Warner Bros. Games and NetherRealm Studios announce Mortal Kombat: Onslaught, a strategy collection RPG on mobile devices set to release in 2023. It is being developed and co-published by NetherRealm Studios, and while some may hear the word mobile and go "ick," the few details revealed about the Mortal Kombat project seem promising.
For example, while it is a new mobile collection RPG, it features a core store experience with cinematics comparable to consoles. It doesn't specify whether it means PS4 and Xbox One generation or consoles or PS5/Xbox Series X, but the cinematic nature of it paired with its gameplay loop make it seem like a strategic Mortal Kombat game with a strong story. It's not losing its visceral nature, but it is nice to see Mortal Kombat expanding beyond the basic fighting game genre.
In short, players must build a team of Mortal Kombat fighters from a "vast" roster, which is essentially every MK story ever, and then use them in real-time group battles against a "dark and dangerous threat wreaking havoc across the realms." How vast the roster is, but this would be a good chance to eventually have every beloved kombatant in the game. That's just speculation, as details are very sparse, but it does seem promising.
In regards to Mortal Kombat: Onslaught, NRS' Chief Creative Officer Ed Boon also said that the company seeks to push the "boundaries of Mortal Kombat to allow players to experience the franchise in new ways, while still staying true to its core visceral nature...we reimagined Mortal Kombat into a strategic team-based collection RPG with fast-paced, group melee combat that both new and existing fans can enjoy.” It's definitely good to know that, despite exploring this new genre with the franchise, that its core elements are retained. They would be or the franchise wouldn't be what it is, but it's still nice to hear when "mobile collection RPG" is surprising posted alongside Mortal Kombat.
As many fans of the franchise are aware, Mortal Kombat is celebrating its 30th anniversary this month. Boon had previously stated that the announcement of the next NetherRealm Studios game wouldn't be tied to Mortal Kombat's anniversary, so its timing is certainly a surprise. A welcome one, but a surprise nonetheless. It's uncertain when fans will learn more, but given its 2023 release window, fans can expect more in the coming months.
Mortal Kombat: Onslaught releases in 2023 for Mobile devices.
Source: Business Wire