Unleashing Scorpion's Untold Story: Exploring the Epic Evolution of Mortal Kombat 1's New Universe

In the past 31 years, the Mortal Kombat franchise has featured various mascots, but none have been as enduring as Scorpion. Known for his yellow suit, undead ninja persona, and deadly weapons, Scorpion has been the face of Mortal Kombat since its inception. While Liu Kang may technically be the central protagonist of the series and Sub-Zero equally iconic and important, Scorpion remains a key player and will continue to be prominent in the upcoming Mortal Kombat 1.

After the events of Mortal Kombat 11's Aftermath DLC, Mortal Kombat 1 takes place immediately after Fire God Liu Kang creates his own version of the Mortal Kombat universe and resets the timeline to the events of the original trilogy. With Liu Kang leading the charge, this new Mortal Kombat chapter promises to bring some changes, but Scorpion's rebooted life may still include a few canon events.

What Scorpion's Canon Events Could Be In Mortal Kombat 1

In the original Mortal Kombat storyline, Scorpion's character is defined by his thirst for revenge. Initially, Scorpion and his Shirai Ryu clan are killed by Sub-Zero. Eventually, Scorpion is resurrected as an undead version of himself and commits himself to tracking down Sub-Zero.

However, Scorpion's perspective changes after witnessing Sub-Zero spare a fellow participant in a tournament. He realizes that a new Sub-Zero, Kuai Liang, has taken over the role. Instead of pursuing revenge, Scorpion decides to leave the past behind and becomes Sub-Zero's mentor. He forms an alliance with Earthrealm to combat Shao Kahn.

In Mortal Kombat 4, Scorpion discovers that Quan Chi is the one responsible for wiping out his clan by sending Sub-Zero to destroy their village. This revelation fuels Scorpion's desire for revenge. Despite his efforts, he fails to capture Quan Chi and ends up serving as the protector of Earthrealm under the Elder Gods in Mortal Kombat: Deception.

During the events of Mortal Kombat: Armageddon, Shao Kahn obtains god-like powers and initiates the world's destruction. Scorpion is among those who perish in the final battle. However, Raiden manages to send a warning to his past self, resulting in the emergence of a new timeline in Mortal Kombat 2011. Despite this rebooted timeline, Scorpion's life unfolds similarly, with Sub-Zero killing him and the rest of the Shirai Ryu, only to be resurrected and driven by a relentless thirst for vengeance.

Scorpion deviates from the timeline by killing Sub-Zero earlier than expected. This leads to Kuai Liang taking over as the new Sub-Zero earlier. In Mortal Kombat X, things further diverge as Scorpion reconstructs the Shirai Ryu, resuming his role as Earthrealm's protector. He teams up with the new Sub-Zero to hunt down Quan Chi, who was responsible for the massacre.

Mortal Kombat 1 brings significant changes, with Scorpion undergoing a complete revamp of his backstory. No longer a member of the Shirai Ryu clan, he is now a part of the Lin Kuei and Bi-Han's biological sibling. It appears that Scorpion's defining characteristic, his intense desire for vengeance, will not be as prominent in his character.

The loss of Scorpion's family has consistently been the focal point of his canon storyline. However, in the upcoming Mortal Kombat 1 release, it is uncertain whether it will once again involve his wife and son. Instead, the loss could potentially be related to a member of his recently formed family, such as his father's demise. Alternatively, it could even involve characters like Smoke or Sub-Zero, offering a fresh and unexpected twist to the typical Mortal Kombat narrative. The game will be available on September 19 for PC, PS5, Switch, and Xbox Series X/S.