Everything You Need To Know About Mortal Kombat 1

The latest entry in the legendarily violent one on one fighting game series, Mortal Kombat 1 is simultaneously a narrative reset for this much beloved brawler and also a continuation of everything that we saw with Mortal Kombat 11. With all new characters joining a raft of faces from the past, in addition to all new stages, modes, fatalities, a new Kameo system and much more, Mortal Kombat 1 looks set to be the most ambitious entry in Netherrealm Studios’ long-running series to date. 

Be sure to keep this guide in your favourites as we cover everything you need to know about Mortal Kombat 1 including the release date, gameplay details, latest trailer, PC specifications, early access information and more.

Mortal Kombat 1 Release Date

The Mortal Kombat 1 release date has officially been confirmed as September 19, 2023. Mortal Kombat 1 is set to have a full release on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series S/X consoles, Nintendo Switch and PC via Steam and the Epic Games Store. Mortal Kombat 1 has not been confirmed for a release on the last generation PlayStation 4 or Xbox One consoles as of this writing. 

What’s the Story?

As alluded to already, Mortal Kombat 1 represents a restart for the somewhat labyrinthine canon of the Mortal Kombat franchise which spans across some 23(!) different titles. Taking place directly after the events chronicled in the single-player campaign of Mortal Kombat 11: Aftermath, Mortal Kombat 1 unfolds in an entirely fresh universe ushered in by the new deity, Fire God Liu Kang, who owes his newfound omnipotence to a transfer of power from the Thunder God, Raiden. 

Seemingly a reset of everything we know about the series, Scorpion and Sub Zero for example appear to be blood brothers rather than sworn enemies, Mortal Kombat 1 focuses on a mysterious threat to this universe and one that may undo everything that Fire God Liu Kang has created. I’m not sure about you, but that seems as good a reason for a colossal dust up as any.  

Mortal Kombat 1 Gameplay

Though a cursory glance at Mortal Kombat 1’s fistic pursuits might suggest a game that hasn’t really changed since its predecessor, the truth is that developer Netherrealm Studios has actually made some neat tweaks to the Mortal Kombat formula. By far the biggest of these new changes is the addition of Kameo fighters to the mix. Reminiscent of the tag-in support you might see in a game such as Marvel Vs Capcom, the Kameo fighters in Mortal Kombat 1 allow players to not just briefly bring in another fighter to add extra damage to their combos, but these Kameo fighters can also perform their own fatalities as well.

Kameo fighters also have utility beyond extending combos and performing fatalities too. Chiefly, X-ray moves can now be jointly performed by primary fighters and the Kameo fighters that have been chosen, resulting in a symphony of bone-breaking savagery. Additionally, all of the other modes that Mortal Kombat fans have come to love, such as an in-depth story mode, Kombat Towers, online tournaments and more all make a comeback in Mortal Kombat 1 to boot. 

Mortal Kombat 1 Characters

With a range of old and new faces making their mark, it’s fair to say that this is one of the most varied rosters of any recent entry in the series. You can catch the full list of confirmed characters below:

Ashrah
Baraka
Ermac (Included with Kombat Pack DLC)
Geras
Havik
Homelander (Included with Kombat Pack DLC)
Johnny Cage
Kenshi
Kitana
Kung Lao
Li Mei
Liu Kang
Mileena
Omni-Man (Included with Kombat Pack DLC)
Peacemaker (Included with Kombat Pack DLC)
Quan Chi (Included with Kombat Pack DLC)
Raiden
Rain
Reptile
Scorpion
Shang Tsung (Available as a pre-order exclusive) 
Smoke
Sub-Zero
Takeda (Included with Kombat Pack DLC)
Tanya

Mortal Kombat 1 Kameo Fighters

An entirely new feature, Kameo fighters can support primary characters mid-battle by extending and augmenting their combo attacks. You can catch the full list of confirmed Kameo fighters below:

Cyrax
Frost
Goro
Jax Briggs
Kano
Kung Lao
Sareena
Scorpion
Sektor
Sub-Zero
Sonya Blade
Stryker

Mortal Kombat 1 Early Access 

Mortal Kombat 1 early access can be obtained by purchasing either the Kollector’s Edition or Premium Edition on PC, PS5, Xbox Series SX or Nintendo Switch platforms. The early access period begins on Thursday, September 14, 2023, allowing eager fighters a good few days to get familiar with Netherrealm Studios’ latest ahead of its official release five days later. Additionally, if Xbox Series SX and PS5 gamers pre-order the game (including the standard version), they can also get a leg up on everyone else by gaining access to a special closed beta that will be kicking off sometime later in August 2023. 

What are the Preorder Bonuses?

Currently, the only preorder bonus that is currently available to players that put their money down ahead of time, is access to wily sorcerer Shang Tsung as a playable character. 

Where Can I Watch The Latest Trailer?

The latest trailer for is available to watch right now and you can catch it above. Easily the most eye-opening video released so far, the ‘banished’ trailer provides players with an extended look at returning fighters Ashrah,Havik and Reptile. Of the three, Reptile’s return appears to be the most impressive, with the reptilian ravager able to switch between his human and lizard forms mid-battle, which provides him with some wildly ingenious combo potential. Beyond that, it’s also a little odd to hear Reptile (or Syzoth, as he is known among his folks), actually speak with something resembling a human tongue – not least because it allows him to adequately convey the sadness he has at being made an outcast by his people, on account of his penchant for shapeshifting into human form. Oooh, drama! 

Mortal Kombat 1 PC Requirements

Despite leveraging the ageing Unreal Engine 4, Mortal Kombat 1 nonetheless pushes that engine to its limits with extremely detailed environments, gorgeous character models and a veritable kaleidoscope of stunning visual effects. That said, by using Unreal Engine 4 rather than its feature stuffed successor, this game is eminently scalable across a wide range of PC hardware configurations. So with that in mind, you can catch the minimum and recommended PC specifications below. 

Minimum PC specifications:

Requires a 64-bit processor and operating system
OS: Windows 10 64-bit
Processor: Intel® Core™ i5-6600 | AMD Ryzen™ 3 3100 or Ryzen™ 5 2600
Memory: 8 GB RAM
Graphics: Nvidia GeForce® GTX 980 or AMD Radeon™ RX 470 or Intel® Arc™ A750
DirectX: Version 12
Storage: 100 GB available space

Recommended PC specifications:

Requires a 64-bit processor and operating system
OS: Windows 10/11 64-bit
Processor: Intel® Core™ i5-8400 | AMD Ryzen™ 5 3600X
Memory: 8 GB RAM
Graphics: Nvidia GeForce® GTX 1080 Ti or AMD Radeon™ RX 5700 XT or Intel® Arc™ A770
DirectX: Version 12
Storage: 100 GB available space

Shop for Mortal Kombat 1 on PC

Now you’re well armed, it’s time to perform a fatality on your bank account and head to our store to buy Mortal Kombat 1 for PC. Get a great deal when you shop with us, we know you’re Liu Kang for brilliant prices.