Mortal Kombat 1: Uncovering the Controversial Review Bombing Phenomenon

Highlights

Mortal Kombat 1 is facing negative user reviews and review bombing due to its absence in Russia and Belarus.

The PS5 edition of Mortal Kombat 1 has garnered numerous unfavorable ratings of 0/10 and 1/10 from Russian gamers unable to access the game or utilize its online capabilities, resulting in a user score of 6.0 which is lower compared to its positive critical reception. It is probable that the choice to withhold the game's release in Russia and Belarus is directly influenced by Russia's ongoing invasion of Ukraine.

Mortal Kombat 1 is currently facing review bombing. The highly anticipated Mortal Kombat 1 was released earlier this month to predominantly positive reviews, with praise for its intense combat and impressive new features.

Although the majority of Mortal Kombat 1 reviews have been favorable, the game has not escaped criticism entirely. Specifically, the Switch version of Mortal Kombat 1 has received backlash from both fans and critics for offering noticeably inferior graphics despite being sold at the same price of $70 as its PlayStation and Xbox counterparts. However, it is important to note that the recent review bombing campaign is not targeting the controversial Mortal Kombat 1 Switch port.

The PS5 version of Mortal Kombat 1 has faced severe backlash with numerous 0/10 and 1/10 reviews due to its unavailability in Russia or Belarus. Eager Russian gamers who managed to obtain the game were disappointed to find that they couldn't access any online features, resulting in a flurry of 0/10 reviews expressing their frustration. As a result, Mortal Kombat 1's PS5 user score has plummeted to 6.0, in stark contrast to the impressive 85 overall rating given by critics. While not the most extensive review bombing campaign seen recently, it still significantly impacts the game's user score.

These negative user reviews have been posted on Mortal Kombat 1's Metacritic page since the game was released. The review bombing has persisted with some posted as recently as September 21. Warner Bros. has not indicated any plans to officially release the game in Russia or Belarus or allow users in those regions to access Mortal Kombat 1's online features. It is likely that this decision is a result of Russia's ongoing invasion of Ukraine, which prompted many video game companies to cease operations in the region.

WB Games is not the sole company that ceased operations in Russia. Along with Nvidia, Ubisoft, and several other companies, they also opted to respond to Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Even popular live service games such as Pokemon GO halted their services within Russia. In response, Russia essentially legalized piracy for entertainment products, including video games and movies.

Despite the controversy surrounding the Nintendo Switch port problems, Mortal Kombat 1 has received a positive reception from the community. It is expected to maintain its popularity in the long run, especially with the introduction of the Mortal Kombat 1 DLC fighters. The game is currently available on PC, PS5, Switch, and Xbox Series X.

Source: Metacritic