A recent job listing at NetherRealm Studios suggests that Mortal Kombat 12 is currently being made by the fighting game developer. The ultra-violent series has been developed by NetherRealm since 2011, with the studio’s latest project being 2019’s Mortal Kombat 11. With post-launch support for MK11 recently ending, many fans are eager to see where the grotesquely gory franchise will go next.
Alongside the Mortal Kombat series, NetherRealm Studios is also responsible for developing the highly-regarded Injustice fighting game series. Injustice allows players to duke it out using a plethora of DC Comics icons including Batman, Superman, and Wonder Woman. The series’ narrative pits these legendary heroes and villains against each other, leading to plenty of superpowered grudge matches. In recent years NetherRealm has staggered releases, alternating between new Mortal Kombat titles and new Injustice titles every few years. However, rumors now suggest that Mortal Kombat 12 will release before Injustice 3. The massive success of MK11, combined with the uncertain future of DC Comics license owner WB Games, could lead to NetherRealm skipping Injustice 3 and going straight into the next Mortal Kombat entry.
A recent job listing from WarnerMedia supports the idea that NetherRealm Studios’ next project may in fact be Mortal Kombat 12. The job listing calls for a new Senior Artist/Animator to join the fighting game developer in its Chicago, Illinois headquarters. Many of the job listing’s responsibilities and requirements could fit Mortal Kombat, Injustice or even a new fighting game from NetherRealm. However, a specification that prefers an experience with “martial arts fightings games” suggests that Mortal Kombat in particular is on the team’s agenda.
Fighting game fans long for the announcement of either Mortal Kombat 12 or Injustice 3, but some rumors suggest that neither of these projects will be NetherRealm’s next game. Many rumors have suggested that the team is working on a Marvel Comics fighting game rather than producing a new title for rival company DC Comics. Some potential leaks suggest that the game would boast a massive roster of characters such as Spider-Man, Captain America, and Wolverine, though these leaks may be pure fiction.
While the job listing is no hard evidence of Mortal Kombat 12‘s existence, the specification of a martial arts fighting game is a bit suspicious. Injustice would likely be classified as a superhero or comic book property, rather than specifically a martial arts game. While NetherRealm Studios’ next game remains a mystery, time will reveal what exactly the Mortal Kombat creators have up their sleeves.
