The recent release of Mortal Kombat 1 has been met with mixed reactions, particularly concerning its rendition on the Nintendo Switch.
Compared to its counterparts on the PlayStation 5, Xbox Series S/X, and PC, the Switch version of Mortal Kombat 1 has disappointed many with its glaring graphical gaps, missing content, and performance issues.
Series creator, Ed Boon, has been vocal in acknowledging the criticisms. In an interview with BBC Newsbeat, Boon wants fans to know that he’s disappointed about the current state of the game on the Switch, promising that it’s “getting an update” that will address every issue identified.
While the underlying sentiment is to right the current wrongs, one can’t help but ponder why this happened in the first place. Mortal Kombat 1 is, without a doubt, a next-generation game, and some argue that NetherRealm Studios might have been overly ambitious or perhaps misguided in their attempt to port such a demanding game onto the Switch.
Then again, can you blame NetherRealm Studios? The Switch is the third-best-selling video game console of all time. If Mortal Kombat 1 only sells to 1% of the Switch’s player base, that’s still over a million units sold – a sizable figure for a fighting game that never really appealed to casual audiences.
Interestingly, the onus of the port wasn’t on the main developer, NetherRealm Studios, but on Shiver Entertainment and Saber Interactive. The decision, however, seems to have backfired. Not only are players unhappy with the performance of the game, but they also question the decision to price the Switch version at a premium, equivalent to the PS5 and Xbox Series versions.
Then again, NetherRealm should’ve known better. Its previous attempt to bring Mortal Kombat 11 to the same platform didn’t go so well either. The prevailing sentiment remains that the studio shouldn’t even have thought of bringing Mortal Kombat 1, clearly a next-gen game, to the Switch.
At the moment, Mortal Kombat 1 is looking less like a genuine effort and more like a quick cash grab, except it fell flat on its face.
While the criticisms are valid, Ed Boon isn’t about to leave fans hanging. Amidst the critique, there’s a silver lining in his statement. Not to mention, the previous entry, received years worth of support. Mortal Kombat 1 should get updates for just as long if not longer.
Who knows? By the time Ghostface starts stabbing Liu Kang in Mortal Kombat 1, the Nintendo Switch port will start to get better.
Ultimately, the main focus by NetherRealm right now is to fix the current version of the game for the Switch. Boon, representing NetherRealm Studios, remains committed to the cause, promising support and updates. The studio’s track record with previous games does lend credence to these promises, though only time will tell how successful they will be in amending this particular rendition of Mortal Kombat 1.
In retrospect, many believe that NetherRealm Studios might have been better off introducing older titles to the Switch. Games like Mortal Kombat 9 or Mortal Kombat X, or perhaps the Injustice series, might have been a more appropriate fit for the platform, considering their age and lesser demands on hardware.
Nevertheless, as Mortal Kombat 1 continues to create waves globally, fans of the Nintendo Switch version will wait for the updates that promise to elevate their gaming experience to the levels enjoyed by their counterparts on other platforms.
