It's been two years since the last installment of the Mortal Kombat series was released and fans of the franchise are ready to find out who the heroes of Earthrealm will have to battle next. They may have their answer shortly. According to recent job postings, development on the next Mortal Kombat could be starting soon.
The developer behind the series, NetherRealm Studios, is actively looking for two new members to join the team. On WarnerMedia's website, there is a posting for a producer with experience in the video game industry, preferably with AAA console titles. The other posting on Linkedin is for a senior artist/animator, and it lists "experience in developing martial arts fighting games" as a desirable trait.
It's clear that the studio is recruiting fresh talent for a project, but neither posts explicitly state what that project may be. However, DLC for the previous installment has concluded and an industry insider claims NetherRealm is making Mortal Kombat 12 before Injustice 3. All signs seem to point to the next Mortal Kombat being in the early stages of development.
The gap between Mortal Kombat X and 11 was a full four years, which could mean fans will have to wait a while before they're dishing out fresh Fatalities. At this point, it's impossible to tell whether the next Mortal Kombat movie or game will release first. A sequel to the movie hasn't been announced, but it did see a respectable box office run. Given the popularity of the series overall and the fact the film's director stated a sequel is possible, there's definitely a chance one is coming, and it may arrive before the next game.
With no information on Mortal Kombat 12 expected anytime soon, there's no telling what the developer has planned. However, if the recent leak of Mortal Kombat 11 DLC characters that never made it into the game is accurate, there are plenty of new fighters NetherRealm studios could add into the next installment. One of those fighters is none other than Ash Williams from the Evil Dead series who has been a long-requested character by fans.
All fans can do for the time being is speculate on the game's roster. The studio enjoys bringing characters from other franchises into the Mortal Kombat universe, such as Robocop and Rambo. If a recent meme referenced by Warner Bros. is any indication, Scooby-Doo's Shaggy might even join Mortal Kombat 12, though that may be a stretch. Once NetherRealm is ready, the studio will make an official announcement that the game is in development and possibly hint at what fighters will be available to players.
Mortal Kombat 11 is available now for PC, PS4, PS5, Stadia, Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X.