Mortal Kombat 1's Kameo Fighters system has been at the forefront of fans' minds since the title's cinematic reveal trailer last month. Fans first learned of the new feature through a cryptic FAQ page on the title's official website. This strange reveal left fans with plenty of questions, with the general lack of gameplay leading some to question the title's quality. With this week's Mortal Kombat 1 presentation at Summer Game Fest 2023, that is no longer the case. Mortal Kombat 1's Kameo Fighters are set to shake up an iconic Mortal Kombat feature, ushering in a new combat system that pays homage to the series' early beginnings.

Mortal Kombat 1 is both a full-series reboot and a direct sequel to Mortal Kombat 11. The title features a new timeline, created by Fire God Liu Kang, that sees nearly every facet of its world rebuilt from the ground up. In addition to a new narrative, and some surprising character relationships, Mortal Kombat 1 is set to feature a variety of major changes to its gameplay. By utilizing an entirely separate roster of fighters, players can customize their play style like never before, equipping themselves with a range of combo extenders and breakers featuring some classic Kombatants.

RELATED: Mortal Kombat 1’s Leak Makes an Argument for More Mature-Rated DCU Content

MK1's Kameo Fighters are The Next Evolution of a Recent Series Staple

mk11 tag team fatal blows

Mortal Kombat 1's gameplay presentation finally revealed how Kameo Fighters work. After MK1 players choose their main Kombatant, they are presented with an entirely separate roster of Kameo Fighters. These fighters can be called upon in battle to deliver different attacks, with each capable of performing four unique moves depending on which direction the player hits when summoning them.

In addition to simple combo breakers and combo extenders, Kameo Fighters can be called upon to deliver Mortal Kombat 1's version of Fatal Blows—brutal cinematic attacks that operate off of a meter system. As seen in the gameplay trailer, these unique attacks now depict a collaborative effort between a main fighter and a Kameo fighter, with each delivering a devastating x-ray attack in tandem.

Kameo Fighters are the next evolution of Mortal Kombat 11's Fatal Blows, which were, in themselves, a redesign of Mortal Kombat X's X-ray Moves. Fatal Blows repurposed X-ray moves, splitting the feature's meter into offensive and defensive halves, and implementing it as a last-ditch comeback mechanic. Like its predecessor, Mortal Kombat 1's Kameo Fighters will operate from a split meter, restricting the frequency with which they can be summoned.

Kameo Fighters Merge the Series' Past and Future

MK1 character selection

Mortal Kombat 1's gameplay trailer revealed six more characters returning to the series. The title's reveal trailer confirmed the return of Scorpion, Sub-Zero, Liu Kang, Raiden, Kung Lao, Kitana, Mileena, Johnny Cage, and Shang Tsung. Now, Kenshi, Jax, Goro, Kano, Sonya Blade, and Stryker have been confirmed as well. Of those six, three are already confirmed to be Kameo Fighters, as the "Choose Kameo" screen depicts Sonya, Kano, and Jax in their classic Mortal Kombat costumes.

Alongside his explanation of Kameo Fighters' implementation, Ed Boon teased returning MK1 fighters and took the time to address many fans' single most pressing concerns. Boon explained that the title's rosters are not exclusive, meaning that those fighters confirmed as Kameos thus far may appear in the main roster as well. He went on to state that various classic and throwback characters will appear as Kameo Fighters and that the feature exists, in part, as a novelty for longtime fans. With many spots still left unclaimed on both rosters, many fans continue to hold out hope that their favorites will make the cut.

Mortal Kombat 1 launches September 19 for PC, PS5, Switch, and Xbox Series X.

MORE: Mortal Kombat 1 Should Avoid a Modern NetherRealm Strategy