Mortal Kombat 1 Players Infuriated by Shocking Paywall Revelations
Mortal Kombat 1 players outraged as they stumble upon a frustrating paywall in Invasion mode, discovering a locked chest that demands a DLC purchase to unlock
Highlights
Fans of Mortal Kombat 1 are upset over a locked chest in the Invasions mode that requires a DLC character to open.
Fans are concerned that NetherRealm Studios may revisit their previous controversial approach of incorporating heavy microtransactions in their games. This is evident in the case of the chest which offers new gear exclusively for General Shao and Johnny Cage, compelling fans to buy an additional character in order to access the desired items.
Concern and anger have been expressed by fans of Mortal Kombat 1 regarding a locked chest in the Invasions mode that can only be opened using a DLC character. Developed by NetherRealm Studios and released on September 19th, 2023, Mortal Kombat 1 has received positive feedback from its fanbase for the direction the studio has taken the franchise. However, the recent discovery of microtransactions in relation to this locked chest has raised concerns among fans that the studio may be reverting back to the controversial microtransaction-heavy practices seen in previous games.
The past monetization practices of the newer Mortal Kombat games have had a mixed reputation. With the confirmation earlier this year that microtransactions would be present in Mortal Kombat 1, many fans worried that NetherRealm would repeat the same mistakes made with DLC in Mortal Kombat 11. Invasion Mode, a seasonal single-player experience introduced in Mortal Kombat 1, involves players navigating their characters on a game board. Fans initially believed that this content could be enjoyed without having to purchase any DLC, but it has been discovered that this is not entirely the case.
During a game of Invasions mode, Reddit user T-Squeezy stumbled upon a chest that presented a unique challenge - it could only be unlocked by performing Shang Tsung's second Fatality. As Shang Tsung is a significant villain in the storyline of Mortal Kombat 1, players can only access him through a DLC purchase or if they pre-ordered the game prior to its initial release. This restriction leaves those who simply bought the base game unable to use the character. T-Squeezy voiced their concern in a post, pleading with NetherRealm Studios to avoid repeating past mistakes, a sentiment echoed by other fans in the comment section.
Compounding the issue is the fact that the chest contains new gear for General Shao and Johnny Cage. While it would have been logical for the chest to hold gear for Shang Tsung, as it would only be valuable to those who possess the DLC character, fans of General Shao and Johnny Cage must now purchase an additional character to obtain their desired gear.
Fans have speculated that Shang Tsung could have been initially unlockable in Mortal Kombat 1 after completing the story, but NetherRealm Studios chose a different path before the game's release. However, this theory remains purely speculative. The presence of a locked chest in Invasions mode could potentially provide evidence to support this theory, although it may also be merely coincidental. Mortal Kombat 1 is currently accessible on PC, PS5, Switch, and Xbox Series X/S platforms.
