The Ultimate Guide to Mortal Kombat 1's Epic Reboot: Unveiling the Unprecedented Revamp!

Last month, NetherRealm treated gamers to a glimpse of their highly-anticipated fighting game, Mortal Kombat 1. The trailer not only unveiled exciting features of the upcoming project but also confirmed speculations held by many fans. Specifically, Mortal Kombat 1 will serve as a revitalizing narrative reboot for the franchise.

The unveiling trailer for Mortal Kombat 1 showcased elements of the franchise's fresh timeline and dropped subtle hints about the game's storyline. Some characters seemed to have embarked on new journeys, while others seemed to be reigniting age-old rivalries from previous timelines. However, the path leading to this innovative timeline has been a lengthy and convoluted one, filled with unexpected twists and turns.

The First Story Reboot of the Mortal Kombat Franchise

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The original Mortal Kombat franchise had a storyline filled with inconsistencies but managed to captivate with its wild yet straightforward narrative, making it one of the longest-running narratives in the gaming industry. Over a span of 16 years, the developer released seven main installments, creating a continuous story that involved fighters from multiple realms. Compared to other fighting games, Mortal Kombat invested a significant amount of effort into its storytelling. However, everything changed with the release of Mortal Kombat (2011), which effectively rebooted the franchise.

When Midway Games went bankrupt, Warner Bros Interactive acquired the rights to the Mortal Kombat franchise, along with the development team behind the game. Their first release under Warner Bros was Mortal Kombat (2011), where it was revealed that Shao Kahn had emerged victorious in Mortal Kombat: Armageddon. To alter this outcome, Raiden sends a message to his past self, resulting in a rebooted story timeline. This new timeline formed the backdrop for its two sequels, Mortal Kombat X and Mortal Kombat 11, until the timeline was reset yet again.

How Mortal Kombat 11 Reset the Franchise Timeline Once Again

The storyline of Mortal Kombat 11 was unusually strange, even for the franchise. In the game, a character named Kronika, the Titan of Time, decides to reset the entire timeline of the universe due to Raiden's constant interference. After an intense battle, Liu Kang, who has become a god thanks to Raiden, manages to defeat Kronika. Unfortunately, it is too late, and the timeline of the Mortal Kombat multiverse is completely reset. Depending on the player's performance against Kronika, the ending will either show Liu Kang teaming up with Raiden or Kitana to shape a new timeline.

The Aftermath DLC for Mortal Kombat 11 expands on the story's ending and provides a more comprehensive narrative. In a short story involving Shang Tsung and a plot to steal Kronika's crown, players are presented with two different endings based on their character choice. One ending features Shang Tsung becoming the new ruler of the universe's timeline, while the other shows Liu Kang mentoring a younger version of Kung Lao. Ultimately, the Liu Kang ending is considered the official canon.

It was clear that the Mortal Kombat timeline would be reset, evident from the endings of the latest entry. This did puzzle some gamers, questioning the necessity for another timeline reset so soon after the previous one. Nevertheless, players will have the opportunity to see if Liu Kang can establish a superior timeline in the upcoming reboot installment, scheduled for release later this year. Mortal Kombat 1 will be available on PC, PS5, Switch, and Xbox Series X/S.