Confirmed: No More DLC for Mortal Kombat 1: NetherRealm Shifts Focus to New Project!

Warner Bros. has announced to the dismay of Mortal Kombat 1 enthusiasts that following the release of the Definitive Edition, the game will not receive any new downloadable content (DLC) characters or additional story chapters.

Despite Mortal Kombat 1 achieving sales of 5 million units and the overall series reaching a milestone of 100 million, it hasn’t performed as well as its predecessors. Mortal Kombat 11, for instance, surpassed Mortal Kombat X by selling nearly 11 million copies worldwide shortly after its release and had exceeded 15 million copies by 2022, making it the franchise’s top seller.

In a post on the official Mortal Kombat social media channels, Warner Bros. expressed their understanding of the fans’ disappointment but stated that the development team at NetherRealm Studios is pivoting to focus on a new project to ensure its success.

Although Warner Bros. did not disclose the nature of the upcoming project, speculation suggests it may be Injustice 3, which would be the next installment in NetherRealm’s series of DC superhero fighting games.

Here is the complete statement:

While we recognize the community’s desire for ongoing enhancements to Mortal Kombat 1, our support will continue in the form of game balance and fixes. However, we will not be releasing any new DLC characters or story chapters moving forward.

We know this may disappoint many fans, but our team at NetherRealm is now dedicating its efforts towards our next project to deliver the best possible outcome.

The addition of the T-1000 guest character in March 2025 marks the last significant update for Mortal Kombat 1, coming eighteen months after the game’s initial release. For reference, in July 2021, NetherRealm announced the cessation of DLC for Mortal Kombat 11 to focus on developing Mortal Kombat 1, which was two years and three months post-release. Today’s announcement arrives one year and eight months following the debut of Mortal Kombat 1.

Fans have been revisiting previous assurances from NetherRealm’s development head, Ed Boon, who had indicated long-term support for the game. Notably, many are citing a tweet from September 2024 where Boon reassured concerned fans about continued support for Mortal Kombat 1 even as the studio was transitioning to its next project.

Mortal Kombat 1 saw a brief resurgence in January thanks to a hidden encounter with Floyd, the pink ninja that Boon had long teased, igniting a spirited hunt within the community. However, this event was a fleeting highlight in what has been generally regarded as a disappointing iteration for many dedicated fans of the series.

Looking ahead, Warner Bros. Discovery, the parent company, remains optimistic about the future of the Mortal Kombat series. In November, CEO David Zaslav mentioned that the company was focusing its gaming efforts on four key titles, including Mortal Kombat. Additionally, a cinematic sequel, Mortal Kombat 2, is set to release later this year.