As of May 6, 2026, Ed Boon has publicly confirmed that NetherRealm Studios is pursuing another Mortal Kombat game, while also teasing additional announcements in both games and other media. That turns the conversation away from “is a new MK happening?” and toward the harder questions: what stage the project is actually in, whether a DC fighter could still arrive first, how the end of Mortal Kombat 1 support changes the schedule, and how all of this fits into Warner Bros. Games’ broader franchise strategy and the imminent release of Mortal Kombat II.
New Mortal Kombat Game in Development Confirmed by Ed Boon
The clearest new fact is simple and important: Ed Boon has now publicly said another Mortal Kombat game is being pursued. In practical terms, that is stronger than a rumor, stronger than a résumé leak, and stronger than fan inference drawn from Mortal Kombat 1 winding down. It does not confirm a title, a reveal date, a release window, or a platform lineup, but it does confirm that a new MK project exists at the level of active internal pursuit, which is the key development that changes the franchise outlook.
Just as important is what Boon did not say. He did not call it “the next announced game,” he did not say it was close to reveal, and he did not identify whether the studio’s next shipped fighting game will be Mortal Kombat before any DC-related project. That leaves room for other work to overlap with MK, even while confirming that a new MK is very much alive.
Ed Boon “actively Pursuing a New Mortal Kombat Game” Full Quote and Context
The most widely cited version of Boon’s latest comment comes from his recent Collider interview as quoted by multiple outlets. The key wording is: “we are actively pursuing… we’re definitely pursuing a new Mortal Kombat game,” followed immediately by the clarification that the studio is “definitely doing more as well” and has “a lot of pots on the stove,” including “other forms of media.” That context matters because the phrase “actively pursuing” is not a casual wishlist comment. It sits inside a statement about real work happening, but also inside a statement designed to avoid revealing the full roadmap.
The rest of the quote is nearly as revealing as the headline line. Boon says he cannot tease specifics because he would “probably get in trouble,” which usually signals that details exist internally but are still under communications lock. In other words, the quote reads less like early brainstorming and more like a controlled acknowledgement that the franchise already has multiple moving parts behind the scenes.
NetherRealm Next Game: is it Mortal Kombat or Injustice 3
Officially, the answer is that Mortal Kombat is confirmed and Injustice 3 is not. That distinction matters. Boon’s latest statement explicitly names another MK game, but it does not explicitly name Injustice 3. At the same time, credible reporting continues to keep a DC fighter in the conversation. GameSpot reported on April 30, 2026 that MP1st had spotted Injustice 3 on a Warner Bros. Games artist’s résumé, and PC Gamer framed that same report as the strongest fresh evidence that NetherRealm may also be working on the long-rumored sequel.
What complicates the picture is that Boon already explained in 2023 why NetherRealm made another MK instead of an Injustice follow-up. He said the team had switched to a newer Unreal workflow, absorbed pandemic-era disruption, and decided that doing Injustice first would have created an unacceptably long gap between Mortal Kombat games. He added that after making another MK, “the plan would be to go back to Injustice.” That older comment does not confirm Injustice 3 today, but it does explain why DC speculation never fully died. The safest current read is this: another MK is officially in motion, while the order and scope of any DC project remain unconfirmed.
NetherRealm “multiple Projects” Explained: What Else is in Development Besides Games
Boon’s “pots on the stove” line strongly implies that NetherRealm’s roadmap is not just one boxed video game. Warner Bros. Games said in its June 2025 organizational restructure that it was building “long-term franchise roadmaps” around Harry Potter, Game of Thrones, Mortal Kombat, and DC, with NetherRealm studio head Shaun Himmerick overseeing both Mortal Kombat and DC games. That corporate language supports the idea that MK and DC initiatives can coexist as part of a broader multi-year slate rather than compete as one-off bets.
The “other forms of media” part is not hypothetical. Mortal Kombat II is officially set for theatrical release on May 8, 2026, and Deadline reported in October 2025 that Mortal Kombat III was already being developed with Jeremy Slater returning to write. That means Boon’s latest comment lands in the middle of an active film pipeline, not a period where Mortal Kombat exists only as a game brand. The most grounded interpretation is that “multiple projects” includes at least one new MK game plus ongoing movie work, with the possibility of DC-related game development overlapping behind the curtain.
NetherRealm Development Timeline: When the Studio Decided on Its Next Project
The strongest public timeline starts in 2023, when Boon explained that NetherRealm chose another Mortal Kombat over Injustice because an engine transition and COVID-era disruption had already lengthened development, and the studio did not want a seven-year gap between MK releases. That places the key strategic decision sometime after Mortal Kombat 11: Aftermath, but before Mortal Kombat 1’s 2023 reveal.
The timeline became sharper in September 2024, when Boon clarified on X that the studio had not been fully developing its next game for three years, but had known what that next game would be three years earlier. Taken literally, that points back to roughly 2021 as the period when NetherRealm had internally settled on its post-MK1 direction at the planning level.
Then, in May 2025, NetherRealm ended additional MK1 story and character support so the team could shift focus to the next project, and in May 2026 Boon publicly confirmed that another MK is being pursued. The most defensible synthesis is that the next-project decision dates back to around 2021, while heavier resource movement likely accelerated after MK1’s support pivot in 2025.
When Will the Next Mortal Kombat Game Be Announced
There is no announced reveal date yet, but NetherRealm’s recent marketing history gives a useful framework. Mortal Kombat 11 was officially announced on December 6, 2018 and scheduled for release on April 23, 2019. Mortal Kombat 1’s official announcement trailer went live on May 18, 2023, and the game then launched in September 2023. That means NetherRealm’s recent mainline MK reveals have been followed by relatively short, direct runways to launch rather than years of extended public development.
Because there is still no full reveal as of May 6, 2026, the most logical public windows to watch are the major industry showcases immediately ahead: Summer Game Fest on June 5, 2026, gamescom Opening Night Live on August 25, 2026, and The Game Awards on December 10, 2026. None of those events guarantees an MK reveal, but all three fit the sort of high-attention beats that Warner Bros. and NetherRealm have used before for major fighting-game news.
Next Mortal Kombat Release Date Rumors and Predicted Launch Window
If the question is not “could it possibly launch soon?” but “what is the safest forecast today?”, the most defensible answer is 2027. That prediction is an inference, not an announcement. It rests on three facts: NetherRealm tends to keep reveal-to-launch windows fairly short; Boon’s current language is confirmatory but cautious rather than countdown-like; and the studio only formally shifted major MK1 resources away from new characters and story chapters in May 2025.
A late-2026 release is not impossible, but it would likely require a reveal very soon, which Boon’s wording does not strongly signal. A 2028 release is also possible if the studio’s next public fighting-game beat turns out to be DC-related first. So, as of now, the best evidence-based window is 2027, with 2026 as the aggressive upside case and 2028 as the more conservative hedge if release order shifts.
What to Watch Next: Leaks, Interviews, and Official Updates on the Next Mortal Kombat Game
The most useful near-term watchlist is straightforward. First, watch official channels: Ed Boon interviews, Warner Bros. Games news posts, NetherRealm social channels, and Mortal Kombat’s official accounts. Second, watch the 2026 event calendar: Summer Game Fest on June 5, gamescom Opening Night Live on August 25, and The Game Awards on December 10. Third, watch for corporate-language clues from Warner Bros., especially anything tied to “long-term franchise roadmaps.”
On the leaks side, not all “rumors” are equal. The recent Injustice 3 résumé report got traction because it came through a traceable industry source and was then amplified by major outlets. That is very different from anonymous forum lists or vague social posts. For the next MK, the signals that matter most will likely be formal hiring language, storefront records, ratings activity, résumé slips, or second-order confirmations from major outlets, not anonymous roster dumps.— ×1
Why Mortal Kombat 1 Support Ended and How it Affects the Next MK Game
NetherRealm’s reason for ending new Mortal Kombat 1 DLC and story content is not hidden or speculative. The studio’s official statement said it would continue supporting the game through “balance adjustments and fixes,” but that there would be no additional DLC characters or story chapters because the team needed to “shift focus to the next project in order to make it as great as we possibly can.” That is the cleanest public explanation available, and it strongly suggests a resource reallocation rather than a lore-based ending.
What this changes for the next MK game is significant. Once MK1 stopped consuming major story-expansion and fighter-development resources, NetherRealm gained room to move more of the studio onto future work. It also reset fan expectations. The question is no longer whether MK1 gets a large year-three content plan; the question is how much of that displaced time and staffing is now benefiting the next mainline project. In business terms, the support wind-down is one of the clearest signs that the next phase moved from distant planning into a more concentrated production push.
Mortal Kombat 2 Movie Synergy: Will the New Game Tie into the Film
Movie synergy is real, but it is currently strongest at the marketing and cosmetics level rather than the “direct adaptation” level. Warner Bros. Games’ May 2025 press release for Mortal Kombat 1: Definitive Edition explicitly highlighted new skins for Johnny Cage, Kitana, Scorpion, and Shao Kahn inspired by the upcoming Mortal Kombat II film. In parallel, GamesRadar reported this week that a new Mortal Kombat II fight clip was being released through Mortal Kombat 1 itself, which is about as direct a cross-promotional bridge as fans could reasonably ask for.
That said, nothing in Boon’s latest comments or Warner Bros.’ public messaging says the next mainline game is being built as a story tie-in to the film. The harder evidence points to coordinated franchise marketing, not a movie-to-game narrative handoff. With the film officially releasing on May 8, 2026 and MK already using film skins and in-game promotional beats, the likelier scenario is stronger cosmetic and brand synergy rather than a game that simply retells the movie.
Mortal Kombat 2 vs Mortal Kombat 13: What Fans Think the Next Game Will Be Called
This is one area where Boon has actually been unusually direct. In a 2023 interview with GamesRadar, he said that if NetherRealm made another game in the current rebooted lineage, he would want to call it “Mortal Kombat 2,” or potentially use a “Part 2” style naming convention, adding that the studio “certainly won’t call it Mortal Kombat 13.” That gives “Mortal Kombat 2” stronger official logic than “Mortal Kombat 13” long before any real subtitle or logo exists.
Why, then, do fans still say “MK13”? Mostly because the naming has become genuinely confusing. The franchise already has the 1993 game Mortal Kombat II, and the current film is titled Mortal Kombat II for its May 8, 2026 theatrical release. Fan discussions on Reddit and other community spaces therefore keep using “MK13” as shorthand for “the next mainline game after MK1,” even if Boon’s own public preference points toward MK2 or Part 2 style branding. In short, creator preference leans MK2; community shorthand leans split.
Will the Next Mortal Kombat Be on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC
Nothing official has been announced yet, but these three platforms are the safest bet by a wide margin. Warner Bros. Games lists Mortal Kombat 1: Definitive Edition on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, and PC, and those same premium systems have remained the core modern home for NetherRealm’s latest releases. Unless Warner Bros. adopts a radically different strategy, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC look like the baseline target platforms for the next major MK.
The bigger caution is not whether those platforms are likely, but that they are not yet confirmed. Boon’s latest comment was about the existence of the project, not its SKU list. So the honest answer is: likely yes, officially unconfirmed.
Next Mortal Kombat on Nintendo Switch 2: What Ed Boon’s Comments Suggest
Boon did not explicitly mention Nintendo Switch 2. What his comments suggest is indirect rather than direct. Nintendo Life interpreted his statement as making a Switch 2 version plausible because NetherRealm supported the original Switch, and Nintendo already has official store pages for Mortal Kombat: Legacy Kollection on Switch 2. That means the franchise is clearly active on Nintendo’s new system even if the next mainline NetherRealm fighter is not yet confirmed for it.
The right takeaway is cautious optimism. A Switch 2 version is plausible, especially because the franchise now has an official presence there, but there is still no public commitment from Boon, NetherRealm, or Warner Bros. that the next mainline game will launch on the platform. Franchise availability on Switch 2 is real; next-mainline-port confirmation is not.
Will the Next Mortal Kombat Keep the Kameo System or Return to Classic 1v1
There is no official answer yet, but there are two strong clues pointing in opposite directions. On one side, Kameos were central to Mortal Kombat 1’s identity, and Boon explicitly said the Kameo system “opens the door” to crossover possibilities because Kameo characters do not receive fatalities the way main fighters do. That makes Kameos more than a one-off gimmick; they also solve a licensing problem for certain guest appearances.
On the other side, NetherRealm often changes the signature selling point from one game to the next. Mortal Kombat 11’s official reveal centered the Custom Character Variation System, while Mortal Kombat 1’s official positioning centered main-fighter-plus-Kameo pairings. That pattern makes a full return to cleaner classic 1v1 entirely possible, especially if the studio wants the next game’s identity to feel distinct. The most balanced forecast is that assists could return in a refined, optional, or less dominant form, but a straight copy of MK1’s exact Kameo structure should not be assumed.
Next Mortal Kombat Roster Rumors: Returning Characters and New Fighters
Public reporting does not currently support a trustworthy full roster leak. What it does support is a narrow band of safer guesses. The rebooted MK1 era re-centered brand pillars like Liu Kang, Raiden, Scorpion, Sub-Zero, Kitana, Mileena, and Shang Tsung in its early marketing, while current film synergy keeps Johnny Cage, Kitana, Scorpion, and Shao Kahn highly visible in the franchise’s public-facing push. If the next MK continues the reboot-line logic, those marquee names remain the safest roster bets.
The stronger public clue for “new” additions is not a secret character leak but Boon’s renewed interest in future guest fighters. In his latest remarks, he said he would love to see a Street Fighter character in Mortal Kombat and added that DC and Marvel characters would also be fun to include. That does not confirm any specific guest, but it is a more credible roster indicator than anonymous list-making because it comes directly from the series co-creator. Right now, crossover ambition is more strongly evidenced than any precise 24-character launch grid.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- Did Ed Boon officially confirm a new Mortal Kombat game?
Yes. Boon publicly said NetherRealm is “actively pursuing” and “definitely pursuing” a new Mortal Kombat game. He did not announce the title or date, but he did confirm the project exists in an active form. - Did Ed Boon confirm Injustice 3 too?
No. Injustice 3 remains unconfirmed. What exists publicly are credible rumors, including résumé-based reporting and ongoing speculation built on Boon’s earlier comment that NetherRealm planned to “go back to Injustice” after doing another MK. - What does “actively pursuing” most likely mean here?
It most likely means the project is beyond a vague wish and is part of the studio’s live internal roadmap, but not yet ready for a full public rollout. Boon’s “I’d probably get in trouble” wording suggests active work under communications restrictions rather than open-ended brainstorming. - When is the earliest realistic reveal window?
The clearest near-term public opportunities are Summer Game Fest on June 5, 2026, gamescom Opening Night Live on August 25, 2026, and The Game Awards on December 10, 2026. None is confirmed for MK, but all are logical watch points. - What is the safest predicted launch window right now?
2027 is the safest current call. That estimate is based on NetherRealm’s recent short reveal-to-launch cycles, the May 2025 MK1 support pivot, and the fact that Boon’s newest statement confirms pursuit without signaling an imminent launch. - Is Mortal Kombat 1 completely finished now?
It is finished in the sense that no more DLC fighters or story chapters are planned, but it is not abandoned in the sense of all support ending. NetherRealm said balance adjustments and fixes will continue. - Is the next game more likely to be called Mortal Kombat 2 or Mortal Kombat 13?
Based on Boon’s own comments, Mortal Kombat 2 has stronger official logic. He explicitly said he would prefer MK2 or a “Part 2” style name and said they “certainly won’t” call it Mortal Kombat 13. Fans still use “MK13” as shorthand because the naming landscape is messy. - Will the next game likely launch on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC?
Those are the most likely platforms, but they are not officially confirmed yet. They remain the baseline expectation because Mortal Kombat 1’s current premium version is already on those systems. - Is Nintendo Switch 2 a real possibility?
Yes, it is a real possibility, but still unconfirmed. Nintendo already has official Switch 2 pages for Mortal Kombat: Legacy Kollection, and Boon’s latest comments were broad enough that a future Switch 2 port cannot be ruled out. - Will the next game directly tie into the Mortal Kombat II movie?
There is already hard franchise synergy through movie skins in MK1 and film clips being promoted through the game, but there is no public evidence that the next mainline game is a direct adaptation or narrative tie-in to the film.
Conclusion
The strongest conclusion is also the simplest one: another Mortal Kombat game is now publicly confirmed as an active pursuit, and that alone is the biggest shift in the story. Everything beyond that still needs careful separation into official fact, credible reporting, and informed inference. Official fact says Boon is pursuing another MK, Mortal Kombat 1 has ended major content support, Warner Bros. is building long-term roadmaps around Mortal Kombat and DC, and Mortal Kombat II hits theaters on May 8, 2026.
Credible reporting says Injustice 3 rumors remain alive. Inference says 2027 is the safest launch window, PS5/Xbox Series X|S/PC are the safest platform bets, and Switch 2 remains plausible but unconfirmed. That is what “actively pursuing” really means right now: not mystery anymore, but not full clarity yet either.
Sources and Citations
- VGC, “‘We’re definitely pursuing another Mortal Kombat game’, says co-creator Ed Boon”citation, https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/were-definitely-pursuing-another-mortal-kombat-game-says-co-creator-ed-boon/
- Nintendo Life, “NetherRealm Is ‘Actively Pursuing’ A New Mortal Kombat Game”citation, https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2026/05/netherrealm-is-actively-pursuing-a-new-mortal-kombat-game
- WB Games, “Mortal Kombat 1: Definitive Edition”citation, https://www.warnerbrosgames.com/games/mortal-kombat-1-definitive-edition
- Nintendo Life, “Mortal Kombat 1 Dev NetherRealm Confirms It’s Shifting Focus To ‘Next Project’”citation, https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2025/05/mortal-kombat-1-dev-netherrealm-confirms-its-shifting-focus-to-next-project
- MP1st, “Ed Boon Explains Why They Choose to Make Another Mortal Kombat Game Over Injustice 3”citation, https://mp1st.com/news/ed-boon-explains-why-they-choose-to-make-another-mortal-kombat-game-over-injustice-3
- Games Press / Warner Bros. Games restructure releasecitation, https://www.gamespress.com/Warner-Bros-Games-Announces-Strategic-Restructure
- Warner Bros. movie page for Mortal Kombat IIcitation, https://www.warnerbros.com/movies/mortal-kombat-ii
- Deadline, “Mortal Kombat III: Jeremy Slater Writing For New Line”citation, https://deadline.com/2025/10/mortal-kombat-iii-jeremy-slater-writing-for-new-line-1236543210/
- GamesRadar, “Mortal Kombat boss wants to borrow The Last of Us’ naming convention”citation, https://www.gamesradar.com/games/fighting/mortal-kombat-boss-wants-to-borrow-the-last-of-us-naming-convention/
- GamesRadar, “Mortal Kombat 1’s Kameo system might restore hope for crossover characters like Batman”citation, https://www.gamesradar.com/games/fighting/mortal-kombat-1s-kameo-system-might-restore-hope-for-crossover-characters-like-batman/
- GameSpot, “Injustice 3 Is Looking Like The Next Fighting Game From NetherRealm”citation, https://www.gamespot.com/articles/injustice-3-is-looking-like-the-next-fighting-game-from-netherrealm/1100-6530123/
- WB Games, “Official Mortal Kombat 11 Announcement”citation, https://www.warnerbrosgames.com/news/official-mortal-kombat-11-announcement
- Summer Game Fest official sitecitation, https://www.summergamefest.com/
- The Game Awards official FAQ/search listingcitation, https://thegameawards.com/faq
- Nintendo official Switch 2 page for Mortal Kombat: Legacy Kollectioncitation, https://www.nintendo.com/us/store/products/mortal-kombat-legacy-kollection-switch-2/
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