we are getting a story mode i dont think why wont get a story mode

i doubt we will get Sonya and Johnny since that would be too many characters that would be similar, but i do believe we will definitely get a story mode since Netherrealm cares like that which i appreciate immensely.
I also agree with you that we will only get to play as certain characters in the timeline since we won't be playing as Cassie Cage right after MK9 because they said the story starts right after MK9.

I thought about this already. Even if a character dies early on in story mode and another character doesn't appear until later on in story mode (hence they never interact), having them being able to duke it out in ladder/arcade mode should be a non issue.

I think the 3 different variations will be used during story mode:

- For example S-Zero could get his Grandmaster playtyle (with the extra medallion shown on his costume) after taking the control of the clan.

- Torr could get his playstyle where Ferra isn't present at a point where Ferra is missing or they haven't met each other.

But I think most characters will either be shown along the storyline or at least for a big chunck of it. It's possible that we see Johhny and Sonya training Cassie but I don't think we will be able to control them.

I'm pretty sure Story Mode is guaranteed.

That also occurred to me, that the variations could be story-related. It was already already a bit like that in the last game, when you played as both versions of Sub-Zero in the story mode. Though that could mean we'd end up playing as all three variations of certain characters, leading to obvious favoritism. I still remember playing as both Batmen in Injustice, then fighting Batman2 as Batman1. Hopefully that doesn't happen too much in MKX.

I wouldn't put my expectations on a 24-character roster as shown in E3 in the final game. There could be a bit more characters beyond that limit plus tons of variations and characters' stories that need to be wrapped up in MKX Story Mode.