Mortal Kombat 11 In 2021: Sayonara

So 2021 was a wild year for so many reasons and the gaming space was no different. Mortal Kombat 11 experienced some dizzying highs and some crushing lows. In this article, we’ll look at some of the biggest things to happen to Mortal Kombat 11

Death

We can’t but start from the end. In July 2021, Neatherrealm Studios announced that it would be ceasing all work on new content for the game. This announcement effective spelt the end of the game at least from the side of the developers. As expected, many fans walked away at this point, unwilling to continue investing in a game that the creators had given up on. Sure, there have still been tournaments featuring the game, but there is an air of inevitability hanging over MK11. That said, fans have refused to let this announcement define their time with the game and we still saw a couple of exciting moments from the game and there is also the expectation of a new NRS title that should grip the world when it comes around. 

Records Broken

Also in July, it was announced that Mortal Kombat 11 sold over 12 million copies which is wildly impressive and makes it the most popular and successful Mortal Kombat game of all time. This feat was an indicator of how well the game has been received by fans and you can expect that by the time a new NRS game is announced, fans will go crazy. Now we only have the small matter of it will be Mortal Kombat 12 or a new Injustice game. Whatever the case may be, there is a lot of optimism about the future of NRS and their games. 

WUFL

Consequent controversy aside, the WePlay Ultimate Fighting League Season one was a big deal for MK11. It was the first major offline tournament featuring the game and it had the very best from around the world in attendance including SonicFox,  Rewind, Kombat, and so on. It did great viewing numbers and really got the community hyped for something. Also, did I mention the production value? The organization and execution of the tournament were marvellous and it was certainly one of the highlights of the past year.

AT&T Annihilator Cup

This novel idea was a big deal as it gave fans an opportunity to watch other gaming creators play Mortal Kombat. Also, it was a way for fans of other game genres to appreciate what makes the FGC so special. The AT&T Annihilator Cup was a huge success and was one of the most-watched FGC tournaments of the year.

MK Movie

Finally, 2021 will be remembered for giving us an MK11 movie. Was it good? No. Was it better than the previous ones? YES! What's more, we got an R18 movie which is fitting for Mortal Kombat. While it wasn’t the movie most people were hoping for, it is a much better entry into the MK movie franchise and considering how awful most fighting game movies are, it was great to get a half-decent movie. 

Some people might choose to consider 2021 the year that MK11 died, however, one could also view it from the lens of optimism and see it as a year when the game started its transition into its next iteration. I choose the latter and am excited to see what 2022 has in store for Mortal Kombat.