Series co-creator Ed Boon has been honored for his historic pop culture and video game achievements at the DICE Awards, but it's the Hall of Famer's future work that has everybody talking after an interview with the NetherRealm Studios Chief Creative Officer. Read on for details:
Gameinformer conducted an interview prior to the induction in Las Vegas, revisiting Boon's storied career from programming pinball machines, to adapting the franchise he helped create to various blockbuster multimedia formats.
When asked what NetherRealm Studios is brewing next: Boon acknowledged a change of pace for the developer, who for the last decade has alternated between Mortal Kombat and Injustice games, but will eschew a third DC fighter in favour of something that will 'make a lot of sense'. Read the full response below:
I can say that for 10 years, we were releasing Mortal Kombat and Injustice, Mortal Kombat and Injustice. When we broke that pattern, there was a lot of speculation of what we would be doing next. I can tell you there was a reason for it, and when we announce our next game, it’ll make a lot more sense. At this point, I’ll get in a lot of trouble if I say anything more.
Rumors began circulating last August when Giant Bomb reported the developer would follow Mortal Kombat 11 with another installment in the long running franchise. Information accidentally made available to the public by the GeForce Now gaming service revealed placeholders for MK and Injustice both, including "Mortal Kombat XII".
NetherRealm announced a conclusion to MK11 post-release downloadable content last July, having released their next generation console focused capper: Mortal Kombat 11 Ultimate. The title has ranked among the best selling sequels in the thirty-year history of the series.
That may be one reason for prioritizing a prospective Mortal Kombat sequel, but it would also "make a lot more sense" if it turns out the publisher is aiming to celebrate the upcoming 30th Anniversary of the first Mortal Kombat with a brand new entry.
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Senior Production Manager Jonathan Andersen ignited a wildfire of speculation when he shared a photo of MK and Injustice concept art on his workdesk, but there has been little indication of a crossover between the developer's two fighting game series, with most eagle-eyed fans honing in on "MK12" teasers. Boon deemed an MK vs DC Universe sequel unlikely in 2016, and nixed fan speculation in the lead-up to MK11.
Characters from the respective games have made crossover appearances as downloadable content, with The Joker representing DC fighters in Mortal Kombat 11, and Sub-Zero and Raiden finding their way into Injustice 2.
An Injustice sequel seems to definitively be off the table. What do you think the next project will be? What do you hope to see? Tell us in the comments below and go deeper into speculation in the Future MK forum!
