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.