Four years after the release of MK 11, NetherRealm has finally provided a teaser for Mortal Kombat 12. The gory 2D fighter franchise turns 30 this year and the studio released a ‘Thank You’ message to all its fans. While most of the video is studio members thanking fans for their support, the last 20 seconds or so hold a teaser for MK 12. Referencing Kronika’s Hourglass from the last game, MK 12 depicts a grain of sand, shattering. This could be teasing a potential reboot as well.
Mortal Kombat 12 teases potential new timeline as franchise turns 30
At around 1:48 in the video, Mortal Kombat co-creator, Ed Boon, thanks fans for “30 years of amazing support,” before saying that they’re “not quite done yet.” The video then cuts to a visual of sand passing through Kronika’s hourglass before zooming into a single grain that explodes. Potentially teasing another timeline reset, fans are already speculating about what this could mean.
For those out of the loop, Kronika’s hourglass was the instrument used by the Titan to weave timelines as per her will. At the end of Mortal Kombat Aftermath, either Shang Tsung or Liu Kang gains control of the all-powerful instrument. Regardless of the player’s choice, a “new era” is promised, teasing another radical shift in the franchise’s already convoluted storyline.
When will MK 12 release?
Earlier this year, MK 12 was confirmed as a 2023 release during a Warner Bros. investor’s call. While no proper gameplay has been shown off yet, the delay of Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League to 2024 gives MK 12 a more clear window to launch in. Traditionally, the studio alternates between Mortal Kombat and Injustice releases, but MK 12 might break that trend. Speculation hints at Warner Bros. not being keen on diluting Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League’s launch with Injustice as both games would be in the DC universe.
For now, fans will have to wait for the next teaser to see which ending to MK 11 Aftermath was canon and where that leaves the storyline.
