The Evo 2023 Friday Showcase appears to be shaping up to be quite the spectacle. In a post on the Evo website, the full schedule for day one ?of Evo 2023 has been revealed.

The fun starts at 10:00 a.m. with what Evo calls a surprise-filled panel featuring Arc System Works. The developers are absolute monsters—in a good way—when it comes to fighting games, responsible for the Guilty Gear franchise and the popular 2022 release DNF Duel.

At 12:30 p.m., a surprise developer will go on-stage for an "exciting announcement." No details yet, but the blog say it's a first look at a special reveal. Evo co-founder Seth Killian will host an interview with Street Fighter pro MenaRD, discussing their history with the Street Fighter franchise.

Hidden Variable Studios will then show off what's next for Skullgirls at 1:10 p.m. At 1:45 p.m. we'll get a look at the upcoming Rivals of Aether 2 followed by a rap??id-fire reel of indie fighting game trailers at 2:00 p.m.

Rounding out the first part of the showcase is a look at Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3's history at Evo. This looks like it's going to be a blast, especially with the host, UMVC3 Evo champion Justin Wong.

Those interested in seeing the full schedule for Evo 2023 can check it out here.

Street Fighter 6, Tekken 8, Killer Instinct, and Mortal Kombat 11

At 3;00 p.m. Capcom will take the stage with a Street Fighter 6 developer panel. I'm sure there will be a focus on the recently released Rashid as well as what we can look forward to in the future for SF6.

Next up, Bandai Namco will show off the upcoming Tekken 8. T8 will also be playable at Bandai Namco's booth through Evo 2023, so ?be sure to swing by and check it out.

As the Friday Showcase winds down, four of the best players in Killer Instinct history will face off. The KI 10-Year Anniversary Invitational will have the players compete in a special exhibition to celebrate a decade of KI.

Finally, Mortal Kombat 11 will get a proper final chapter at Evo. MK11U will be th??e first Top 6 of Evo 2023 as it closes? out Day 1 of the event.

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Somebody better bring a mop...

NetherRealm Studios and Warner Bros. Games has announced that Mortal Kombat 11 has now sold over 12 million copies, officially making the? uber-gory fighter the best-selling entry in the series' storied history.

Originally released on PS4, PC, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch in 2019, Mortal Kombat 11 won plaudits for its fantastic character models, intricate stage design, and cinematic story mode, while also being rightly railed for its tiresome and convoluted kurrency system, as well as its randomized Krypt elements. As the sequel grew in popularity, MK 11 was blessed with a bevy of excellent DLC kharacters, as well as a meaty story expansion �a first for the claret-flowing franchise. The latter-day release of Mortal Kombat 11 Ultimate compiled all ??of this kontent in one meaty packag??e.

NetherRealm Studios recently announced that it had moved on to its next project, and as such is apparently done with any and all updates for Mortal Kombat 11. This is something of a disappointment, as many fundamental flaws remain within its gameplay, while important online features �such as the long, long requested WiFi filter �will now likely never be added. Still, MK 11 most certainly brought several?? major improvements to the fran??chise, mostly from a visual standpoint, had arguably the best roster in the series' history, as well as perhaps the most spot-lit and respected kompetitive scene to date.

Mortal Kombat 11 is, in many ways, a great fighter. But years down the line, there is still room for improvement in regards to NRS titles when it comes to player-friendly features, online options, and basic kharacter balance. Here's hoping that NRS will continue to build upon its legacy with any and all of its upcoming projects, whatever they may be. But, for now, the day belongs to the best-selling Mortal Kombat 11, and the day is well-earned.

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Cetrion mains heard laughing maniacally

A little over two years following its launch, NetherRealm Studios has announced that it is ceasing further support for its best-selling fighter Mortal Kombat 11. The studio anno??unced on Twitter that it was now engaged in new projects.

Mortal Kombat 11 received a truckload of DLC content following its initial release. This included the arrival of paid DLC characters such as Shang Tsung, Sindel, and Mileena, as well as guest stars Joker, Terminator, and Rambo. Additionally, the Aftermath DLC brought with it a huge story expansion, once again ending with a dull slap on the well-worn "Lore Reset" button. There has also been some fun costumes, in particular the movie skins. No one can argue that MK 11 has not had its fair share of DLC.

Regarding rebalances and patches... Well, that's another story. My thoughts on NRS' decision to sunset MK 11 are long �best saved for another day and article. While there is a lot to like about MK 11, both as a fighting game and a chapter in Mortal Kombat's storied legacy, it suffered frustrating technical issues from day one �issues that were never tackled despite being priority concerns for any competitive fighter. Among them horrendous hit/hurtbox problems, odd character balance decisions, and a lack of heavily requested features �such as a Wi-Fi filter. There were other irritating issues surrounding online play. Punishing players for simply not playing the game,  for example, is ?one of the most community-unfriendly decisions in fighti??ng game history.

These and other frustrations did tarnish MK 11's reputation and pushed away some of its players �and it seems that these issues ar?e now likely to go unaddressed.

Despite these irritants, Mortal Kombat 11 built a strong and dedicated kompetitive community. It's hugely unfortunate that the title launched during the times of the COVID-19 pandemic, which hindered its presence on the offline tournament scene. It breaks my heart that I never got to venture out to play this entry regularly at meets and nationals during its heyday. Hell, it's the first fighter since 2013's Killer Instinct where I koulda been a kontender...

But take heart, (not literally, Kano), as there is still plenty of life left in kompetitive Mortal Kombat 11, it just seems that this entry is not set to receive the same long-term support and commitment afford by Capcom to Street Fighter V or by Bandai Namco to both Dragon Ball FighterZ and Tekken 7 �which is disappointing. Regardless, I and many other MK fans are grateful for the good times �?both over the last two years and in??to the future.

Mortal Kombat 11 never reached a level of technical excellence that ??matched its attractive visuals, pulse-pounding action, and ambitious story-telling. The fi?ght, however, remains the thing. And once the tournament scene reopens, I and The Queen await you on the blood-soaked battlefields of Outworld.

//twitter.com/MortalKombat/status/1411006897868578??821?s=20

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Kerri Ann Hoskins is a real wonder woman

A couple of weeks ago, I cold-called Kerri Ann Hoskins, famous for her roles in Mortal Kombat 3 and Aerosmith's Revolution X, to see if she wanted to do an interview for one of my podcasts. A week or so later, she said "S?ure." She didn't even ask what it was for! That "who gives a f*ck let's just do it" attitude is a big part of who she is, and I am so gratefu??l for it.

In just under 25 minutes, she gave an amazing overview of some of the highs and lows of her life and career. I had planned to chat with her for 5 minutes about whether she wanted to play Sonya again and a couple of other light topics, but then a half-hour later, she was still talking about growing up with a step-father with wartime PTSD, the mesh implanted in her bellybutton, being pregnant with twins while playing the pinup girl villain in the Mortal Kombat Mythologies: Sub-Zero, and a lot of other parts of her life that make Sonya's struggles in the games look lightweight in comparison. In fact, while we were talking, you may see her check her phone a few times to check to see if her twins had contracted COVID-19. I was amazed that she was willing to take the time to talk to me in the midst of this potential crisis, but as I soon discovered, pushing through?? difficult times has been her way of life for as long as she can remember.

//youtu.be/YsCnNzNONpw

So why haven't we seen her for a while? From the sounds of it, taking care of her kids needed to be her top priority for the past decade or so, but at 51, she's toying with getting back into the game. What with the new movie out, i??t couldn't be a better time for her to jump back into the role of Sonya, who also became a mom ??over the years, but I was surprised to find out she'd rather play the character in a new game than a film. I can't blame her! Games are more fun.

If you want to see more of Kerri Ann, she's pretty active on Twitter and Instagram, as well as her online gallery. You can also hear an alternate version of our interview on the Talking to Women about Videogames podcast. Remember that show? It was on Youtube for a while, and the episode with Jessica Nigri actually did pretty good numbers. Now that they are on each other's radars, maybe NetherRealm will cast Jessica in a new Mortal Kombat game as Cassie Cage and Kerri Ann as her ass-kicking mom? One ca?n hope...

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Outworld still nicer than England

Warner Bros. has finally announced a U.K. release date for its cinematic adaptation of NetherRealm Studios' Mortal Kombat. As spotted by Eurogamer, the critically panned but financially successful fighting flick will hit U.K. strea??ming services May 6, at a rental price of £15.99.

After facing down several production woes and perpetually shifting dates, Mortal Kombat finally premiered April 23 in U.S. theaters (or at least those that are currently open) and on paid streaming service HBO Max, which will carry all Warner Bros. releases for the duration of 2021. The frenetically edited action-adventure had a hugely successful launch, hitting $22.5 million USD at the physical box office w??hile streaming in around 3.6 million homes.

The coming weekend will be crucial in ascertaining whether Mortal Kombat has staying power, or is a "one weekend and done" premiere. Producer Todd Garner has spent the past week candidly and overwhelmingly thanking fans and audiences for their support and "c??onstructive criticism." At this stage, at least one sequel seems like a sure bet.

For whatever it's worth, as a die-hard MK fan, I found more than enough to enjoy about the movie to want to see more from this universe... At least that is what I think my opinion is going to be... As I live in ??the U.K, I h??ave not watched the movie. I hope I enjoy it when I see it, for the first time, on May 6.

//imgur.com/V0aLow1

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Long-awaited adaptation is not a box office Fatality

This weekend saw the U.S. opening of Warner Bros.' long-in-development adaptation of its gory fighting franchise, Mortal Kombat. And, all things considered, the film has been a success, pulling in domes?tic box office sales of around $2??2.5 million USD.

As noted by Deadline, this is the highest opening for an R-rated movie since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has understandably left cinema sales reeling over the past 13 months. Mortal Kombat was screened in almost all re-opened theaters (estimated to be around 60% of the U.S. total)?? and is ??available to stream at home on paid service HBO Max — though the money made via the latter is not taken into account.

Directed by Simon McQuoid, Mortal Kombat sees washed-up MMA fighter Cole Young team up with a ragged selection of Earthrealm Champions and thrust into an inter-dimensional battle with the forces of Outworld sorcerer Shang Tsung — a battle where the very fate of mankind hangs in the balances. R??eviews have been divisive, with critics and fans praising the film's visuals, costuming, effects, and gore, but critical of its editing, tone, and tendency for panicked exposition.

It remains to be seen whether Mortal Kombat is more of a frontloaded box office draw, or whether it continues to pull in big numbers over the coming weeks. Either way, a sigh of relie?f is no doubt being exhaled over at Warner Bros. Studios, and a sequel to the violen?t action flick already seems inevitable. Somebody give Musetta Vander a call...

Mortal Kombat is now screening in theater?s in the U.S. and on HBO ?Max.

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Supergiant Games' roguelike bags numerous gongs

The Academy of Interactive Arts and Sciences (AIAS) has revealed its winner's list for the 2021 iteration of The DICE Awards, celebrating some of the fine r?eleases that hit the market during last year — arguably one of the best gaming years in recent histo??ry.

The list reads as a who's who of 2021's finery, with awards dished out to Naughty Dog's The Last of Us Part II, Sucker Punch's Ghost of Tsushima, Square Enix's Final Fantasy VII Remake, Nintendo's Animal Crossing: New Horizons, and Activision's Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1+2. Even VR got in on the action, with an appearance by Valve's Half-Life: Alyx.

The big winner of the evening, however, is Supergiant Games' fantastic roguelike Hades, which walked away with five awards in total, including the coveted Game of the Year. Hades is going to need a bigger mantelpiece, having already won a glut of honors, including five BAFTAs and Destructoid's very own Game of the Year 2020. Well deserved.

You can check out the full list of winners below. The full DICE Awards ceremony is available for viewing over on the official Academ??y of Int?eractive Arts and Sciences website.

• Action Game of the Year: Hades

• Adventure Game of the Year: Ghost of Tsushima

• Family Game of the Year: Animal Crossing: New Horizons

• Fighting Game of the Year: Mortal Kombat 11 Ultimate

• Game of the Year: Hades

• Immersive Reality Game of the Year: Half-Life: Alyx

• Immersive Reality Technical Achievement: Half-Life: Alyx

• Mobile Game of the Year: Legends of Runeterra

• Online Game of the Year: Fall Guys: Ultimate Knockout

• Outstanding Achievement for an Independent Game: Hades

• Outstanding Achievement in Animation: The Last of Us Part II

• Outstanding Achievement in Art Direction: Ghost of Tsushima

• Outstanding Achievement in Audio Design: Ghost of Tsushima

• Outstanding Achievement in Character: Miles Morales (Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales)

• Outstanding Achievement in Game Design: Hades

• Outstanding Achievement in Game Direction: Hades

• Outstanding Achievement in Original Music Composition: Ghost of Tsushima

• Outstanding Achievement in Story: The Last of Us Part II

• Outstanding Technical Achievement: Dreams

• Racing Game of the Year: Mario Kart Live

• Role-Playing Game of the Year: Final Fantasy VII Remake

• Sports Game of the Year: Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 + 2

• Strategy/Simulation Game of the Year: Microsoft Flight Simulator

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Sub-Zero vs. Godzilla just not happening

Warner Bros. has announced that its upcoming adaptation of NetherRealm Studios' Mortal Kombat has had its release date pushed back by one week. The martial-arts action-adve??nture will now launch in theaters and on paid streaming service ?HBO Max on April 23.

As reported by Variety, Warner Bros. has rearranged the date in order to provide breathing room between MK and kaiju-smasher Godzilla vs. Kong, which hits both big and little screens today. Variety also suggests that Warner Bros. is holding off in anticipation of California relaxing lockdown laws in the coming weeks, which could see an allowance of increased capacity in cinemas. If you fancy cramming yourself into a crowded room with a gaggle of complete strangers at the very earliest opportunity possible, good luck to ya.

It has been a long road to fruition for the Simon McQuoid-directed video game adaptation, which has pushed through production and scheduling woes - as well as COVID-19 pandemic restrictions - to make it to next month's release. While fans were left waiting an extraordinarily long time to see the movie's first trailer, it left many in the kommunity feeling cautiously optimistic that Mortal Kombat will deliver a relatively good time. I don't think anyone's expecting The Dark Knight ?here, but as long as the action is solid and the journey?? is fun, then the wait will have been more than worth it.

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Rated R for Rekt

Fans have been waiting a long, long while, but after a year of production woes and calendar shifts, Warner Bros. has finally released the trailer for Mortal Kombat, the upcoming cinematic adaptation of NetherRealm Studios' legendar?y fighting game franchise.

The new film will take the MK story back to its roots, as a cast of the series' original characters (as well as a few sneaky seque?l stars) will defend Earthrealm in a brutal and hellish hand-to-hand fighting tournament, presided over by Outworld's malevolent sorcerer, Shang Tsung. Led by Thunder God Raiden, this motley crew of warriors will face o??ff in a violent battle for personal pride, vengeance, and the fate of the very universe itself.

But enough of my yakkin', y'all know the plot, so let's get to the NSFW action.

As some of y'all may know, I'm not only a dyed-in-the-wool Mortal Kombat fan, but I'm also a trailer collector, and I've seen enough previews to know you can make anything look better than it might be with a well-made, well-edited preview. That said, I will admit I'm far more ?impressed than I e??xpected to be. The visuals are neat, the character designs are contemporary but recognizable, and the showpiece battles look pretty damn exciting. It's the earliest of days, but the trailer has instilled more confidence in me than I had before. And hell, they didn't resort to a slow bass needle-drop into hip-hop, OR a breathy slow cover of an '80s classic.

Also, Kano looks like a right bastard. I'm in.

Mortal Kombat will premiere in theaters and on HBO Max on April 16. This day-and-date theater/home release has been adopted by Warner Bros. for its entire 2021 release slate, due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic keeping people indoors and away from the cinema. This strategy will see upcoming releases including Denis Villeneuve's Dune, DC Comics' Wonder Woman '84 and The Suicide Squad, the fourth chapter in The Matrix franchise, and even Space Jam: A New Legacy made available via the?? paid streaming service at laun?ch.

Oh, and if Shao Kahn and Sindel show up in a p??ost-credits sequence, I might not survive.

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LET US DANCE!

It feels like we probably should have gotten it way before now, but the wait is finally over, and Warner Bros. will release the first trailer for its long-awaited cinematic adaptation of Mortal Kombat, wh?ich premieres in theaters and on HBO Max April 16.

To help stoke the hype fires for the trailer's reveal, Warner Bros. also released a selection of "Motion Posters", which give us a closer look at characters Sub-Zero, Scorpion, Sonya, Raiden, Kung Lao, Jax, Kano, and My OC Do Not Steal Cole Young - along with our first glimpse yet of MK fan-favorite Mileena, as played by new kid on the block Sisi Stringer. She looks ready to start disembowe??ling folk, tha??t's for damn sure.

Mortal Kombat's narrative will loosely follow that of the first game in NetherRealm Studios' gory series, as a team of heroes from Earth are charged with defending the realm in a once-in-a-generation tournament, held by sorcerer Shang Tsung. The movie has overcome multiple production hurdles caused by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, but is now ready to rock, debuting in theaters and on HBO's paid streaming service simultaneously - a method adopted by Warner Bros. entire 2021 release slate.

Sisi Stringer is Mileena. #MortalKombatMovie trailer Thursday at 9am PT. pic.twitter.com/TMCNsdzsfg

— Mortal Kombat Movie (@MKMovie) February 17, 2021

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Dune is in the house, literally

Warner Bros. has released a trailer showcasing the string of cinematic releases headed to theaters and streaming channel HBO Max in 2021. Buried among the films that feature in the exciting montage are the first live-action glimpses of the new Mortal Kombat movie.

Directed by newcomer Simon McQuoid and starring a cast of expert martial arts actors, Mortal Kombat will tell the story of a group of humans - including new boy Cole Young - hand-picked to represent EarthRealm in a once-in-a-generation tournament held by the evil sorcerer Shang Tsung. While several still images from the movie were revealed earlier in the month, the HBO Max trailer gives us our f??irst look at the movie in action, with blink-and-you'll-miss-them appearances by Sonya Blade, Liu Kang, ?and the ice-master himself, Sub-Zero.

Elsewhere in the trailer, we are teased with footage from Denis Villeneuve's Dune and James Gunn's Suicide Squad, alongside brief snippets of Those Who Wish Me Dead, Godzilla vs. Kong, Tom & Jerry and, most importantly, Space Jam: A New Legacy. All of these movies will premiere day-and-date in theaters?? and on the streaming service, in efforts to get the wheels turning in the? movie industry as the COVID-19 pandemic continues.

Mortal Kombat will premiere April 16.

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Featuring your favorite MK kharacter: Cole Young

After a long wait, Warner Bros. and New Line Cinema have finally released images and plot details concerning the upcoming cinematic adaptation of NetherRealm Studios' bloodthirsty fighter Mortal Kombat.

The new images – first revealed by Entertainment Weekly – give fans their first look at the new picture's cast of iconic heroes and villains, including elemental n??inja Sub-Zero, Black Dragon arms dealer Kano, and U.S. special forces agents Jackson "Jax" Briggs an??d Sonya Blade.

Mortal Kombat will tell the story of a washed-up MMA fighter - played by Wu Assassins' Lewis Tan - who finds himself thrust into an inter-dimensional battle with the forces of Outworld, lead by evil sorcerer Shang Tsung (Skyscraper's Chin Han). A selection of Earth's fighters, all of who??m share a mysterious mark, (have a guess), are brought together under the guidance of elder god Lord Raiden, to engage in a battle for humanity itself.

Director Simon McQuoid was eager to point out that Mortal Kombat will feature "gore, blood, and fatalities," with Tan adding that there are some "crazy" fatalities." They're brutal, man," said Tan. "They, they don't hold back." Mortal Kombat is shooting for an "R" rating, though McQuoid also noted how difficult it was going to be to avoid the dreaded "NC-17" certificate, which is generally con??sidered deathsville at the U.S. box office.

Mortal Kombat – which began production back in 2019 – has been in the can for some time now, but has had a fragile release schedule due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The new film will be one of a number of Warner Bros. movies released simultaneously in theaters and on paid streaming service HBO Max. Denis Villeneuve's Dune, DC Comics' Wonder Woman '84 and The Suicide Squad, and The Matrix 4 are ??all scheduled to roll out in similar fashion.

Mortal Kombat will debut in theaters and on HBO Max April 16.

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I can hang out with Sindel now

While I doubt many of us would leap at the opportunity to step into the ring with Sub-Zero, Shao Kahn or, God forbid, Erron Black in real life, a new, fan-created mod for Mortal Kombat 11 offers the opportunity to get closer to the action than ever before, implementing a weird first-person ca????mera.

The MK11Hook – created by modder Ermaccer – lets you essentially step into the skull of your favorite fighter, mere minutes before it is separated from their shoulders. A video of the mod in action (which you can check out below) sees poster boy Scorpion going nose-to-nose with Noob Saibot, while an alternate third-person camera sees Spawn tackle Shokan queen Sheeva. The camera-offset options also offer interesting new perspectives on some of MK 11's stages.

Ok, let's face it, nobody is gonna be rocking these views for their MK 11 fix (he says right before someone probably wins EVO 2021 in first-person), but the MK11Hook mod also has other features, such as the option to alter gameplay speed. It goes without saying that modding MK 11 could land you? in hot water online, possibly resulting in a ban, so I should do my finger-wagging bit here.

Still, it's the closest you'd probably ever want to get to actually visiting the NetherRealm.

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A handful of people on a leaky boat...

It's been a bit of a bumpy road for Warner Bros.' new cinematic adaptation of NetherRealm Studios uber-violent fighter Mortal Kombat. But, following minor shooting and schedule delays, it seems that Scorpion and his pals ?are good to go, with the new movie premiering on April 16, 2021.

Mortal Kombat, which wrapped shooting back in early 2020, was tentatively scheduled for release in April 2021, before being pulled forward to January 2021 so as not to clash with certain other Warner Bros. projects. However, given that the COVID-19 pandemic has rendered many productions unfinished and thrown release schedules into disarray, it seems that Mortal Kombat has officially returned to its original release dat?e.

The new film will premiere in theaters and on HBO Max. As a reminder, all of Warner Bros. major releases for 2021 - including Denis Villeneuve's Dune, DC Comics' Wonder Woman '84 and The Suicide Squad, and The Matrix 4 - are all set to arrive in theaters and on the paid streaming service simultaneously, offering an at-home experience for those still unsure about visiting the theater in these unprecedented times.

Hopefully, we'll be seeing a trailer for Mortal Kombat very soon. Given the talented cast of stuntmen and martial arts experts, it seems that solid fight sequences are a given. As for everything else? That remains a bit of a dice-roll.

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IT HAS (almost) BEGUN!

It wasn't two weeks ago that Warner Bros. cinematic adaptation of Mortal Kombat was teetering on the brink of The Pit. Initially, it seemed that the new movie was "indefinitely delayed" due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, then it seemed that it was to be released directly to paid stre?aming service HBO Max, befor??e WB shot that idea down.

However, it seems that Scorpion and crew will finally have their day. In an industry-shaking piece of news, Warner Bros. Studios has announced that its entire movie slate for 2021 will launch in theaters and on HBO Max simul??taneously, allowing audiences to choose where they wish to view the latest blockbusters in the current climate - unlikely to return to normalcy for the foreseeable future.

Mortal Kombat is among a string of major WB releases that will premiere on both the big and the small screen in 2021. Other titles include Denis Villeneuve's Dune, DC Comics' Wonder Woman '84 and The Suicide Squad, the fourth entry in The Matrix franchise and, most importantly, Space Jam: A New Legacy. These and other films will be available for streaming on HBO Max ??for 30 days from the date of their North American theatrical premiere.

Additionally, fans also got a new look at the Mortal Kombat movie's take on the franchise's iconic dragon logo. Replacing the previously seen (and rather bloody) affair, the new lo??go has a crisp metallic sheen t??o it, but remains true to the original artwork. I dig it.

Mortal Kombat will premiere ??in theaters and on HBO Max in 2021.

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Relationship Goals

Happy weekend, friends! As we approach the final month of 2020, I hope that this week has found you and yours very well indeed. For my American friends, I hope you are enjoying the Thanksgiving holidays. For everyone else, Hell it's still a Saturday so... we all win? I've had a helluva month, and the past week has really beat me down mentally - but the whole year has been a challenge for us all, and hopefully the new year will start to bring new fortune to you, I, and everyone. We got ??this.

What little gaming time I've enjoyed this week has been spent mainly with two titles: Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War - where I ground out Prestige status thanks to the ongoing Double XP event - and Mortal Kombat 11, where I've bouncing around with everyone's favorite toothy gal, Mileena, as well as enjoying the excellent Mortal Kombat movie skins. More of those please, NRS. Gimme Talisa Soto and Musetta V?ander and gaming?? has essentially peaked for me.

Anyway, it seems that gaming will never peak for any of you. I'm endlessly stunned by how many titles, new and old, you cram into seven days. I don't know how you?? all do it, but I love that you do. Jump into the comments below and fill us in on the great games that you're enjoying right now. And don't forget to take some time to rest up and recharge, we all deserve the break.

Have a safe and pleasant weekend, from all of us at Destructoi??d.

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...I don't think so

They did it... The maniacs at NetherRealm Studios actually went? and d?id it...

Now available for Mortal Kombat 11, a new paid DLC skin pack that adds the costumes, likenesses, and voices of three lead characters from the super-rad 1995 live-action movie. Leading the charge is Christopher Lambert and his Timotei'd hair as elder god Raiden, alongside Bridgette Wilson-Sampras as Lt. Sonya Blade, and fina??lly - recreating his wicked turn as Hollywood diva Johnny Cage - Linden Ashby.

While hardly the most "five-star" of movies, the Mortal Kombat flick holds dear to the hearts of many MK fans - myself included - and still stands today a great-looking and entertaining action-adventure. Though we are yet to see digital recreations of actors such as Robin Shou as Liu Kang, or Talisa Soto as Kitana, here's hoping that these famous faces will join the reunion in the near future. Of course, Cary Hiroyuki-Tagawa has already long been part of the MK 11 roster, donning the leather coat of evil sorce??rer Shang Tsung.

If they add Musetta Vander's Sindel from Mortal Kombat Annihilation, I might actually burst with joy.

The Klassic MK Movie Skin Pack is available for purchase now, priced at?? around $6.

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Don't Push Me! (which he never said)

Today is a big day for fans of Mortal Kombat 11, for today sees the launch of Mortal Kombat 11 Ultimate, the latest iteration of NetherRealm's grisly fighting?? title. The new update brings with it a slew of balance changes, and transitions the 2019 fighter ont??o next-gen platforms PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X.

Perhaps the most exciting addition - especially for a particularly frenzied portion of the MK fanbase - is the arrival of Kombat Pack 2, bringing with it returning kombatants Rain and Mileena, alongside the M-60-toting soldier of fortune himself, John J. Rambo. The three new kharacters are now available for purchase, bolstering MK 11's roster to an impressive 37 fighters... Interesting overkill given only one warrior actually matters.

Players who have purchased MK 11 on PS4 or Xbox One will find that they are already able to download MK 11 Ultimate - alongside any previously purchased DLC - on the respective next-gen platform. The PS5 and Xbox Series X editions promise faster load times and slicker visuals, though there's zero promise that you'll actually be any better at the game itself. This is purely an upgrade from a vid??eo game standpoint. You need to get back in the lab... And by "y?ou," I mean "me."

Mortal Kombat 11 Ultimate is available now on PS4, PS5, PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Nintendo Switch, and Stadia. This release includes the base game, the Aftermath expansion, and Kombat Pack 1 & 2.

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She be spittin' nails

Y'all looking forward to the return of Mileena? I know I am. The deadly clone of Princess Kitana will be arriving in Mortal Kombat 11 in a little under a week from now, alongside fellow kombatants Rain and - Sly Stallone himself - John Rambo.

NetherRealm Studios has released a second trailer, giving Mileena's fans another look at their usurped Empress. The video not only showcases ol' fang-face's acrobaticfighting style, but also gives us our first look at some of her Brutalities, which include her classic "nail-spitter" fatality from 1995's Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3. We also get to see some of her?? alternate looks, including a wide variety of ornate sai daggers and sinister face-masks.

Also on display is a neat "side-shave" haircut, which suits the psycho-sibling ??quite w?ell.

Mileena, Rambo, and Rain will all be available to purchase on November 17 as part of Kombat Pack 2. The same day will also see the launch of Mortal Kombat 11 Ultimate, containing the base game, the Aftermath expansion, and both Kombat Packs, on current and next-gen platforms. In addition, players who already own MK 11 on PS4 and Xbox One will be able to upgrade to a visually e?nhanced edition of the fighter on the respective next-gen platform free of charge.

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Sisters are doing it for themselves

NetherRealm Studios has released the long-awaited, highly anticipated gameplay trailer for the TRUE Outworld Kahnum - that minx of mischief, the sultry sai-thrower, the teleporting Tarkatan, and the source of a ??thousand and one abominable death ?threats. It's Mileena, of course.

Making her debut in 1993's Mortal Kombat II, Mileena is the pseudo twin-sister of Kitana, created in the Flesh Pits of evil sorcerer Shang Tsung in order to provide Shoa Ka?hn with the bloodthirsty daughter he so desired. Mixing her sister's DNA with Tarkatan blood gives Mileena her sister's stunning beauty, mixed with the razor blade smile and feral aggression of the Tarkatan race.

Rising above her status as a mere "experiment," Mileena would go one to become ruler of Outwor??ld following the death of Shao Kahn, before meeting a gruesome end at the hands of the Outworld Rebellion, led by Kotal Kahn and the sly D'Vorah??. Having found her way back into the world of the living thanks to Kronika's time shenanigans, Mileena is out on her own... and out for revenge...

Honestly, I think NRS has outdone themselves here. Mileena looks awesome from a design standpoint and her movement and flow is addictive. She looks like she's going to be a lot of fun to play. Mileena was my main squeeze during the Mortal Kombat X years, and I'm really looking forward to seeing what psycho sicko brings to the table in MK 11. Plus, we get that Mileena vs Rambo face-off th??e world has be??en crying out for. Yes, they have.

Mortal Kombat 11 Ultimate launches on PC, as well as current and next-gen consoles, on November 17. This edition will contain MK 11 game, the Aftermath expansion, and both Kombat Packs. Players who already own Mortal Kombat 11 on PS4 or Xbox One will receive a free upgrade to PS5 or Xbox Series X should they pick up either next-gen platf?orm.

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They drew (buckets of) first blood

NetherRealm Studios has released the first gameplay trailer of John Rambo, the latest in a series of special guests joining the Mortal Kombat franchise. Rambo - along with returning kombatants Mileena and Rain - will be available to purchase as part of Kombat Pack 2, which launches for Mortal Kombat 11 on November 17.

In the super-violent preview, we see the tortured war veteran cut down foes such as Kabal and Erron Black, before facing off against another '80s action movie icon, The Terminator. In an inspired bit of design, Rambo is not only armed with his iconic knife - the same blade that endlessly worried British film censors back in the day - but is also equipped with a series of environmental traps, includ?ing tripwires, claymores, and tree-swings.

The minute detail that has gone into Rambo is impressive. Even some of his hand-to-hand attacks are ripped straight from the knock-down, drag-out scraps featured in the movies. Of course, having Sylvester Stallone voice the character is a huge bonus, and the character's likeness is very accurate from a visual standpoint. The trailer ends with the klassic "throat tear" from the fourth Rambo movie. The only thing missing is the .50 caliber mounted je??ep from the same flick... Don't le??t us down NRS.

Mortal Kombat 11 Ultimate will contain the base game, the Aftermath expansion, and both Kombat Packs. It will launch for PC, as well as current and next-gen consoles, on November 17. Players who already own Mortal Kombat 11 on PS4 or Xbox One will receive a free upgrade to PS5 ??or Xbox Series X should they pick ??up a next-gen platform.

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Weathering with You

Last week, NetherRealm Studios released the first gameplay trailer for Rain, one of the next kombatants headed to its blockbuster fighter Mortal Kombat 11. Now we've seen the wet one in action, your boy Johnny Cage is here to bring you up to speed on the lore of the?? Pri?nce of Edenia.

In a new "Meet Rain" trailer, Cage gives us a lowdown on Rain's backstory, recounting the tale of an orphan child who became a master strategist in the ranks of Edenia's army. Once made aware of his true lineage - a lineage that makes him a half-god, no less - Rain struck out on his own, battling to claim the heritage that is rightfully his. Yeah, that's all well and good, drippy, but motherfucking Sindel will always b??e Edenia's true overlor??d, so get in the sea.

In related news, NetherRealm Studios will be holding its first Kombat Kast live stream in quite some time this afternoon, showing off Rain in all of his soggy glory. You can catch the action over on the official NetherRealm Twitch channel, with the stream scheduled to begin at around 13:00 PT / 16:00 ET / 21:00 BST??.

Mortal Kombat 11 Ultimate will launch for PC as well as current and next-gen consoles on November 17. Players who already own Mortal Kombat 11 on PS4 or Xbox One will be able to upgrade free-of-charge to PS5 or Xbox Series X platforms.

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The cold November Rain

NetherRealm Studios got many a Mortal Kombat fan giddy with its recent reveal, announcing that Mortal Kombat 11 would not only be coming to next-gen platforms in November, but that the same month would see the arrival of three new kombatants: Mileena, Rambo, and Rain.

This morning, the bloodstained studio released a gameplay trailer for beloved Prince of Edenian, who made his last playable appearance - again as DLC - in 2011's excellent release, Mortal Kombat. Recognised by his regal, purple at??tire, Rain can be considered the water element to Scorpion's fire, Fujin's wind, and... erm... Tremor's earth. Rain is highly skilled in the command of all things aquatic, with the ??ability to distract, capture and devastate his foes with physics-defying water attacks.

While seemingly "just another ninja", Rain has quite the kult following among the MK kommunity. While his fans do not carry quite the same level of toxicity of many of Mileena's more rabid followers, Rain - like all Edenian kharacters - has a passionate and devoted army of players behind him, who will no doubt be very ple??as??ed with this new video.

Mortal Kombat 11 Ultimate will contain the base game, the Aftermath expansion, and both Kombat Packs. It will launch for PC as well as current and next-gen consoles on November 17. Players who already own Mortal Kombat 11 on PS4 or Xbox One will receive a free upgrade to ??PS5 or Xbox Series X shou?ld they pull the trigger on the next-gen hardware.

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Kombat Kontinues

In addition to this morning's reveal of Kombat Pack 2, bringing Mileena, Rain, and John Rambo to the Mortal Kombat 11 roster. NetherRealm Studios has also announced that all current and new PS4 and Xbox One MK 11 players will receive a free upgrade to the respectiv??e next-gen platforms.

The next-gen version of Mortal Kombat 11 will feature various visual improvements, "significantly-improved" load times, and krisp 4K re??solution. Kross-play will be supported between new and current gen platforms, so the playerbase will fortunately remain whole - a vital element?? of this endeavour.

If you haven't yet picked up MK 11, then Mortal Kombat 11 Ultimate will be your best bet. This edition includes the base game, both Kombat Packs, and the recent Aftermath expansion, for the most komplete version of MK 11 to date. While this edition will launch digitally on November 17, anyone pre-ordering from October 15 will immediately be given access t????o all currently released content, with Kombat Pack 2 being added to your purchase on November 17.

Mortal Kombat 11 Ultimate launches on PS4, PS5?, Xbox O??ne, and Xbox Series X November 17.

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Don't Push It.

NetherRealm Studios has revealed the existence of Kombat Pack 2 for its spine-ripping fighter Mortal Kombat 11. The new DLC bundle will see the return of MK veterans Mileena and Rain, alongsid??e a very differen??t kind of "veteran", action movie legend John J. Rambo.

John Rambo, star of the hyper-violent Rambo movies will be joining fellow action movie legends The Terminator and Robocop in MK 11. A new trailer reveals that NRS has secured both the likeness and the voice of Hollywood legend Sylvester Stallone. I can't help but smile at this ridiculous addition, even if many in the MK faithful - myself included - are bored of MK 11's lame love affair with guns.

The real news for many will be the return of MK's murderous minx, Mileena. The clone sister of Princess Kitana, Mileena is spliced of both human and Tarkatan blood, which results in her grisly visage. Having fallen at the hands of newcomer D'Vorah in Mortal Kombat X, Mileena's return has been rabidly yelled for by many in the MK fanbase - with some of them definitely taking things too far on numerous occasions. Regardless, with Mileena on board, the MK 11 roster is really starting to feel komplete.

The third and final addition in Kombat Pack 2 is Edenian prince Rain. Having made his debut in 1995's Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3, he of the purple garb (a prince... purple... rain, get it?) is renown within the kommunity as one of the more kult kharacters of Mortal Kombat lore. A master of water, Rain dispatches his opponents via various aquatic means, utilising s??treams, bubbles, and waves of H2O to send his foes to watery graves.

The new trailer also makes mention of Mortal Kombat 11 Ultimate, an upcoming release for PC and current and next-gen consoles. This new edition, the most komplete to date, will include MK 11, both Kombat Pack 1 & 2, and the recent Aftermath expansion.

Mortal Kombat 11 Ultimate and Kombat Pack 2 launc??h on PS4, PS5, PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Stadia, and Nin??tendo Switch on November 17.

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Test Your Might

[Update: NetherRealm Studios has released a short teaser video ahead of it?s announcement. The video features a Tarkatan running through a forest in panic, which then cuts to an October 8 date. The video is accompanied by the succinct message "They Are Koming". You can check out the tweet at the foot of the article.]

NetherRealm Studios head Ed Boon has proudly announced that the latest entry in the super-gory Mortal Kombat franchise has sold over eight million copies since its spring 2019 launch, making Mortal Kombat 11 the latest in a series of MK releases to set sales ablaze.

"After 8 million (and kounting) MK11 games sold we're not done yet," said Boon on Twitter. "Stay tuned to see what's next for MK11 this week! #KombatKontinues"

The tease will definitely perk up the dedicated MK 11 community, who have been voicing frustration with the bloodstained one-on-one fighter. While nobody can accuse MK 11 of lacking in DLC kontent - given the first Kombat Pack and the Aftermath expansion - MK 11 still suffers from a slew of irritating gameplay issues, from ?the continued lack of a Wi-Fi filter, to erratic hitbox problems and instances of unreliable links.

While the loudest of the MK kommunity clamour incessantly for the return of the villainous Mileena, MK 11's dedicated players, still grinding away at Kombat League and entering various online tournaments, are more concerned about MK 11 on a base level, a??nd are hoping to see changes made to the actual?? gameplay itself as the title enters the new year.

It's not impossible??, however, that this news will simply turn out to be the announcement of a next-gen port announcement (especially given that "#??KombatKontinues" hashtag). If so, would Warner Bros. Games have it in them to offer free upgrades to the kommunity? Given the amount of money dedicated fans have poured into the title over the past year, I'd hope so.

Whatever the intriguing news, we'll be sure to let you ??know as ??soon as we hear.

Mortal Kombat 11 is ava??ilable now on PS4, PC, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch.

They are koming. pic.twitter.com/7JOKO64bZy

— Mortal Kombat 11: Aftermath (@MortalKombat) October 6, 2020

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Klaatu... Barada...

Following recent comments from voice actor Richard Epcar, Mortal Kombat 11 fans are being given new hope that Evil Dead's wise-cracking hero Ash Wil?liams will be joining the gory fighter's roster at some point in the future.

Epcar - who portrays both thunder god Raiden and DC Comics' Joker - re-lit the rumour fire during an online Q&A session with fans held this past weekend. "Oh, that's right," stated Epcar when questioned. "Bruce Campbell will be in Mortal Kombat. He's going to be a part of the new package." (Clip courtesy of @masterofcold.)

The Ash Williams x Mortal Kombat furor began with online whispers that the Deadite slayer was coming to MK 11 within the first wave of DLC. This rumor was backed up when "Ash" was discovered in a datamine of the PC release, (a datamine which would correctly predict the rest of MK 11's Kombat Pack). If this wasn't enough, then the first teaser trailer for the Kombat Pack included the sound of a buzzing chainsaw.

However, things went awry in June 2019, when Bruce Campbell himself stated that he was not going to be a part of Mortal Kombat 11 - a statement that fans refused to believe, given the franchise's penchant for trolling players. Then, in a recent appearance on YouTube show Vic's Basement, Mortal Kombat co-creator Ed Boon remarked that he "wished" he could comment on the ent??ire situation.

Within the MK kommunity, it was generally surmised that perhaps something had fallen through contractually and that Ash Williams was due to make his long-awaited MK debut, but that the deal had broken down at the final hour. The sighing acceptance that the Ash Williams dream is over mak?es Epcar's new comments all the more puzzling, even frustrating, for fans.

What do I think? I'm 100% sure that Mortal Kombat 11 will be getting another run of DLC characters. I also believe - like others - that Ash Williams was to be included as a part of the Kombat Pack, but that the deal has stumbled or been delayed. Mortal Kombat is nothing if not dogged, so I wouldn't be surprised if negotiations are still ongoing, and we eventually see the time-hopping, head-chopping?, S.Mart employee make his debut in the future.

While on the subject, I'm also convinced that Mileena will show up in MK 11 eventually. Don't @ me.

Mortal Kombat 11 is avai?lable now on P??S4, PC, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch.

Voice actor for Morta?l Kombat 11 states that a guest charac?ter is to be added [Eventhubs]

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Shout-out to my MK 3 O.G.s

NetherRealm Studios has revealed the second of its trinity of skin packs headed to blood-soaked fighter Mortal Kombat 11. The Femme Fatale skin pack launched Aug?ust 25 and o??ffers klassic looks to the roster's dangerous kunoichi.

The Femme Fatale pack includes outfits and accessories for Edenian empress Kitana, her BFF and loyal bodyguard Jade, and the mysterious and vampiric Skarlet. The new skins are reminiscent of the looks that Kitana and Jade sported in 1995's Mortal Kombat 3 - all scraped-back hair and revealing bodysuits. Of course, Skarlet did not actually appear in this early iteration of MK, so this pack gives the deadly ??usurper an opportunity to go a? little old-skool.

The Femme Fatale pack launches August 25 and joins the previously released Summer Heat pack and the "Thanks a Million" Johnny Cage skin. A third skin pack, featuring a Halloween theme, will launch on October 8. All of the above content will automatically be made available to all Mortal Kombat 11: Aftermath owners.

Mortal Kombat 11 is available now on PS4, PC, Xbox One, Ni??ntendo Switch, and ?Stadia.

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Kitana looking klassy

NetherRealm Studios has finally revealed the first of its promised DLC skin packs, which will be winging their way to owners of Mortal Kombat 11 expansion pack Aftermath.

The Summer Heat Skin Pack - launchin??g August 6 - includes a barbecue outfit for Baraka, which outfits the Tarkatan warlord in a chef's hat, apron, and a link of sausages. Also bundled is a lovely summer outfit for Kitana, which features an ornate robe, mask and hat, and a gaudy Stars and Stripes suit for gunslinger Erron Black. In addition, a new skin for Johnny Cage, which outfits the superstar in an all-gold ensemble, is available right now.

This pack will be followed by a Klassic Femme Fatale pack on August 25 and an Al??l Hallow??s' Eve Pack on October 8. I get the impression none of these packs will come bundled with a Wi-Fi filter option for online lobbies. All three packs will automatically be made available to all MK 11 Aftermath owners as they release.

Mortal Kombat 11 is avail??able now on PS4, PC, Xbox? One, Nintendo Switch, and Stadia.

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After-Aftermath

Mortal Kombat 11 players who held off on picking up recent DLC expansion Aftermath can now purchase its three new characters separately. Wind God F?ujin?, Shokan Queen Sheeva, and Old Detroit's own RoboCop are now available to download individually for around $6 each.

Last month, Mortal Kombat 11: Aftermath bundled these charac?ters alongside a two-hour story epilogue back in May for a $40 pri??ce-tag. Given that the bill for all three new fighters will set you back a total of $18, that's less than half the price of the entire expansion for the three new roster additions.

While it's still relatively early days, all three newcomers have proven themselves hardy in kombat. Sheeva is a terrifying force in close proximity, while RoboCop is conversely a problem at long-range. Fujin - though complex - has a great mix of attacks from seemingly all directions. Check out our finisher guides for Fujin, Sheeva, and RoboCop if you want to break some bones and spill some c??laret in styl?e.

Mortal Kombat 11 is?? available now on PS4, PC, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch.

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