Warner Bros. has officially confirmed the fears of Mortal Kombat 1 fans following the release of the Definitive Edition: there will be no additional DLC characters or story chapters added to the game. Despite selling 5 million copies and contributing to the franchise's total of 100 million units sold, Mortal Kombat 1 has not met the sales expectations set by its predecessors. For perspective, Mortal Kombat 11 surpassed the nearly 11 million units sold by Mortal Kombat X shortly after its launch, eventually reaching over 15 million copies sold by 2022.
In a recent tweet from the official Mortal Kombat social media account, Warner Bros. expressed understanding of the disappointment this news would bring to players. The statement explained that NetherRealm Studios needs to shift its focus to their next project to ensure its quality, though the nature of this new project remains undisclosed. Speculation suggests it could be Injustice 3, the next installment in NetherRealm's DC fighting game series.
Here is the full statement from Warner Bros.:
We are hearing players’ requests for continued game support of Mortal Kombat 1, and, while we will continue to support Mortal Kombat 1 through balance adjustments and fixes, there will not be additional DLC characters or story chapters released from this point on.
We understand this will be disappointing for fans, but our team at NetherRealm needs to shift focus to the next project in order to make it as great as we possibly can.
The T-1000 guest character released in March 2025 marks the final significant content update for Mortal Kombat 1, which was released a year and a half earlier. This timeline echoes the support pattern seen with Mortal Kombat 11, where NetherRealm announced in July 2021 that it had begun working on its next project, ending further DLC for that game. The current announcement comes just one year and eight months after Mortal Kombat 1's release.
Fans have pointed out previous assurances from NetherRealm's development chief, Ed Boon, who had promised extended support for the game. A tweet from Boon in September 2024 aimed to reassure fans of the studio's commitment to Mortal Kombat 1, yet today's news contradicts those earlier statements.
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Despite the general disappointment, Mortal Kombat 1 saw a brief resurgence in January with the secret fight featuring Floyd, the pink ninja that developer Ed Boon had been teasing for years. This community-driven event injected some excitement back into the game, though it remains a rare highlight in what has been an underwhelming release for many dedicated Mortal Kombat fans.
Looking ahead, Warner Bros. Discovery remains optimistic about the future of the Mortal Kombat franchise. In November, CEO David Zaslav emphasized the company's intention to focus on four key titles, including Mortal Kombat. Additionally, the upcoming movie adaptation, Mortal Kombat 2, is set to release later this year, signaling continued investment in the brand's potential.
