mystery. However, it's likely a licensing issue, especially since NetherRealm has seemingly expressed its interest in granting the request of fans.
How Likely is Ash Williams To Appear in Mortal Kombat 11?
Given that it has been a year of numerous rumors and vague comments from the studio, it's hard to say whether Ash Williams will ever appear in MK11. However, it does seem that NetherRealm wants the character to be added to the game's roster. In an episode of the Vic's Basement podcast last July, developer Ed Boon was asked whether Ash Williams will ever be added to Mortal Kombat 11, to which Boon replied, "I wish... there's one I wish I could comment on. You know what? Perhaps in a future Vic's Basement, we can have a conversation like that." Based on Boon's statement, it is clear that he is not at liberty to share more details about the subject, suggesting that NetherRealm is probably in some sort of a troubled negotiation to obtain licensing rights for the character.
Interestingly enough, a Mortal Kombat fan recently discovered while browsing through the files of Mortal Kombat 11 on the PC that a new DLC character could be added to the game. In a Twitter post, the fan shared that when the game was updated on Steam several days ago, Mortal Kombat 11's files showed a new mystery DLC slot. It was not revealed what this empty slot is for, but some fans are now speculating that this could be for a surprise DLC character. Unfortunately, NetherRealm did not comment on this rumor. However, out of all the possible candidates for MK11's next DLC character, Ash Williams is the most likely to be added to the game, assuming that NetherRealm has already obtained the proper licenses.
As for Kombat Pack 3, NetherRealm still hasn't laid out any plans for it, which is understandable given that Kombat Pack 2 isn't even out yet. However, should the studio decide to release another DLC pack, an announcement will likely be made by early next year, with a release sometime in spring.
Mortal Kombat 11 is out now for PC, PS4, Stadia, Switch, and Xbox One.
