Mortal Kombat is in full focus and on the cover of this monther's RETRO Videogame Magazine! The all-fighting game issue is stringing together a combo of feature stories designed to work the body of the Mortal Kombat franchise, from past to Mortal Kombat X present!

Purchase RETRO Videogame Magazine #7 with the promo code: MKONLINE!

Included in the issue is an interview with Ed Boon talking the past, present, and future of the series; a feature look at the components that made the franchise a 20+ year success; preview hype for Mortal Kombat X; and a particularly fascinating read by Warren Davis -- Midway/Williams employee involved in the pioneering digitization process used in the original games. Davis' story goes deep into the development of the technology, eventually leading to a key moment:

For Terminator 2, we were still pulling digitized images off videotape. This made sense, since a lot of our reference material was shot in California on the actual sets. We also had access to some of the actors -- Robert Patrick and Eddie Furlong. We got Linda Hamilton's stunt double. And Arnold Schwarzenegger's stunt double wearing an Arnold mask. Those videotapes got sent back to us in Chicago where artists went through the tedious process of freezing each frame, grabbing it, and manually removing the background.

At some point during the development of T2, eventual Mortal Kombat co-creators Ed Boon and John Tobias let me know they were planning to use WTARG for their next game, a fighting game.

Mortal Kombat Online readers can purchase a digital copy of RETRO Videogame Magazine #7 for just $2US by using the promo code: MKONLINE.

If fans in the United States and Canada purchase the issue before noon, April 13th they enter the draw to win a copy of Mortal Kombat X for the platform of their choice!

Bought the issue? Register to share your thoughts on the forums! Help spread the word by liking and sharing via @MK_Online & Facebook!

Mortal Kombat X is mere days away - and the battle for your pre-order purchase is heating up! PC gamers have been some of the biggest winners, with digital platforms offering Steam keys at drastically reduced rates!

Gaming Dragons are offering Mortal Kombat X at a reduction of 33% ($20 off) -- but if you use the coupon code FINISH-HIM you can get Mortal Kombat X and Dying Light for up to 50% off!

Mortal Kombat X officially arrives for PlayStation 4, Xbox One & PC next Tuesday, April 14th! MKX Mobile is out now for iOS and soon for Android!

Register to discuss all versions on the Mortal Kombat X forum. Find opponents and follow competition in the dedicated Gameplay & Matchmaking forum! Support the MKOmmunity by liking & sharing stories via @MK_Online, Facebook & YouTube!

PC gamers and fans of the live-action webseries Mortal Kombat: Legacy can now combine their passions via Steam! Valve's community platform has added the first two Warner Digital series [released 2011 & 2013] to their Steam Play streaming service!

Choose Your Destiny:

Mortal Kombat: Legacy was first released free to YouTube in serialized partnership with Machinima. The second series received a one-day dump. Both have since been released in collectible Blu-Ray and DVD formats.

The original series of Legacy tells a unique version of the stories of Jax (MIchael Jai White) & Sonya (Jeri Ryan), Scorpion (Ian Anthony Dale) & Sub-Zero (Kevan Ohtsji ), Johnny Cage (Matt Mullins) and many more The series featured actor Darren Shahlavi as Kano, who sadly passed away in January.

A third live-action series titled Mortal Kombat: Generations is expected sometime this year. Directed by Garrett Warren, it will be a slight departure from previous imaginings by Kevin Tancharoen, introducing new characters like Ferra/Torr [full story]. The series entered production at the start of the year.

Register to discuss all Mortal Kombat adaptations in the Media & Merchandise forum! Support the site by liking and sharing stories via @MK_Online, Facebook & YouTube.

NetherRealm Studios' commitment to the competitive eSports scene established a new era for their flagship series with Mortal Kombat (2011). In 2015, the next generation of kombat takes the fight a step further with the ESL Mortal Kombat Pro League!

The ESL League will draw from the world's top competitive players, taking advantage of ESL's global eSports infrastructure to offer tournament challenges to players from North America, Russia, The United Kingdom & Europe! April begins with The Fatal 8 exhibition tournament -- an invitational bracket launching the pre-season with a high calibre face-off in Mortal Kombat X!

Pre-season cups begin April 19th to give players a chance to come to grips with the game - released officially on April 14th (US). Then the action ramps up May 3rd with the launch of the official ESL Pro League! Players will compete for weekly $1,000 prize pools and accumulate points to contest the Global Finals in July!

The Fatal 8 stream live from the ESL America Studios in Burbank, California at 2PM PDT - today (April 11th)! You'll be able to witness the action live as it streams via Twitch and discuss the ins and outs of the game, blow by blow, on the forums. The bracket promises a compelling show:

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Perched at the top of The Fatal 8 elimination bracket is CR_SonicFox! The young upstart took the tournament scene by storm in 2014, overwhelming players with a natural aptitude, and infectious energy! He was crowned Injustice 2014 Evo World Champion when he shocked Pig of the Hut with a clean sweep, fighting out of the losers bracket 6-0. He also took top honors in the Mortal Kombat Evo Side Tournament co-sponsored by Mortal Kombat Online, emerging as unofficial World Champion. The relegated status of MK at last year's Evo has some questioning whether SonicFox is a pretender to the throne. In the minds of others, his name echoes deafeningly like a raging storm on the horizon of a new era!

2-time Evo World Champion Perfect Legend will be looking to slow the sugar rush of the next generation - re-emerging as a new recruit for sponsor Team Razer. MIT represents the Evo winning Terry bloodline - his brother Denzel the 2013 Champion. Tony-T travels from distant Australia, bringing a different international flavour to the UK's Mustard & Prodigal Son. Forever King & Tyrant have been stalwarts of the scene and could prove the difference as the Fatal 8 begin the culling!

Watch Live on Mortal Kombat Online at 2PM PDT:

Which player will take Fatal 8 bragging rights? Register to share your thoughts and predictions on Mortal Kombat X and dedicated Gameplay & Matchmaking forum! Support the ESL Pro League by picking up the Blue Steel Sub-Zero DLC after April 14th!

Green Man Gaming has a special offer available for Mortal Kombat X fans who've signed up to the Green Man Gaming Newsletter!

You can purchase PC Steam codes for a 22% discount by using the coupon code SAVE22-MORTAL-KOMBAT. That brings the purchase total down to $46.79US!

The offer is valid until the official date of release - April 14th! You can also make a 22% saving for all purchases this weekend, thanks to an extension of the site-wide voucher: SAVE22-OVERHO-LIDAYS.

Mortal Kombat X will also be available for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One, next Tuesday. Mortal Kombat X Mobile is available now for iOS, and Android soon. Found a killer deal? Register to share it on the forum! Help spread the word by liking and sharing via @MK_Online & Facebook! Special thanks to MK Online User ShoeUnited for the tip!