Mortal Kombat 12 could be coming sooner than expected, as an employee of developer NetherRealm recently shared a screenshot potentially leaking the newest entry in the iconic fighting game franchise.
Jonathan Andersen, a Senior Production Manager at NetherRealm, tweeted a since-deleted photo of what appears to be his workspace. The photo is cluttered with various Injustice and Mortal Kombat artwork, but text on a monitor can be made out as well. Though obscured, a file titled “MK12_Mast…” can be seen in the photo’s upper right corner. A file named “Reptile” can be spotted as well, potentially referring to the series’ fan-favorite green ninja.
Despite the seemingly inadvertent nature of the leak, some fans believe it may have been deliberate. Sections of text from an email can be made out in the background that appear to read, “our fans eagerly scrape the internet for any trace,” as well as, “take extra care with this material,” which some commenters say is a bit too on the nose.
Andersen teased a coming announcement in December 2021 when the developer tweeted the “eyes” emoji in response to a question asking if the studio would announce what it’s working on, slyly indicating fans should keep on the lookout. Though no announcement came in December, more recent rumors suggest NetherRealm’s next project will actually be a definitive version of the last three Mortal Kombat games. The game is rumored to be a new Ultimate Trilogy and will reportedly have a massive roster comprising 50 kombatants from across the franchise’s last three titles.
NetherRealm has traditionally released a new installment in its Injustice franchise between Mortal Kombat games, yet rumors of Mortal Kombat 12 releasing before Injustice 3 arose in summer 2021. An industry insider cited Mortal Kombat 11‘s strong sales numbers as the reason NetherRealm is more likely to develop a new MK game than the next Injustice. If true, the studio likely began ramping up development on the new project after DLC support for Mortal Kombat 11 officially ended in July.
Should the MK12 leak prove accurate, NetherRealm might also hold off on releasing its rumored Marvel fighting game. While unconfirmed, the game’s roster supposedly includes both recognizable characters like Captain America, Wolverine and Spider-Man as well as more obscure ones like Skaar, Bullseye and Madam Masque. DLC guest characters were mentioned as well, with Mortal Kombat icon Raiden and Star Wars‘ Kylo Ren both being reportedly included. As of writing, though, NetherRealm has yet to officially confirm any future projects.
Source: Twitter, via ComicBook
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