It was done by design. Ed Boon in an interview said the stages gave been made smaller on purpose so that the fighters are closer to each other during the fight.

Oh that's not what I mean. You can still restrict the fight stage to keep players close, but have a huge back drop to the world.
I want to see the setting, not a very small closed off room.

For instance in MK-X Emperor's Courtyard you can see a huge backdrop of Kotal Kahn's statue, a big animal pulling down the statue of Shao Kahn, people working on the building, etc...

Almost correct, the reason is so the characters are closer to the actual arena and more immersed. It definitely feels like the character is in the arena they are fighting. In MKX it was much more like the background was just that and I didn't feel the characters and arena were blending very well due to the distance and angle, which they have no worked on and it seems much better.

MKX was actually already pretty close compared to previous games. I actually hope they will have 1-2 arenas with some depth as they shouldn't have to go overboard with the up-close style, but I fear a stage like the Krossroads or a Lin Kuie temple with a mountain range in the background or something like the main menu in MK11 with the temple in the background and or floating structures.

I'll take these over MKX any day of the week, though I have to admit colour wise it's very similar as most stages are brown / grey / red. I don't see a stage so far that really pops, but in terms of realism, diversity and the angle I love them.

This is a screenshot of the story trailer. What do you think? Is this going to be a stage or is is just for cinematics? Looks like Netherrealm or something. Although the sky in the left corner... it might not? Maybe an "entrance" to Netherrealm?

Whatever it is it looks awesome

One of several major complaints I had about MKX was 1) the lack of arenas 2) most arenas were uninspired. Thankfully, I am pleased with MK11 arenas that have been shown, so far. I have a fondness for Goro's corpse on his throne -- very reminiscent of Alien. My only complaint for MK11 arenas is we need more color variation. We have many more arenas to go, and I assume that will be remedied. I liked most arenas in MK9, mainly because they actually felt like a Mortal Kombat game. MKX felt too Injustice 1, or overall generic. I liked Outworld Marketplace, Kotal's Palace, and The Kove, though.

I think those are also new stages from the story trailer.

Until you got to the MK3 Earthrealm arenas. Those were pretty dull.

I agree though, the levels are all just blending together for me due to the similar color pallet.

That is the one where we knew there was a stage with a train. New in a way that we now see more of it.

This looks more like Kronika is showing Liu Kang and Kitana the new custom UI she designed for Garage Band.

It's actually a nice change from the usual Outworld and Netherrealm wastelands, bridges, and lairs. Hopefully it's a playable stage.

New arena

http://www.imagebam.com/image/2cfe6c1171497444

Wonder if the cyborgs (tri-borg) is a hidden character which you'll unlock at this arena.

A Tekunin Foundry background certainly does hint towards some kind of cyber character. Whether they are unplayable in the story or playable in some way.

With this and the Noob reveal... I'm starting to fantasize about Shirai-ryu + Lin Kuei VS Tekunin + Noob-led Brotherhood of Shadows. New VS old.

The one which is called "Shaolin Temple Ruins" here is actually called "Shaolin Trap Dungeon" - taken from the latest Kombat Kast.

Also there was arena where Kotal Kahn and Jacquie fought - something like with cages with animals.

I could be wrong but I think that is the unkown stage.

On the left side it has a cage with some kind of animal in it.

I can't stop saying how good all of these stages look, and I don't mind if they keep a few secrets until the actual game launches.

That unknown stage looks like a floor below the Kollesium. I have a feeling this unknown stage and the Kollesium have some kind of stage transition.

I think the one with the animal in a cage is just a different version of the Kollesium, like at a different point in the timeline. I think one version may be under Shao Kahn's rule and the other under Kotal Kahn's rule.

Also I am fairly sure the stage with the train is a dilapidated version of the Subway stage. =

They look like the same time and location to me. Where Kotal and Jacqui start to fight, there is a "pit" just behind them. I think it is the same pit that is the "large circular cage" down below, where they are fighting next.
My guess is that that portal-like effect in the trailer is just for trailer-purposes.

I do agree. I also sense this is part of Kollesium. The dynamics are good at this arena - some big guy feeds these wolves or whatever that is.

Also there is a place where Kronika gathers all "bad" guys, it's apparently D'Vorah's place, like Kytinn or something:

http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc305/viiblades/MK11/Story/Kronika%20gathers%20warriors.jpg

The "Netherrealm Kathedral" stage is called "Shinnok's Bone Temple".

Look close enough you'll see that his severed head is the center-piece :D

The brotherhood of shadow take their worship seriously

Well, i have to admit that NRS is doing an awesome job with the stages so far. Most of them has the mysterious vibes I had in old MK games. In MKX I was disappointed about most of the backgrounds but in MK11 there are some of the best in the whole series. Please implement stage fatalities and this MK could be the best one after MK9 and MK2.

You can say that again. I'm loving each and every stage so far. I still even like that Special Forces base, although I'm not so much into desert stages. And so many little details.
I'm glad that the background I posted in this thread, with the 2 Scorpions fighting it out, really is a background stage.
The amount of stages is good and hopefully some decent stage fatalities for some of them.