WithMortal Kombat 1still enjoying attention after a year in the spotlight as the latest installment in the prolificNetherRealm Studiosfighting game franchise, speculation has grown regarding the developer’s next major release. Followingrecent comments from NetherRealm’s Ed Boonindicating that this upcoming title has already been in the works for several years, however, expectations for a more polished and feature-complete product have been raised.
Details about the unnamed upcomingNetherRealm Studiosgame remain elusive, but its relatively extended development time may signal a shift for NRS' overall standards. The longevity of post-game support along with the quality of a base release itself can both benefit from longer production cycles between titles, giving the studio the chance to set an example as a leader in the Western-developed fighting game market.
Ed Boon’s Comments on the Longer Development of NetherRealm Studios' Next Release
Breaking NetherRealm’s Two-Year Cycle
In the past, NRS maintained a consistent gap between releases as it quickly transitioned fromMKXtoInjustice 2and thenMortal Kombat 11all within around 5 years. This turnover rate is considered fast within the fighting game genre due to its potential for releases with competitive staying power and robust post-launch support, strengths which were arguably hampered throughout NRS' quick pattern of development.
When it came toMK1, however, the studio extended its production cycle to four years for its rebooted take on theMortal Kombatfranchise. If it can keep up this focus on taking more time with each entry, and therefore giving existing releases longer periods of being updated before being succeeded, whatever titles come next are practically guaranteed to have legacies that will match up to their contemporaries.
NetherRealm’s Next Game Has Surpassed Two Years of Production
In an interview withComicBook, Ed Boon confirmed that the studio’s next project has already been conceptualized for years:
“…We’ve known what our next game was going to be three years ago and we’ve been working on it in some capacity ever since.”
It’s unclear how long this upcoming title has been in actual active development despite this insight, but its extended timeline still marks a departure from what was the studio’s usual approach.
Over Three Years of Production Could Make for One of the Greatest Western Fighting Games in Years
The Potential for NetherRealm Studios' Most Polished Release Yet
The possibility for ambition is at an all-time high if NRS continues the trend of longer cycles of development. Through taking longer to fine-tune mechanics and polish that holds up in the long term, the studio is likely aiming for a release that can definitively live up to, or even surpass the success and staying power of the industry’s other major fighting game series. Whether it ends up beingInjustice 3or even a brand-new IP, this extra time could ensure that this next title has a stronger launch which lays the groundwork for lasting appeal within the competitive scene. With titles such asKiller InstinctandSkullgirls 2nd Encoreessentially serving as the only other representation of the West in the genre, NetherRealm has an opportunity to raise the bar for this entire sector of the industry.
Receiving the Reception MK1 Should Have Garnered
While theongoing success ofMortal Kombat 1has gotten a fair share of praise as a reboot in several ways, it hasn’t necessarily reached the more unanimous reception that many have hoped for in terms of areas like its balance and monetization of DLC support. Extended development for the title that follows could directly address these concerns, ensuring that it avoids the same pitfalls that could undermine the greater scope that has been outlined by NetherRealm Studios' creative director himself.
