Mortal Kombat 1 Dev Chief Ed Boon Teases T-1000 Fatality and ‘Future DLC’

Ed Boon, the development chief of Mortal Kombat 1, recently shared a sneak peek of the upcoming guest character T-1000 Terminator's Fatality on social media, sparking excitement among fans. Alongside this reveal, Boon announced that Mortal Kombat 1 has surpassed five million copies sold, up from the previously reported four million, celebrating the release of the latest guest character, Conan the Barbarian.

The clip showcasing T-1000's Fatality evokes nostalgia, as it features the character driving a smashed-up truck into his opponent, reminiscent of the iconic chase scene from Terminator 2. Boon's accompanying tweet, "With Conan getting into player’s hands, we are excited to keep trucking forward with future DLC!" has ignited speculation within the Mortal Kombat community about potential new DLC characters beyond the current lineup.

T-1000 Terminator marks the final addition to the Khaos Reigns expansion, joining other notable fighters such as Cyrax, Sektor, Noob Saibot, Ghostface, and Conan the Barbarian. As the community buzzes about the possibility of a Kombat Pack 3, questions arise about the future direction of the game and its sales performance.

Warner Bros. Discovery, the parent company, has expressed continued faith in the Mortal Kombat franchise. In November, CEO David Zaslav announced plans to focus on just four titles, with Mortal Kombat being one of them. Furthermore, in September, Boon assured fans that NetherRealm had chosen its next project three years earlier but would continue to support Mortal Kombat 1 for an extended period.

While many anticipate NetherRealm's return to the Injustice series, neither the studio nor Warner Bros. has confirmed such plans. The Injustice franchise, which began with Injustice: Gods Among Us in 2013 followed by Injustice 2 in 2017, was expected to alternate with Mortal Kombat games. However, the release of Mortal Kombat 11 in 2019 and the subsequent soft reboot, Mortal Kombat 1, in 2023, shifted expectations.

In a June 2023 interview with IGN, Boon provided insight into the decision to release another Mortal Kombat game instead of an Injustice title. He cited the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the transition to a newer version of the Unreal game engine as key factors. Mortal Kombat 11 utilized Unreal Engine 3, while Mortal Kombat 1 runs on Unreal Engine 4. Boon emphasized the team's focus on safety during the pandemic and the desire to leverage the new engine's capabilities.

When asked about the future of the Injustice franchise, Boon was clear: "Not at all," indicating that the door remains open for future Injustice games.