Mortal Kombat: Onslaught is set to reimagine the brutal franchise into a role-playing game.
Announced by Warner Bros. Games, the upcoming "new collection" RPG is being developed and co-published by NetherRealm Studios, which is responsible for most of the mainline games in the series. Described as "the first mobile-exclusive cinematic story experience for the franchise," players will be able to build their squad of fighters and deploy them in "massive" real-time battles against groups of enemies. While details on the narrative are currently unknown, the publisher has hinted that gamers will be working to defeat "a dark and dangerous threat" that seeks to destroy all of the realms.
"We are pushing the boundaries of Mortal Kombat to allow players to experience the franchise in new ways, while still staying true to its core visceral nature," said Ed Boon, Chief Creative Officer, NetherRealm Studios. "With Mortal Kombat: Onslaught, 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."
"Mortal Kombat is a legendary franchise and pop culture phenomenon, and it continues to engage players and advance the fighting genre across multiple platforms," said David Haddad, President, Warner Bros. Games. "Mortal Kombat: Onslaught is a testament to why Mortal Kombat has been a top gaming franchise for over 30 years, as the NetherRealm team continues to innovate and bring new gameplay to fans."
Mortal Kombat on the Go
Mortal Kombat is arguably one of the most iconic video game series of all time, starting life in 1992 with a great deal of controversy due to its, for the time, incredibly violent mechanics. Despite the bad publicity, the franchise has grown exponentially, spawning a multitude of sequels, spinoffs, animated movies and series and even several live-action films. The most recent release was Mortal Kombat 11 in 2019, which saw many classic characters, such as Scorpion and Sub-Zero, return alongside some newcomers.
While fans can look forward to Onslaught, it's currently unknown when the next mainline entry in the franchise will release. Rumors have swirled that NetherRealm Studios is actively working on Injustice 3, another installment in its popular DC Comics fighting game series. Many insiders have since debunked these reports, stating that early development has already begun on Mortal Kombat 12 which has yet to be verified.
Mortal Kombat: Onslaught is slated for a 2023 release and will be available on mobile devices.
Source: Warner Bros. Games.