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

Mortal Kombat 1's development chief, Ed Boon, recently shared a sneak peek of the upcoming guest character T-1000 Terminator's Fatality on social media, stirring excitement among fans. This reveal came alongside the announcement of the game surpassing five million copies sold, an increase from the previously reported four million. To celebrate the launch of another guest character, Conan the Barbarian, Boon posted a clip showcasing the T-1000 driving a smashed-up truck into his opponent, a clear nod to the iconic chase scene from Terminator 2.

Boon's accompanying comment, "With Conan getting into player’s hands, we are excited to keep trucking forward with future DLC!" has sparked speculation within the Mortal Kombat community about potential additional content beyond the current Khaos Reigns expansion. This expansion includes the T-1000 as its final character, following Cyrax, Sektor, Noob Saibot, Ghostface, and Conan the Barbarian.

The possibility of a Kombat Pack 3 remains a topic of interest, especially given the franchise's ongoing success. Warner Bros. Discovery, the parent company of NetherRealm Studios, has reaffirmed its commitment to the Mortal Kombat series. In November, CEO David Zaslav highlighted the company's intention to focus on four key titles, with Mortal Kombat being one of them.

Despite the excitement surrounding Mortal Kombat 1, there is also anticipation for NetherRealm's next project. Ed Boon previously mentioned that the studio had decided on its next game three years ago but assured continued support for Mortal Kombat 1. Many fans speculate that this could be a third installment in the Injustice series, though neither NetherRealm nor Warner Bros. has confirmed this.

The Injustice series, starting with Injustice: Gods Among Us in 2013 and followed by Injustice 2 in 2017, has been a significant part of NetherRealm's portfolio. However, the studio opted to release Mortal Kombat 11 in 2019 and then the soft reboot, Mortal Kombat 1, in 2023, instead of alternating between the two franchises as previously anticipated.

In an interview with IGN in June 2023, Boon discussed the factors influencing the decision to focus on another Mortal Kombat game. He cited the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the transition to a newer version of the Unreal game engine as key reasons. Mortal Kombat 11 used Unreal Engine 3, while Mortal Kombat 1 utilizes Unreal Engine 4. Boon emphasized the studio's desire to ensure safety during the pandemic and the need for a new graphics engine as significant influences on their decision-making process.

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