Despite Coming Close, the Mortal Kombat Franchise Has Left One Box Unchecked

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The iconic game, Mortal Kombat, has pushed the limits in entertainment, featuring movies, animated shows, mobile spin-offs, and even bringing in characters like the Terminator, Rambo, Joker, and Omni-Man as guest stars. However, one significant crossover event is yet to happen: a first-person shooter appearance. Clues surfaced in late 2023 suggesting a potential collaboration with Call of Duty, but Activision never confirmed the news. The convincing designs and timing of the leak, which occurred just three months after the launch of Mortal Kombat 1, made it plausible. Regrettably, nothing materialized from this potential crossover, leaving this opportunity untapped by the franchise.

It’s quite peculiar since Mortal Kombat seems to be almost tailor-made for a First-Person Shooter (FPS) format. Characters such as Erron Black, with his sniper skills and trap usage, resemble typical Call of Duty players, while Jax’s ground pounds and charge attacks seem like they could easily become Field Upgrades in CoD. The X-rays and Fatalities of Mortal Kombat even echo the finishing moves of Call of Duty. What makes Mortal Kombat unique is its distinct visual identity, storyline, and mechanics that seamlessly blend into an FPS without appearing forced or contrived. This could prevent it from facing harsh criticism like the Beavis and Butthead collaboration might.

The 2023 Scorpion Emblem Leak

In December 2023, a Twitter user known as @ForwardLeaks shared an image that ignited much discussion. The picture, allegedly obtained from Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3, showcased an unannounced emblem titled “Fist O’ Fire.” This emblem depicted Scorpion from Mortal Kombat, with his arm outstretched and his hand engulfed in a fiery red glow. Interestingly, it was released mere weeks before Call of Duty’s “Supe’d Up” temporary game mode was slated to launch.

Of course, enthusiasts swiftly started brainstorming if a complete crossover between Mortal Kombat and Call of Duty was on the horizon. They speculated about fresh operator skins, weapon themes, dialogue lines, and finishing moves influenced by the Fatalities in Mortal Kombat. However, despite the buzz, nothing materialized from it all. If the 2023 rumor held truth, then Warner Bros. and Activision might have considered this idea at some point. Possible design challenges or unsuccessful licensing negotiations could have been the causes. Regardless of the reasons, the concept seemed to vanish without a trace.

Mortal Kombat’s Fortnite Collaboration Makes Call of Duty Crossover More Likely

In March 2025, Fortnite collaborated with Mortal Kombat for a special event where characters from the series were integrated into the game. Characters like Scorpion, Kitana, Raiden, and Sub-Zero became playable skins. Additionally, players could engage in PvE battles against boss variations of these characters and obtain Mythic abilities modeled after their unique powers. Three iconic Mortal Kombat stages were redesigned as new points of interest on the Battle Royale map: The Pit, The Living Forest, and The Dead Pool. This collaboration indicates that Warner Bros. is open to incorporating Mortal Kombat characters into other IPs, while NetherRealm seems content with its characters being adapted for different game formats beyond traditional fighting games.

What Could a Call of Duty x Mortal Kombat Crossover Actually Look Like?

Although the crossover between “Call of Duty: Warzone” and “Mortal Kombat” didn’t occur in 2023, it doesn’t necessarily rule out the possibility for the future. With the release of “Mortal Kombat 2” in theaters on October 24, 2025, there’s a chance that the crossover event was postponed to coincide with the movie launch. If this crossover ever materializes, Scorpion’s kunai might replace a throwing knife through a special collaboration skin. Sub-Zero’s slide could be adapted as a modified finishing move. Nightwolf’s tomahawk or Cassie Cage’s drone could be integrated as Field Upgrades. A temporary “Warzone” event could incorporate “Mortal Kombat” elements such as hellfire storms, Tarkatan AI enemies, and portal-based extractions.

In a different scenario, it’s possible for the collaboration to reverse. Characters like Captain Price or Ghost might appear in a Mortal Kombat game as guest fighters. They would introduce their flashbangs, firearms, riot shields, and military-style fatalities, much like Cassie Cage or Sonya Blade. However, they’d play more like sharpshooters with tactical tools and ranged combos, similar to Deadshot, Deathstroke, and Red Hood from the Injustice games. Given that Mortal Kombat has previously incorporated grounded human characters such as Rambo and Joker, including Captain Price or Ghost wouldn’t be out of the ordinary. Fingers crossed that this cross-over is revisited in the future, ideally within one (or both) of the games, fully developed this time around.

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2025-07-05 19:34