NetherRealm Studios may reveal their next game after Mortal Kombat 1 this year, following their usual pattern.
Developing a New Fighting Game at NetherRealm Studios: Insights from Ed Boon
According to Ed Boon, the co-creator of the Mortal Kombat series, the average development time for a new fighting game at NetherRealm Studios is typically around two years. This timeline allows the team to create engaging titles that have captivated players since the franchise’s inception.
Boon has mentioned that the studio has already determined the direction for their next game well in advance, while still supporting Mortal Kombat 1 with additional content, including new characters. He stated, “We’re planting seeds for the next game,” indicating that the team is actively working on future projects while maintaining player interest in the current one.
Historically, most Mortal Kombat games have been developed in two years or less. The notable exception is Mortal Kombat 1, which took approximately four years to complete. Boon attributed this extended timeline to various factors, including the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic and the complexities of developing game engines. He affirmed that the goal is not to have a similar lengthy development cycle for every future title.
This pattern aligns with NetherRealm’s release history. The studio has published significant fighting games in a rhythm of roughly every two years since 2011:
- 2011: Mortal Kombat 9
- 2013: Injustice: Gods Among Us
- 2015: Mortal Kombat X
- 2017: Injustice 2
- 2019: Mortal Kombat 11
- 2023: Mortal Kombat 1
This scheduling has kept the franchise fresh and has helped to maintain player engagement over the years.
Warner Bros., the parent company of both NetherRealm Studios and DC Studios, has highlighted Mortal Kombat as one of their flagship franchises. The partnership between Warner Bros. and NetherRealm is increasingly collaborative. James Gunn and Peter Safran, co-chairmen and co-CEOs of DC Studios, recently held discussions with the NetherRealm team regarding future projects involving DC characters.
Gunn described their meetings, stating, “We see designs for the projects in their very earliest stages," emphasizing the open dialogue about character development and potential storylines. Safran added that this type of interaction is unprecedented within Warner Bros., noting how closely they work with game studios like NetherRealm and Rocksteady to align on storytelling possibilities.
While Gunn indicated that it might take a couple of years to see new games set in the DC Universe, it remains unclear whether these would focus on iconic characters such as Batman and Superman or possibly lead to a new installment of the Injustice series.
Boon has also expressed awareness of brand fatigue, acknowledging that the Mortal Kombat franchise had experienced periods of overexposure. He recalled times when multiple games were released in quick succession, stating, “There was one year where we did three games in three years.” He noted that this fast-paced release schedule might have diluted player interest, which led to a more measured approach in later years.
Currently, there remains much speculation about what NetherRealm Studios is working on next. Although no official announcements have been made, the timeline suggests that they could reveal their next project sooner rather than later, especially with Mortal Kombat 1 just launching in September 2023.
As fans eagerly await news of future developments, it’s clear that NetherRealm Studios is planting the groundwork for exciting new content, and industry watchers will be on the lookout for hints about their next big title.
