At the Mortal Kombat 11 Reveal Event in Los Angeles this past week, we were able to obtain over an hour of direct feed gameplay footage from the early version of this game. This unedited footage provides a detailed look and several never before seen moments from the game. We've provided the footage as is, meaning there is no commentary track or analysis by our team. Sit back and relax while you witness every bone crushing sound effect along with all detailed background music scores intact. Keep in mind, this was one of the first times we played the game and we aren't experienced as some of the other professionals out there. However it's our hope that you enjoy the content and that it provides you the opportunity for a few surprises and details you may have missed in the past.

The Mortal Kombat 11 beta will be released March 28th for Playstation 4 and Xbox One.

The first demo for Mortal Kombat 11 was available at both the Los Angeles and London Reveal events, and Mortal Kombat Online staff were excited to get hands-on at both locales!

This build of the game offered four main options: Konquer, Fight, Kustomize, and Learn. These roughly translate to Story & Arcade Towers, Exhibition, Character Customization, and Practice mode - all subject to change. The Konquer menu expanded to three main options of play: Story Mode, Towers of Time, and Klassic Towers.

Towers of Time offered single player fights with unique challenges and modifiers that unlock “konsumables” you can use in fighting modes.

With a limit on time spent with the demo, we focused primarily on fighting, which offered standard Local and Online options. Right off the bat we could see they have 25 character slots available, but this often changes from the demo build. Additional characters weren’t even teased in silhouette at this stage. The seven main characters revealed at the event were all available to play: Baraka, Sonya Blade, Scorpion, Sub-Zero, Raiden, Skarlet, and newcomer Geras.

All-new customization options mean players can create their own variations in detail, but each character did have three default options to choose from. It must be stressed that these variations were created for the demo and do not reflect the final product in the game. The options were:

• Scorpion: Boon’s Main, Chain Reaction, and Fire Breather
• Baraka: Hack and Slash, Flag Day, and Bone Deep
• Raiden: God Mode, Lightning Rod, and Stormy Weather
• Sonya: Duck and Cover, Artificial Belli, and Sonic Foxy
• Sub-Zero: Winter Games, Frozen AF, and Thundersnow
• Skarlet: Splash Damage, Blood Priestess, and O Negative
• Geras: Kronik Griefer, Eleventh Hour, and Time and Again

As evidenced by an option like “Boon’s Main” (also seen during Boon’s keynote speech): customization will allow players to name their own style as they concoct a personal blend from cosmetic items, presentation options, and specific moves. The influence of Injustice 2’s gear system is very apparent, with some familiar aspects from the Feats of Strength mode found in MKX Mobile.

You can modify character's colors, victory pose, pre-fight dialogue, weapons, masks, and other parts, offering a staggering number of possibilities! Scorpion can be given a number of masks or kunai tips, Baraka can be given a samurai (or Shao Kahn) type helmet, Skarlet can be given a hood, and many more types of "gear" are included for the Kombatants here.

Attacks in the demo seemed to do much less damage than in previous games, meaning rounds lasted much longer. The pace of gameplay is generally slower - especially when compared with Mortal Kombat X. This is even more noticeable with no run button. X-Ray attacks are also gone after memorable inclusion in the last two games. In their place, two new super moves have been introduced: Krushing Blows and Fatal Blows.

Krushing Blows can be thought of as comparable to Brutalities; a good way to think of them is essentially an enhanced versions of special attacks or combo strings triggered by key requirements, such as position on the battlefield, or timing of the move. Every character has multiple Krushing Blows in their arsenal, but each blow can only be triggered once per match! Successful execution will result in a quickfire X-Ray zoom and the chance to combo or bridge into a new sequence. Fatal Blows are available once your character reaches 30% health, and regenerate after a 3-4 second cooldown period if you miss. Availability is announced beneath the health bar in the demo and triggered like an X-Ray.

Fatalities are back and gushing with blood and viscera. Stylistically they’re very similar to the hyper-realistic anatomy classes we saw in Mortal Kombat X. They range from Baraka simply tearing his opponent’s face off in layers before eating their brain, to slightly more character-driven events, like Sonya Blade launching her opponent into chopper blades. Ed Boon’s keynote included a fatality demonstration that got the point across.

An image of a lizard posted to Twitter by Ed Boon had some folks speculating wildly, but there were no signs of Reptile, Khameleon, or other cold-blooded fighters. The wildlife is merely part of Baraka’s pre-fight intro, where he stabs the lizard with his retractable arm blade before getting down to business. Consider this your vegan warning, folks–Baraka is no wildlife warrior!

Shao Kahn was not available to play, but fans were reminded the pre-order bonus will also include Beta Access to MK11 for PlayStation and Xbox platforms, beginning March 28th–three weeks before release! Kahn was represented in LA by celebrity guest Xavier Woods, who cosplayed as the returning Emperor.

A limited Kollector’s Edition was also announced, including the main game, Kombat Pack DLC, a steel case, commemorative magnet coin, authenticity plate, and a 1:1 life size Scorpion mask! This first come, first serve Kollector’s Edition will retail for $299.99 and is available as an exclusive from Gamestop.

Mortal Kombat 11 will be available for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and PC starting April 23rd! Catch up on all the sights and sounds from The Reveal by joining the discussion on the Mortal Kombat 11 forum! Stay tuned for more updates in the coming months!

At Mortal Kombat 11: The Reveal in London, ]{0MBAT got a chance to interview the three NetherRealm Studios developers who attended the event—Erin Piepergerdes , Derek Kirtzic, and Shaun Himmerick! What we learned about MK11 can be found in the videos and summaries below.

Erin Pipergerdes

Erin discussed some of the different modes available – standard 1P or 2P modes, and also "Towers of Time" that sounds similar to the challenge towers from previous games, with different factors that influence the fights, but that change every so often. He also explained that the various game modes will provide the player with rewards, which can then be applied to the character’s customization. Some of these customizations will include character intros, victory screens, special moves, augments for the character, and of course, gear (which includes examples like various masks, weapon tips, clothing, etc.). He also acknowledged that there was some influence from the Injustice gear system that inspired the system Mortal Kombat 11 uses, but with an MK twist and that there will be near-infinite possibilities. The game introduces new meters (one for offense and one for defense). X-ray moves are gone, replaced by Fatal Blows—which can be used when your health bar dips below 30%, but can only be used once per game. He also revealed that the time goddess, Kronika (possibly the final boss?) plans to use her time powers to reset the timeline. Not too much more can be said about story mode, but fans can infer that this will put her at odds with characters like Raiden (responsible for the new timeline) as well as Jacqui Briggs, Cassie Cage, Kung Jin, and Takeda (who only exist in the new timeline).

Derek Kirtzic

Derek discusses some of the work that goes into the new game. From an artistic perspective, a lot of work went into refining two aspects of the game’s visuals that were arguably the most important to the franchise in distinguishing itself early on: photorealism, and blood. They use new technology to do 3D face scans of actual actors, so their movements look more realistic and accurate than ever. There is also a complete overhaul of the blood system, which incorporates physics to ensure that blood spurts are not merely triggered by an event but flow correctly. He went into detail on some of the new characters, Kronika and the character who appears to be her right-hand man, Gerus. They both manipulate time, but in fights, Gerus can adjustments to the actual clock, either adding or removing seconds, which adds an entirely different level of gameplay. He can also use his powers over time stop his opponent in time. He expanded greatly on the "Towers of Time", which includes "consumables." This allows the player to add health back to their energy bar, or even call in other characters, like Sub-Zero, to give an assist during the fight. They can also equip items like a Cyrax net, a Sub-Zero iceball, and a Shinnok dead arm, to assist during a fight. This allows to set up some amazing and intricate combos. Even though this is a one-player mode, there is also an online competitive aspect to it, as players who do well on the leaderboards will receive additional rewards. He also said that developers have not implemented crossplay although there is a strong hope that something like that can be added to a future game.

Shaun Himmerick

Shaun explains some of the gameplay changes in MK11 as well as the reasons behind them. For example, competitive players in esports rarely used the X-ray moves as they took too much meter. New super moves, such as Crushing Blows and Fatal Blows, does not require a meter. Instead, it can only be used once per game. This introduces a new element of strategy, forcing players to decide whether to use it early or save it for Round 2 or Round 3. Additionally, if players miss the Fatal Blow, they have an opportunity to attempt it again, although there is a brief cooldown period. Shaun expanded more on the "Towers of Time" and the role that the consumables will play. The example he provided was that Sub-Zero’s "Crystal of Justice" might do double damage to characters with fire abilities, or cut the damage done by fire attacks in half. When asked about DLC, Shaun explained that their focus now has been entirely on making MK11 as good as it possibly can on launch day. DLC can only be justified if the game has a successful launch. He also shared one of the techniques used to make MK11’s graphics look better; this involves scanning in textures of materials (rather than artists drawing them in a canvas) so that the photorealism is brought to the next level. This is a technique that started with testing in Injustice 2, the way they scanned in a real pizza.

One other important thing that Shaun mentioned: the game looks the best when running on an Xbox One X. This is actually the system that is used for the official gameplay trailer videos, as none of the other systems (even the traditional Xbox One) has the power and capabilities.

A special thanks to MKDan from MK Universe for his support at the event!

The official Gameplay Reveal Trailer has shown many kombatants returning in Mortal Kombat 11, but the time bending adventure will also see new threats emerge! Geras is the fearless and loyal servant of Kronika, who literally and figuratively commands the shifting sands of time! Learn more about this powerful new fighter in the official reveal trailer:

Geras unleashes a brutal fighting style, looming over the competition with powerful strikes and simple grappling that will drive many opponents to ruin! His command of sand and silicate structures delivers an extra crushing blow, but its the metaphorical sands of time that may be his deadliest asset -- rewinding one brutality, only to force his opponent to experience another!

Geras is a loyal servant of The Keeper of Time, who stepped into the frame in the Story Prologue Trailer, with her motivations to wind back time explained further in the MK11 Evolution featurette.

What do you make of Geras and his mastery of the sands of time? Discuss this ominous new fighter and share your theories on the Mortal Kombat 11 forum!

Sonya Blade is back in Mortal Kombat 11 and the Special Forces General's battlecry may sound a little different. The rumors were true! WWE, UFC, and Olympic Champion fighter Ronda Rousey provides the voice for MK's first lady of fighting. Hear the story from her own mouth in the character reveal trailer.

The trailer showcases Sonya Blade's trademark tech-enhanced arsenal, with what looks to be some fresh flourishes borrowed from the MMA and judo arsenal of Ronda Rousey herself! Sonya's busting arms in record time with an arm bar, and launching foes to their doom with a grappling roll!

Catch more of Sonya's deadly new moves in the Fatality Trailer, Gameplay Reveal Trailer, and official screenshots!

Learn more about the ways the fight has changed in the special MK11 Evolution featurette. Discor and discuss more trailers on the Mortal Kombat 11 forum!