You are overthinking. LoL

The visual indicators will stay the same across all the alt skins. If you rewatch the Kombat Kast that showed Kitana and Reptile, one of the artists explains how they had to design costumes with that in mind.

No you're not overthinking this, I've been thinking about it since the first gameplay footage. I actually worried that there wouldn't be alt costumes because of it. I almost wish we could turn them off, but I assume they found a good way to take care of it.

Hopefully NRS feels that just the name of the variations under the name/healthbar is enough and indicators will not be necessary for alternates. HOPEFULLY.

This was something I had thought about since the E3 showing.

I'm sure the ones that can stay the same, will. However, there must be a few that just won't translate as easily. I actually like a few of the visual changes, but some are a little too over-the-top. Like Sub's Unbreakable mask.

#Snakebelt

But yeah, it'll probably stay the same across the alts.

If you look at the story trailer, Reptile (yes I know, I talk about Reptile too much) is in his Alt. and he has no mask, the indicator of the Deceptive variation, just like his primary.

Yeah I noticed that, they try not to make the visual indicators very essential to a specific design, but I wonder. Will bearded Subby get a mask in the unbreakable, if so then he is not unmasked and probably they won't call it an unmasked alt. I mean they could just change visual indicators for some alt costumes when necessary but probably the visual indicators will stay the same across the board.

Exactly. Will maskless Sub-Zero suddenly have an ice mask in his unbreakable variation? I certainly hope not.

These visual indicators are so bad. I know some people understand more from visual aids than from reading texts, but that's hardly a reason to 1) limit alt creativity, and 2) shoehorn you into a specific look you may not like, IE unmasked Reptile. These variation indicators should be little personal costume customization you can do for your characters. It doesn't ruin the game, but it's annoying not being able to use the original red Kano without playing arguably his worst variation.

Exactly. The bone arms on Shinnok look fucking ridiculous, but that looks to be his best variation. I really don't like the visual indicators and I hope there is an option to turn them off.