Gamers wait as Geoff Keighley’s heralded Opening Night Live at Gamescom looms closer, which now includes a “world premiere” trailer for the much-anticipated fighting game, Mortal Kombat 1.
To dial up the excitement even more, the teaser that Mortal Kombat’s co-creator, Ed Boon, will grace the stage to talk more about the Mortal Kombat reboot.
Unfortunately, we have zero idea about what Boon will reveal at Gamescom about Mortal Kombat 1 but we have some theories.
Tuesday, @MortalKombat 1 comes to @gamescom Opening Night Live. Join @noobde live on stage for the world premiere of the new trailer reveal 👀
Streaming live Tuesday at 8p CET/7p BST/2p ET/11a PT at https://t.co/AFycLZG9XF pic.twitter.com/IMVRlBcXYb
— Geoff Keighley (@geoffkeighley) August 16, 2023
A cryptic teaser was released on the official Mortal Kombat social account alongside this announcement, hinting, “As the dawn of a New Era looms closer, more has yet to be unveiled.” But what exactly is being unveiled remains shrouded in mystery. Is it just another character reveal or is there more to this reveal?
The fighting gaming community was treated with a character showcase at EVO 2023, revealing the return of the iconic Reptile. However, this wasn’t the only treat for the fans, as glimpses of Havik and Ashrah also graced the screen. With this in mind, a character announcement is most likely. The current confirmed characters include well-known figures like Liu Kang, Raiden, Scorpion, and Sub-Zero among others, plus some intriguing additions from popular shows – think Homelander from The Boys and Omni-Man from Invincible.
Moreover, based on the sneak peeks, Mortal Kombat 1 boasts 24 slots on its character select screen. The addition of Reptile, Ashrah, and Havik to the roster poses questions: How many more characters await discovery? And does Shang Tsung, the coveted preorder bonus character, occupy one of these slots or is he the mysterious 25th fighter? All these musings leave us with either five or six spots yet to be unveiled, and not to forget, the four Kameo fighters also lurking in the shadows.
Recent footage at the San Diego Comic-Con hinted at the presence of Reiko and Motaro within the story. This ignited debates with fans theorizing the potential roles these two might play. Is Reiko set to be a mainstay, while Motaro remains a mere Kameo? Only time will tell.
Furthering the anticipation, NetherRealm Studios teased a novel feature – the Invasion mode, earlier leaked through a sneaky glimpse of the game’s box. This mode promises a single-player experience. Many believe it might be reminiscent of the Konquest mode from earlier games. Could this be the grand surprise Ed Boon plans to unveil at Gamescom?
With its scheduled release on September 19, Mortal Kombat 1 isn’t just another addition to the franchise. It serves as a reboot, a fresh narrative, and a continuation of its predecessor, Mortal Kombat 11. The riveting plot of Kronika meddling with the time continuum and Liu Kang and Raiden’s subsequent endeavors to set things right promises to offer a potent mix of nostalgia and newness.
Finally, besides the Mortal Kombat 1 reveal, Gamescom’s opening is set to be an extravaganza of epic proportions. We are expecting glimpses of highly anticipated projects like Alan Wake II, S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl, the Phantom Liberty expansion for Cyberpunk 2077, and even Starfield, among others.
As the curtain rises at 11:00 AM PT on August 22, all eyes will be on Ed Boon and Mortal Kombat 1, awaiting the official revelation of the secrets it has so tantalizingly hinted at so far.
Will Gamescom 2023 quench our thirst for knowledge, or will it leave us yearning for more? We’ll find out soon enough.
