NetherRealm Studios has released a new teaser image of Shao Kahn, in what appears to be an updated (more mellowed) version of the Krossroads from Mortal Kombat X! Across the social media platforms, the developers remind gamers what character they receive as an incentive for pre-ordering the game:

"Bow to me!" Pre-order #MK11 and play as Shao Kahn DAY 1! https://go.wbgames.com/MK11buy

This was the same message delivered on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter. The new image shows a design that differs substantially from a previous render released by GameStop. Mortal Kombat 11 will boast a vast system for customizing characters.

What do you think of this look? Have you pre-ordered the game, in order to play as the Big Bad Emperor himself? Contribute to the discussion on the Mortal Kombat 11 forum! Special thanks to user predac0n for submitting a lead via Discord.

Seasons greetings! Mortal Kombat Online is officially celebrating its 20th Anniversary and we're doing it with the unwrapping of gifts that will make MK Online a better, faster, stronger website for all!

Significant upgrades have occurred on the backend. New servers and hosting tools will ensure Mortal Kombat Online runs even faster and more securely, continuing to offer the same reliable service as the web's largest & longest running Mortal Kombat destination!

Some will know this fabled project by the codename "V8" -- and most will immediately recognize its radically different layout and aesthetic. When MK Online Users re-login (as required), they will find basic tools in the User Bar located at the very top of the page. These functions are accessible via intuitive icons & menus, including: User Settings, Friendships, and Site Themes.

Every registered user now has default access to 11 Site Themes, including updated versions of our previous layouts inspired by Sub-Zero, Scorpion, Jax, Kotal Kahn, Kenshi, Mileena, Reptile, and Kano. The relaunch also adds two new themes based on Dark Kitana and Dark Liu Kang. If you still haven't quite found your favourite - fret not! There are dozens more themes ready to be unlocked as you advance your User Ranking!

User Rankings have been revamped to include more ranks and more ways to level up. Everyone still begins as a Mortal, but will quickly take the first step on their journey by getting involved in forum discussions and profile updates. New criteria means long time users will find their rank has changed, but they'll also climb the ladder quickly as they add new activity to a wealth of existing stats!

Getting involved is easier than ever! You can now Like news, forum posts, and fan kreations with a simple click of the Toasty Thumbs Up icon! Commenting is also easier with a new reply editor packed full of basic tools. You can use quick access icons at the bottom of every comment to jump to a reply, or quote the relevant post.

Kreations are also easier to find and submit with an updated fan submission system. Top rated works will be featured in the Kreations section, Fan Kreations forum, and be curated in your User Profile. If you've got Mortal Kombat fan art, cosplay photos, written stories, or other -- we want to see it join our archive of thousands of artist's kreations!

User Profiles will offer more as you accumulate stats, kreations, friendships, activity, and other profile information, including a Display Name editable in your Settings. Friendship will make communicating on MK Online fast and simple as direct messages become real-time chat. Viewing MK Online on your phone will also now be a uniquely optimized experience, making it easier to browse and interact on-the-go.

I've been working on this for a long time. Some elements were drafted back when I became Webmaster some time ago, but some of the bigger ideas were conceived more recently as design & conception of this incarnation began. It's a pleasure to finally update and I hope everyone will find ways to enjoy and get the most out of the improved and new features that are available. This launch is the first stage in continued growth for the site and its features, with emphasis on on tools & systems to make it easier to run, and for people to use it.

These updates would not be possible without the collaboration, extensive hard graft, and tremendous work of Site Owner and Administrator CCShadow. He has stuck the course and given of himself to see this through. DArqueBishop has also undertaken significant sacrifice in his role as Sysadmin to facilitate much of the backend transfer. I must also give thanks and acknowledgement to Ninja_Mime, tabmok99 and Scott-Howell for their contributions to the process.

MK Online staff look forward to next attending Mortal Kombat 11: The Reveal on January 17th, 2019. The site has received invitations to both the Los Angeles and London unveilings and look forward to including that in continued coverage of Mortal Kombat 11! On behalf of everyone at MK Online, may we wish you a very happy holidays and hope to see you on the forums!

On December 15 at TrueNorth Cafe in Chicago, veteran MK actor Anthony Marquez and his band, Kung Lao & The Scorpions, performed a Christmas show! Mortal Kombat Online was there, not only providing coverage of the concert but also conducting an interview with Anthony as well as Phillip Ahn, best known for his role as Shang Tsung in Mortal Kombat II.

During the concert, the band performed a mix of Christmas songs such as "Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)," "Jingle Bell Rock", popular songs like "Hero" and "Rock & Roll All Nite," and of course his band's own original creation, "Believe." Check out the concert here:

Not to mention the interview, in which Anthony reveals the title of his book (Kung Fu Rock Star: The Story of Kung Lao):

[Related article: Kung Lao and the Scorpions - Music and Interview!]

What was your favorite song performed? What was the best piece of information revealed during the interview? Make sure to leave a comment on the classic discussion board, or even on of our social media accounts such as Twitter, Discord, or Facebook.

A listing on the Best Buy online store has given us the first indication Liu Kang and Sub-Zero may be returning in Mortal Kombat 11! The product listing has since removed any mention of specific characters, but the original info can be seen below:

Retail Retcon: Best Buy originally listed Liu Kang, Sub-Zero, and Raiden for MK11.

As two of the enduring icons of the series, it would come as no surprise that Liu Kang and Sub-Zero would join Raiden and Scorpion on the confirmed list.

Both characters in question featured prominently late in the Mortal Kombat X story mode, where Sub-Zero is Grandmaster of the Lin Kuei clan, and revenant Liu Kang and Kitana have assumed leadership in the Netherrealm. The officially dubbed "Dark Raiden" notably visited the latter pairing in an ominous epilogue, teasing plotlines expected to play out in some fashion through Mortal Kombat 11.

A "time bending story" also lends MK11 to the inclusion of these classic characters, but occasionally embellishments based on prior knowledge get the better of eager retailers. GameStop reportedly included mention of Shang Tsung in in-store pre-release advertisements for Mortal Kombat X.

Along with the removal of character names, the Best Buy listing has also excised anything that could be construed as a specific reference. Allusions to a "return to the Netherrealm", the stakes of a "fight for the future of the realms" and boast of a "state-of-the-art graphics engine" have all been removed from the new copy.

Original Copy:
Return to the Netherrealm and test your might once more in Mortal KOmbat 11 for PlayStation 4. It features a state-of-the-art graphics engine that showcases the heat of battle like never before. A packed roster of legends and contenders, including Liu Kang, Sub-Zero, and Raiden, go head to head in this fight for the future of the realms.

Updated Copy:
Test your might once more in Mortal Kombat 11 for PlayStation 4. A packed roster of legends and newcomers go head to head in the next chapter of this epic saga over 25 years in the making. And a new graphics engine showcases the heat of battle like never before!

Is it all much ado about nothing? Register to speculate about the fate of these characters and more on the Mortal Kombat 11 forum! Special thanks to MK Online User xysion for posting about this story.

Speedrunning streamer has just set a new world record for Mortal Kombat 3, defeating the Arcade board's Master tower in under five minutes! The new record now stands at 4 minutes 57.66 seconds and has just been verified by the moderation team over at Speedrun.com. The feat was captured live on stream - watch the archived video below:

To view the full speedrun, preserved on Twitch, you can view the embed above or click here.

The speedrun verification process requires the submitter to have completed his playthrough on a live stream, as well as submit a MAME ".inp" file replay. In addition, Outworld presents an input display alongside the actual playthrough, so that his exact button presses can be matched to the actions shown on screen.

Speedrunners of Mortal Kombat 3 utilize a number of techniques at their disposal. These include timing the speed of the punches so that the AI does not try to avoid them to fast-pressing the "insert coin" button once a round is over to rush on to the next match.

Outworld used top speedrunning choice Cyrax to set his record-breaking run, beating his own previous record while keeping NerdyNester at bay, with a 2nd place record of 5 minutes 15 seconds. Click the image below to enlarge the MK3 Arcade leaderboard at the time of posting, and be sure to check out Outworld's appearance on the MK Online Stream.

Is your mind blown by this lightning fast record? Register and give huzzah and kudos and issue your own challenge on the 2D Kombat Klassics forum! Connect with MK Online on Discord, Twitter, and Facebook as well!