NetherRealm Studios recently found itself in the middle of controversy for its monetization practices of Mortal Kombat 1. The crux of the issue is the pricing of a Halloween-themed Fatality animation, a move players have found excessively greedy, especially for a game that already demands the standard $70 retail price of a next-gen title. As it appeals to the angry mob, the development team has confirmed a noteworthy update to address the concerns. In a decisive response to the strong backlash from players and critics, the developers have announced a noteworthy update that aims to address these concerns.
The animation, priced at 1,200 Dragon Krystals – which equates to about $10 – was seen as steep, given that it was a singular in-game feature in a game costing upwards of $70. This decision sparked a loud and immediate backlash from the community, igniting a broader debate about the appropriateness of such freemium-style monetization tactics in a full-priced title.
Seeking to mitigate the uproar, NetherRealm Studios announced a Seasonal Fatalities bundle, slated to launch later this week. This bundle includes the Halloween Fatality, alongside a Thanksgiving Fatality and a Winter Fatality that’s yet to be released. Notably, those who had already purchased the Halloween Fatality would gain access to the entire bundle without incurring additional costs. However, the details regarding eligibility criteria for this offer and the overall pricing of the Seasonal Fatalities bundle remain undisclosed, leaving room for speculation among the player base.
Happy Thanksgiving 😋🍗🐲
MK1 Thanksgiving Fatality#MK1 #MortalKombat1 pic.twitter.com/5OuzbZy8D5
— thethiny 🐰🍉 (@thethiny) November 10, 2023
The forthcoming Thanksgiving Fatality, previewed by Mortal Kombat dataminer thethiny, combines holiday cheer with the game’s hallmark brutality, offering a glimpse of what players can expect from this new content. However, official information about the Winter Fatality is still under wraps, adding an element of anticipation to the bundle.
This move by NetherRealm Studios is interpreted as a strategic response to the escalating dissatisfaction over a Mortal Kombat entry that’s characterized as much by its gore as it is by its post-launch monetization strategy. While the overall polish (outside of the Nintendo Switch port) and gameplay are top notch, there’s a pervasive sentiment of discontent in its unscrupulous practices in a non-free-to-play title.
Despite the criticism, Mortal Kombat 1 continues to sell well, moving more than three million copies since launching in September. It remains to be seen if Mortal Kombat 1 will enjoy similar longevity as its predecessors after Warner Bros. confirmed that it’s transitioning most of its major gaming franchises into “always on” live service games, mirroring a similar move from Sony albeit one that the console manufacturer is apparently doubting already.
For now, the reception to NetherRealm’s olive branch hasn’t gone well. While it’s a step in the right direction, a chunk of the player base believes it’s still several steps behind doing the game justice. Many are voicing dissatisfaction with the studio’s overall approach to in-game purchases.
To make matters worse, NetherRealm is giving fans more reasons to complain after it was recently revealed that Antony Starr will not be voicing Homelander when The Boys’ antagonist arrives in Mortal Kombat 1 as a guest fighter.
Aside from Mortal Kombat 1, a live-action adaptation sequel is currently in development following the success of the reboot in 2021. It will not feature The Miz as Johnny Cage, despite the WWE superstar’s desire to join the cast.
