A Warner Brothers promotional e-mail appears to have spoiled a future downloadable character while informing fans of the official release of Spawn in Mortal Kombat 11. Copyright citations credit "Army of Darkness" and "Ash", reviving rumors of the impending guest character. Read on for the full story - if you dare:

The offending copyright citations [pictured above] appear at the bottom of an e-mail promoting Spawn and the related Hellspawn Jacqui and Matinee Skins Pack. Included are credits for Terminator, Joker, and Spawn license holders, with the unexpected addition of Metro-Goldwyn Mayer and Orion Pictures: rights holders for Army of Darkness - the third film in the Evil Dead series.

A crossover with Mortal Kombat 11 was expected when data-mining unearthed evidence of "Ash", and a chainsaw buzz was heared at the end of the Shang Tsung trailer, teasing then-coming announcements for additional crossover guest characters.

DC Comics' Joker ultimately appeared in the full Kombat Pack reveal, while Bruce Campbell issued a flat-out denial of Ash's inclusion. This effectively killed the rumors, even if some fans weren't convinced by the stars' colourful rebuttal.

Campbell starred in three feature films and a recent television series, Ash vs Evil Dead, as beleaguered camper cum store clerk: Ash Williams. The character battles evil zombie-like Deadites raised by reading from the Necronomicon, but has also crossed over with Freddy Krueger and Jason Voorhees in the pages of comic books.

Ash may've missed his chance to battle horror movie rivals in previous Mortal Kombat installments, but his time-displaced adventures in Army of Darkness will fit right in with Mortal Kombat 11, where the past meets the present, and undead revenants are prevelant! The licensed inclusion could also extend to Mortal Kombat Mobile, where Freddy and Jason have also appeared.

Additional downloadable content is expected, with Mortal Kombat 11 touted to have "years of content" according to WBIE President David Haddad. Will Ash's hand chainsaw and boomstick be the next to arrive? Share your speculation in the comments below and find more groovy conversation in the Mortal Kombat 11!

Online functions for Mortal Kombat and Mortal Kombat: Komplete Edition have ceased with the latest update taking the game offline. Warner Bros support has posted a status update attributing the closure to network changes. Read on for the full statement:

Offline functions such as Story Mode should not be effected, but Online Multiplayer and Message of the Day will no longer function for PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, or PC. The status update was posted to the Mortal Kombat Support forum, coming shortly after reports of the publisher pulling Mortal Kombat: Komplete Edition from sale on Steam. The original statement is below:

PlayStation 3 Players:

Due to changes with our network, access to online multiplayer features for Mortal Kombat (2011) on PlayStation 3 will no longer be available. Offline game modes, including the Story mode, will still be accessible.

PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Steam Players:

The Message of the Day feature for Mortal Kombat (2011) on PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and Steam will no longer be available due to these network changes.

If you have any questions about these changes, please contact Customer Support for assistance using the “Ask for Help” link above.

This appears to throw cold water on unverified fan theories that guest character Freddy Krueger was to blame. Ownership of the cinematic boogeyman reverted to the Craven estate sometime last year, but he continues to be available through various platforms, as reported.

Mortal Kombat (2011) reinvigorated the franchise after its sale to Warner Brothers in 2009. The blockbuster reboot retold the mythos of the original arcade trilogy, making controversial alterations to plot and characters, while establishing a story mode and gameplay style that continues to define the franchise two games later. It cemented the series as a fixture of competitive tournaments, and continues to be a favourite amongst fans. Elements of the 2011 reboot have influenced the upcoming animated feature Mortal Kombat Legends: Scorpion's Revenge.

Jump into the comments below to share your thoughts about the news and memories from a now past online era. You can enter the Mortal Kombat (2011) forum for more discussion about the landmark game.

Fans looking to wind the clock back with a belated digital purchase of Mortal Kombat: Komplete Edition may no longer be able to do so. The packaged and patched PC edition of the 2011 reboot has been removed from Steam. Read on for details:

A notice posted to the Steam product page obliquely states: "At the request of the publisher, Mortal Kombat Komplete Edition is no longer available for sale on Steam." Update: The developer has now officially outlined online services closure due to network changes.

The game was subject to discounts as recently as February. A purchase option is also missing from Xbox Marketplace, even though a variety of downloadable additions, including guest fighter Freddy Krueger, still appear to be available. At the time of this writing, Mortal Kombat: Komplete Edition is also for sale as usual on PlayStation Store.

Some fans have speculated guest character Freddy Krueger could be the cause of the removal. In 2019, Bloody Disgusting reported that rights had reverted to the Craven estate via US copyright law that allows writer/creators to reclaim ownership of their work after thirty-five years.

Similar claims have tied the Friday the 13th franchise up in legal disputes, putting an effective freeze on additions to the licensed video game. This hasn't effected availability of the title, though. Likewise, Freddy Krueger DLC released in 2017 to Dead By Daylight remains available on Steam. Freddy can also be purchased individually for MK2011 on PlayStation.

Mortal Kombat Online has reached out to NetherRealm Studios for more information, but has not yet received a reply at the time of this writing. We have also not been able to verify any challenges to Mortal Kombat Mobile, where Freddy Krueger has been available since 2016.

The 2011 Mortal Kombat reboot provides heavy inspiration for next month's animated feature Mortal Kombat Legends: Scorpion's Revenge. Will you be playing in April? Share your thoughts in the comments below and go back a decade in the Mortal Kombat (2011) forum!

Mortal Kombat 4 has typically been the overlooked klassic from MK's arcade past, but the transitional sequel finally has an official re-release. Fans looking to revisit the first 3D installment in the series can now purchase a legal copy -- the first rerelease since Mortal Kombat Gold!

Watch: MK4 Arcade Trailer | Prologue Cinematic | Commercial Spot | Promotional Tour Video

GOG.com has a reputation for an extensive PC gaming library, with an online store that also includes Mortal Kombats 1-3. Copies sold through GOG do not contain any kind of DRM or required online connection to play, which means an easy and convenient retro gaming experience.

Mortal Kombat 4 is available for the first time since its original release at $5.99. It features klassic playable characters like Liu Kang, Jax, Raiden, and Reptile, as well as the playable debut of: Shinnok, Quan Chi, Fujin, Tanya, Reiko, Kai, and Jarek.

System Requirements:
Windows 7, 8, or 10, 1.8 GHz Processor, 512MB RAM, 3D graphics card compatible with DirectX 7 (compatible with DirectX 9 recommended), 2GB HDD. Note: Integrated graphics cards are not supported.

Revisit original promotional videos in the embedded player above to get a taste of things to come -- or explore the dark outcomes of MK4 in a previous MK Online feature. Tell us all about your experiences with MK4 via GOG in the comments below, then step into the 3D Kombat Klassics forum for more!

With an animated retelling of plot coming in Mortal Kombat Legends: Scorpion's Revenge, and rumors of a modern remake; nostalgia for the original arcade Mortal Kombat is becoming surprisingly prescient. In the latest installment of the Angry Video Game Nerd webseries, AVGN is taking fans back to the past to play the MK home ports that... Well, you get the idea. Watch it here:

It seems like everyone is reexamining the original Mortal Kombat home ports. Digital Foundry put together the definitive study in their DF Retro episode, examining technical differences in just about every version. AVGN keeps the focus on the major Nintendo and Sega releases for a fairly gimmick-free review from a fan's perspective.

AVGN tackles the standard measure of graphics, music, and controls that defined the Mortal Kombat home experience during the great console war of 1993. All the usual suspects are there, including the oddity of Nintendo's censored "sweat" and the Sega Blood Code, as well as the frustrations of various adapted control schemes, such as the Gameboy and Game Gear. The episode also recalls the previous Mortal Monday look back.

[Related Article: Arcade 1up Mortal Kombat Klassic Arcade Machine]

You can also revisit Cinemassacre's reviews of The Journey Begins and MK Annihilation, or just nerd out about the original game in the comments below. If you wish to immerse yourself in the retro MK trilogy the 2D Kombat Klassics forum is for you!