The person behind the popular Mortal Kombat series, Ed Boon, recently explained how the upcoming Mortal Kombat 1 would feature plenty of “origin stuff,” referring specifically to the incredibly complicated story timelines. The comments have sparked a substantial amount of conversation within the fighting game community, starting all sorts of speculation about where the series will be going in the future.
The discussion began on Twitter when a fan wondered “if Mileena was created by Shang Tsung in the previous timelines, then who created Mileena in this new timeline?” Boon shot right back, saying that “all this (plus more) will be revealed in the Mortal Kombat 1 story mode. Lots of origin stuff.” What precisely this means remains unclear.
Mortal Kombat fans were thrilled earlier this week when the highly anticipated announcement for Mortal Kombat 1 was made, accompanied by a trailer that left them with more questions than answers. This showcased Fire God Liu Kang's ascendancy to the supreme guardian of Earthrealm, seemingly confirming the canonical ending of Mortal Kombat 11: Aftermath. The trailer however took an unexpected turn, showing Shang Tsung making a return through a fiery portal.
Based on the player's decision, two distinct endings are possible in Mortal Kombat 11: Aftermath, Shang Tsung either emerging victorious and commencing his conquest of the realms or Liu Kang prevailing and erasing Shang Tsung from history. The majority of the Mortal Kombat 1 trailer appeared to align with the Liu Kang ending, leading fans to wonder how Shang Tsung could reappear through the fiery portal if he had been erased from history. Fans have since been speculating that despite defeating their respective nemeses in their respective endings, both Liu Kang and Shang Tsung will engage in yet another fierce battle, making both endings canonical.
Boon has of course promised concrete answers when Mortal Kombat 1 is released later this year, but until September 18, potential players can only speculate about the fate of Shang Tsung and Liu Kang. As fans eagerly await further details and gameplay footage, the speculation surrounding the canonical nature of Mortal Kombat 1's storyline will continue to fuel intense discussions among the passionate community. Only time will tell how the developer, NetherRealm Studios, intends to weave this captivating narrative, leaving fans on the edge of their seats, eagerly anticipating the release of Mortal Kombat 1 later this year.