When Injustice Makes Its Return, It Has to Borrow a Mortal Kombat Strategy

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When Injustice Makes Its Return, It Has to Borrow a Mortal Kombat Strategy

As a lifelong gamer who’s been through the ups and downs of countless gaming generations, I can confidently say that the prospect of an Injustice 3 is music to my ears. And if NetherRealm Studios is smart, they’ll learn from the post-launch successes of their Mortal Kombat counterparts.

Ed Boon, the Chief Creative Officer at NetherRealm Studios, has hinted at a potential third installment in the Injustice series. As recently as June 2023, Boon expressed to IGN that the option for more Injustice games wasn’t off the table. Furthermore, in July of this year, Boon told The Direct that he would find it unexpected if NetherRealm Studios never revisited the DC fighting game series again.

It appears quite probable that a third “Injustice” game will materialize at some point, and when it does, there are several important lessons it could glean from the two previous “Mortal Kombat” releases. One such lesson centers around post-launch strategies, as “Mortal Kombat” has adopted a new approach in recent years that would align well with the “Injustice” series.

Injustice 3 Should Follow in Mortal Kombat’s Post-Launch Footsteps

Story Expansions Are Becoming The Norm for Mortal Kombat

Ever since the release of Mortal Kombat in 2011, Downloadable Content (DLC) has been a regular element in the Mortal Kombat series. In both Mortal Kombat 2011 and Mortal Kombat X, this DLC came in the form of extra combatants, with the initial batch hailing from horror series such as Nightmare on Elm Street, Alien, Predator, and Friday the 13th.

Mortal Kombat 11 followed through on its post-release support, introducing characters familiar to the series like Nightwolf and Shang Tsung, along with guest fighters such as The Joker, Spawn, and The Terminator. However, approximately two months after the final character from the Kombat Pack for Mortal Kombat 11 was released, NetherRealm introduced a new form of downloadable content for the Mortal Kombat franchise.

Under the title “Aftermath,” the paid expansion of Mortal Kombat 11 introduced three new characters and a fresh 3-hour campaign. This compact yet satisfying story served as an epilogue to the main campaign of MK11, focusing on the conflict between Fire God Liu Kang and Shang Tsung over Kronika’s Hourglass. The reception for Mortal Kombat 11: Aftermath was generally positive, and it appears to have sold quite well as well. Notably, NetherRealm has replicated this post-launch plan for the original Mortal Kombat.

In the next day, Mortal Kombat 1’s Khaos Reigns expansion is set to debut, and it appears to be treading familiar paths as its predecessor. The Khaos Reigns expansion will unfold a brief epilogue campaign centered around Titan Havik’s mission to disturb the harmony of Fire God Liu Kang’s revised timeline. At launch, this expansion will introduce three new characters (Sektor, Cyrax, and Noob Saibot), with an additional trio of guest fighters (T-1000, Conan, Ghostface) to follow at a later stage.

In essence, the way NetherRealm is expanding this story appears to be quite successful, providing fans with a small progression of the series’ plot, fresh characters, and a hint of future developments. However, the $50 price tag for Khaos Reigns could potentially seem expensive for some devoted followers.

Injustice 3 Could Benefit From a Post-Launch Story Expansion

Just as every previous DC universe, the Injustice timeline is vast and extensive. The Injustice universe encompasses characters from the entirety of the DC universe, ranging from Earth-dwelling heroes such as Batman, to divine entities like Ares, extraterrestrial beings like Martian Manhunter, and sorcerers like Doctor Fate. This deep respect for the expansive DC universe is a major reason why fans adore Injustice, however, even a full-fledged fighting game and all its additional features can’t satisfy every fan’s cravings entirely.

As an avid fan, I can’t help but appreciate the intricate narrative woven through the Injustice comic series, which masterfully expands the universe and addresses crucial gaps between entries. However, to truly immerse myself further into this captivating world and delve deeper into the character arcs, I yearn for a narrative expansion akin to Aftermath and Khaos Reigns, allowing me, as a player, to step into the action and become an active participant in the story.

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2024-10-01 23:13