One Bold Mortal Kombat Decision Could Be a Blessing and a Curse

by

Mortal Kombat continues to be one of the most respected franchises in gaming, particularly within the fighting game genre. The recently launched title under the Mortal Kombat series, Mortal Kombat 1, received both critical acclaim and commercial success upon its late-2023 debut. However, it faced some debate regarding its DLC and microtransaction strategies. The franchise also aims to maintain its significant impact across various media platforms, with a new theatrical movie slated for release later in 2023.

In spite of Mortal Kombat’s recent triumphs, the series encounters an important decision regarding the title of its upcoming game. The latest installment was a soft reboot named Mortal Kombat 1, implying that the next game might be called Mortal Kombat 2. This new naming pattern for the franchise holds potential advantages and disadvantages, and it could prove to be either beneficial or challenging for NetherRealm Studios.

Mortal Kombat 2 Faces A Fork In The Road

The Name Mortal Kombat 2 Creates A Lot Of Confusion

As a dedicated fan, I can’t help but ponder about the naming convention for the upcoming game. Calling it Mortal Kombat 2 might stir up some confusion since there already exists a game with the same name. It’s not unusual for video game remakes or reboot sequels to carry over the original title, as seen in recent installments of the Resident Evil and Call of Duty series. However, it feels a bit peculiar when two games share the same title and number.

Additionally, it’s worth mentioning that the upcoming movie shares the same title as the second game in the Mortal Kombat series, namely “Mortal Kombat 2”. If another installment of the franchise follows suit with a similar name, we will have three distinct pieces of media within the franchise all labeled “Mortal Kombat 2”. Distinguishing these three, whether through the use of years or by indicating their respective artistic mediums, becomes essential to avoid confusion when referring to them.

Mortal Kombat 2 Makes More Sense Than Mortal Kombat 13

Given the circumstances, it seems logical for NetherRealm to name the upcoming game “Mortal Kombat 2”. Since “Mortal Kombat 1” served as a reboot of the series’ storyline, labeling the next game as “Mortal Kombat 2” would be more fitting than calling it “Mortal Kombat 13”. This title would suggest that the game is picking up where earlier titles left off rather than continuing from the latest installment. Consequently, a name like “Mortal Kombat 2” would be more appropriate to avoid any confusion.

NetherRealm stands to strike it rich if their next game is christened “Mortal Kombat 2“, particularly if they can announce it promptly. The upcoming film is due for release in October, and if the sequel movie turns out to be a significant financial success, it would be logical for NetherRealm to leverage this momentum. Naming the game “Mortal Kombat 2” concurrently with the movie release of the same name could attract a wave of new fans, thereby fostering substantial cross-promotional triumph.

Instead of naming the upcoming game “Mortal Kombat 13,” which may seem confusing given that Mortal Kombat 1 was a reboot, it would be more logical to title it “Mortal Kombat 2.”

Mortal Kombat 2 Is Probably A Few Years Away

It’s reasonable to anticipate that gamers might need to exercise patience if they’re hoping for the release of Mortal Kombat 2 around the same time as the movie. Since NetherRealm has released a new Mortal Kombat game every four years, it’s likely that the next installment will follow a similar pattern, which suggests we might not get the game until about 2027, given that the first one was released in 2023. However, with talk of scrapped DLC for Mortal Kombat 1 and potential reuse of those ideas in a sequel, there’s a possibility that a follow-up could be announced near the movie release and hit shelves sooner than expected to take advantage of the shared name.

Considering the circumstances, NetherRealm Studios will face a significant challenge in deciding whether to title the next installment as “Mortal Kombat 2”. While it’s valid considering the name change of the last game, they must brace for potential confusion among players. However, whenever it’s released, the game should still remind fans why Mortal Kombat is renowned as one of the top-tier fighting game franchises.

Read More

2025-01-10 00:10