Mortal Kombat 1 Ends DLC and Story Updates, NetherRealm Shifts Focus

Warner Bros. has officially confirmed the fears of many Mortal Kombat 1 fans: no new DLC characters or story chapters will be added to the game following the release of the Definitive Edition. This news comes despite the game selling 5 million copies, a figure that pales in comparison to the franchise's total of 100 million units sold. Notably, Mortal Kombat 11 surpassed the sales of Mortal Kombat X, reaching nearly 11 million units shortly after its launch and eventually selling over 15 million copies by 2022. It's clear that Mortal Kombat 1 has not met the sales expectations set by its predecessors.

In a tweet from the official Mortal Kombat social media account, Warner Bros. expressed understanding of the disappointment this news would bring to players. They stated, "but our team at NetherRealm needs to shift focus to the next project in order to make it as great as we possibly can." While Warner Bros. did not disclose details about the upcoming project, rumors are swirling that it could be Injustice 3, the next installment in NetherRealm's DC fighting game series.

Here's the full statement from Warner Bros.:

We are hearing players’ requests for continued game support of Mortal Kombat 1, and, while we will continue to support Mortal Kombat 1 through balance adjustments and fixes, there will not be additional DLC characters or story chapters released from this point on.

We understand this will be disappointing for fans, but our team at NetherRealm needs to shift focus to the next project in order to make it as great as we possibly can.

The T-1000 guest character, released in March 2025, marks the final major content update for Mortal Kombat 1, coming a year and a half after the game's initial release. For comparison, NetherRealm announced in July 2021 that it was shifting focus to its next project (Mortal Kombat 1), resulting in no further DLC for Mortal Kombat 11. This announcement came two years and three months after Mortal Kombat 11's launch. The current announcement, however, arrives just one year and eight months after Mortal Kombat 1's release.

Fans are now revisiting statements from NetherRealm's development chief, Ed Boon, who had promised years of support for Mortal Kombat 1. A September 2024 tweet from Boon aimed to reassure fans, stating, "NetherRealm is still fully committed to supporting Mortal Kombat 1 for a long time to come." This promise now seems unfulfilled, leading to frustration among the community.

In January, Mortal Kombat 1 experienced a brief resurgence with the secret fight featuring Floyd, the pink ninja teased by Boon for years. This event sparked community excitement and breathed new life into the game, though it remains a rare highlight in what has been a generally disappointing release for many dedicated fans.

Looking ahead, Warner Bros. Discovery remains optimistic about the Mortal Kombat franchise's future. In November, CEO David Zaslav announced plans to focus on four key titles, including Mortal Kombat. Additionally, the movie adaptation, Mortal Kombat 2, is set to hit theaters later this year.