Joker is currently set to release for Mortal Kombat 11 in just a few weeks' time on January 28, with a gameplay trailer for Batman's nemesis set to drop even sooner. Many may remember the reaction to the character's initial reveal, as many thought the character was too tame and vanilla, but since then, there's been a few changes to the Joker's design.

Either way, Mortal Kombat 11 fans have plenty of reasons to be excited for this new character, so here are just a few. These range from the Joker's aforementioned design change to developer NetherRealm's history of excellent DLC characters.

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Updated Design

mortal kombat 11 joker design

Sometimes in the gaming industry, a developer will have a reputation for not listening to its players, but that's not the case here. When Joker was first revealed, many thought his Mortal Kombat 11 design was too bland, with many comparing it to a cheap cosplay. This reaction even went so far as to draw comparisons between MK11's Joker and NSFW Joker parody. Now, though, his design is far more befitting, as the character's age is apparent, his look is deranged, and his make-up is less neat.

The Perfect DC Character

mortal kombat 11 joker gameplay

It's no surprise that there's a DC crossover for Mortal Kombat 11, considering the franchise's history with the company and the fact that both are owned by Warner Bros. But while there are plenty of characters that could have appeared, none are as iconic as the Joker, making him the perfect fit for Mortal Kombat 11. Furthermore, unlike a DC hero, the Joker having fatalities makes sense and his chaotic tendency will hopefully come into play here.

History of DLC Characters

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Thus far, Mortal Kombat 11 has released Shang Tsung, Nightwolf, Terminator, and Sindel as DLC characters before Joker, each as good as the other. This trend of superb MK 11 DLC characters doesn't seem like something that will simply go away, as while Joker and Spawn has only been teased (as of this writing), there's little reason that NetherRealm will drop the ball with these characters who have demonstrated a plethora of moves and capabilities in the past. Of course, this does remain to be seen, but it's a solid reason to be excited for the Joker nonetheless.

Joker Teases

mk11 joker 2020

Building a hype train is another skill that NetherRealm has mastered, and while many were disappointed on the wait for the Joker, they've received a few teases that build the character up. A while back, Ed Boon teased that Joker's Fatal Blow was "intense," and more recently, footage of his interactions with Harley Quinn and even a bloody Mortal Kombat 11 Joker image have come about. These may be brief, but each has helped build up the desire for the character, which leads to the final point.

Joker Gameplay Trailer

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Later today, a Joker Gameplay trailer is scheduled to drop which should give fans of the franchise something bigger to bite into as they wait his release. These trailers are often good about showing off the style of gameplay and even a fatality for the character, so how gruesome Joker is will only be a speculative for a little longer. Fans should keep an eye out for it when it does.

Mortal Kombat 11 is out now for PC, PS4, Stadia, Switch, and Xbox One.

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