It’s the End of an Era for the Mortal Kombat Franchise

The actor who famously voiced one of the most iconic lines in the Mortal Kombat series has left NetherRealm Studios. This developer has been creating games in the popular fighting game franchise ever since Midway Games closed in 2010. Dan Forden has worked on sound design and audio for all of the Mortal Kombat games, but many fans will recognize him for saying “Toasty!” during fights.

The famous line started as a joke among the game developers and has been hidden as an Easter egg in several Mortal Kombat games ever since it first appeared in Mortal Kombat 2 in 1993. Originally, a picture of Forden’s face would briefly show up in the bottom right corner of the screen after a player performed an uppercut, and he’d shout a drawn-out “Toasty!” in a high, operatic voice. Later versions of the game changed the meme a bit. For example, in Mortal Kombat 4, Forden says “Toasty 3D,” and in the 2011 version of Mortal Kombat, he shows up wearing a shirt with a picture of toast on it.

The Voice Behind ‘Toasty!’ Leaves Mortal Kombat Studio

Forden began working at Midway in 1989 and continued his career there or at NetherRealm until he left on October 1st. He announced his departure from NetherRealm with a post on Instagram, which included a recent selfie taken in a studio bathroom. In the photo, a sticker featuring a younger version of himself and his famous video game catchphrase can be seen. In his goodbye message, Forden expressed gratitude to fans of Mortal Kombat and other NetherRealm titles, explaining that his long career wouldn’t have been possible without their support. He also shared kind words for his former colleagues, complimenting their skills and encouraging players to “expect even more amazing things in the years to come.”

It’s currently unknown if Michael Forden’s appearance or his famous catchphrase will appear in future Mortal Kombat titles after he leaves the project. The digital version of the Mortal Kombat Legacy Kollection will be available on October 30th, and a physical copy will be released on December 12th.

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2025-10-03 18:05