The 2023 fighting game Mortal Kombat 1 was created by NetherRealm Studios and released by Warner Bros. Games. Following Mortal Kombat (2011), this is the second reboot of the Mortal Kombat series and the twelfth main installment. On September 19, 2023, the game was launched for the Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Windows, and Xbox Series X/S.
A fatality for the game with a Halloween theme was recently revealed by NetherRealm Studios. A concept that ought to thrill players has, nonetheless, garnered harsh criticism from fans. NetherRealm Studios intended to charge $10 for a single new fatality, with no more characters or outfits. To put that in perspective, the Kombat Pack from Mortal Kombat 1 cost $19.99 and included several characters.
Tf you have to pay for a fatality? Fatalities is what made Mortal kombat… what happened to when they used to include fatalities, Animality’s, stage fatalities. What a joke.
— XDiablo666X (@aabdelhaq2) October 28, 2023
The devoted Mortal Kombat fan base has been vocal about their disapproval of this on numerous social media sites. Fans complained that the $10 price tag is excessive for just one death, especially in light of the fact that the normal edition of the game costs $70. Competitive players, meanwhile, were doubting NetherRealm Studios’ dedication to the professional scene.
Users on Reddit and X have criticized this monetization tactic as “absurd” and “scummy,” calling for a boycott by the entire community.
Warner Bros. gives away free content after backlash
As Omni-Man, the first DLC character for Mortal Kombat 1, launches, the Seasonal Fatalities package will go on sale the following week. This covers the Halloween Fatality stated before, in addition to a Thanksgiving Fatality and an impending Winter Fatality. The cost of that bundle has not yet been disclosed by Warner Bros., although it is anticipated to be in the neighborhood of $30.
Warner Bros. came forward to address players’ concerns. They stated that access to the game bundle would be free for those who purchased the Halloween Fatality. Warner Bros. stated in the announcement, “We value your opinions on everything MK1.” This damage control step has been taken by the developers of the game to pacify its fans after the major backlash.
Warner Bros. is giving Mortal Kombat 1 players who bought the controversial $10 Halloween Fatality two “free” fatalities amid backlash over aggressive monetisation. https://t.co/w348DV3ibK pic.twitter.com/XUDE1pXuR5
— IGN (@IGN) November 10, 2023
As one might anticipate, this make-good hasn’t done much to allay community outrage over Mortal Kombat 1’s first sale of Fatalities, while some see it as a positive move. There is a general lack of enthusiasm for Mortal Kombat 1, with many gamers believing that a game that costs at least $70 should not include freemium-style monetization.
It’s almost as if complaining and holding them accountable made them give us more content for the $12 that was paid or something? 🤠 yw https://t.co/imyIQTjjUg
— Dynasty (@Dynasty1031) November 9, 2023
Although sales of Mortal Kombat 1 seem to be lower than those of its predecessor, Mortal Kombat 11, throughout Europe, Warner Bros. claims that the game has sold over three million copies since it went on sale.
