NetherRealm Studio founder Ed Boon has taken to Twitter to sort out a couple of things. The first and foremost item is that of the next project for the studio, which Boon is aware that everyone is excited for. However, he states that this new project’s reveal “will happen in due time.” In essence, Boon and company aren’t quite ready to unveil what they’ve been working on, but knowing them and their track record thus far, the wait will more than likely be worth it. The other thing that Boon brought up is that they’re still focused on Mortal Kombat’s 30th Anniversary, which is quickly approaching on October 8.
It’s almost hard to believe but one of the most popular fighting game franchises is turning 30 years old this year. Mortal Kombat, which debuted in Arcades in 1992, became an overnight sensation with its tight gameplay and addictive style. However, what set it apart from the rest was, the high amount of blood and violence that was unseen or even heard of in video games at the time. This was emphasized by the game’s most eye-popping feature, the Fatalities, which allows the players to finish their opponent in an over-the-top fashion that usually ends with them being dismembered to some extent.
This, along with the mounting tensions and increasing awareness of video games, essentially forced the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) to come into existence which established an age-specific demographic for each title when it launches. This was how much influence Mortal Kombat had, and still has in the video game industry. The most recent entry in the series, Mortal Kombat 11, sold more than 12 million units by July 2021 with the entire franchise surpassing 37 million units sold in its entire lifetime.