Mortal Kombat 1 will introduce a reborn Mortal Kombat Universe that has been created by the Fire God Liu Kang, featuring reimagined versions of iconic characters as they’ve never been seen before.

NetherRealm’s genre-defining Story Mode returns with an immersive cinematic narrative featuring unexpected twists on classic rivalries and original backstories for a wide-ranging cast of legendary fighters, including Liu Kang, Scorpion, Sub-Zero, Raiden, Kung Lao, Kitana, Mileena, Shang Tsung, Johnny Cage, and many others.

Mortal Kombat 1 will also introduce Kameo Fighters, a unique roster of partner characters that can assist during matches, creating expanded gameplay possibilities for players. 

Warner Bros. Games unveiled the gameplay launch trailer for Mortal Kombat 1, featuring a first look at story elements and gameplay for Shang Tsung and his ominous destiny in the reborn Mortal Kombat Universe created by Fire God Liu Kang. The scheming sorcerer’s moveset is on full display, including his fireball projectiles, devastating combos, and signature ability to morph into rival kombatants. The trailer also showcases gameplay for General Shao’s second-in-command, Reiko, the savage warrior with a fighting style that matches his fierce persona, as well as bone-krushing highlights of other launch roster fighters.

Additionally, Mortal Kombat 1 will feature an extensive set of accessibility options for players, including audio descriptions and cues for on-screen action that plays contextually during gameplay.

Visual

Screen Reader

Narration for menu items is available. All users are initially guided towards the Text-to-Speech feature on the first launch.

Colorblind Modes

Colorblind pre-set modes edit user interface (UI) and heads-up display (HUD) elements that might not be accessible to all in their original colors. Presets exist for Protanopia (Green Light), Deuteranopia (Red Light), and Tritanopia (Blue Light). The intensity of the colorblind mode can be adjusted.

Display Settings

Brightness can be adjusted at any time.

Lowered Health Bars

Players can lower HUD location of Health Bars through the Options menu, placing them closer to the focal point of the screen.

Descriptive Audio

Enable descriptive audio narration describing events happening on screen. Supports all Story cinematics, Fatalities, and Fatal Blows.

Extra Audio Feedback

Users can choose between four presets that toggle additional audio cues for gameplay elements. The volume of these cues can be tweaked individually:

• Distance between Fighters – Adjust the volume of a sound cue that gets faster and quieter as distance increases.
• Health Meter – Adjust the volume of sounds that play at certain health thresholds. Occurs at 75%, 50%, 25%, and critical health.
• End of Fight Line – Adjust the volume of audio that plays when a fighter is at the end of an arena.
• Ducking – Adjust the volume of sounds that play when a character ducks and stands up.
• Blocking – Adjust the volume of a sound that plays when characters block and stop blocking.
• Hit Type – Adjust the volume of unique sounds that play for high, mid, low, or overhead hits.

Invasions Mode Navigation Assistance

When the player arrives at an Invasions mode location, the game will play four sounds corresponding to these directions in sequence – Up, Right, Down, and Left. The status of each direction is represented by the sounds that play when you adjust the volume on this setting. The sounds represent these statuses in sequence – Objective, Available, Locked, No Path.

Auditory

Separate Volume Controls

Individual controls are available for users to configure:

• Cinematics – Story cinematics and rendered movies.
• Music – In-game music.
• Announcer – Announcer’s voice.
• Ambience – Ambient sounds.
• Dialogue – Spoken dialogue.
• Sound Effects – All sound effects from characters and user interface.

Screen Reader volume can be customized under the Accessibility tab.

Audio Mix Presets

Quickly set audio categories to values that support increased accessibility or return them to defaults.

• Default – Resets all audio sliders to default values.
• Light Support – Clarifies gameplay-related audio without altering the primary mix very much.
• Medium Support – Clarifies gameplay audio significantly and adds mild support through Enhanced Audio Feedback.
• Heavy Support – Mutes music and ambience and adds all Extra Audio Feedback.

Subtitles

Users can enable subtitles that support all key dialogue in Story mode as well as supplemental dialogue such as pre-fight dialogue and quips said during gameplay. Subtitles are on by default. Users can also modify the subtitle size.

Detailed Audio Effects
Users can tweak specific VFX noises:

• Hit/Block
• Fighter Movement
• Vocalization
• Gameplay Modifier
• Special Moves
• Environmental Detail
• Fight HUD

Directional Surround Sound

Players can adjust the audio experience according to the audio hardware that is being used on the first boot and then in the Options menu. Sounds can be set as directional for gameplay via stereo or surround sound setups.

Motor

Remappable Controls

All gameplay inputs can be customized and remapped to a different button input. Remapping controls cannot be applied to menu navigation. The four-face button and four-shoulder button controls can be remapped for these inputs:

• Front Punch
• Back Punch
• Front Kick
• Back Kick
• Throw
• Block
• Kameo
• Flip Stance

Input Shortcuts

Users can enable Input Shortcuts which lessen the directional precision required for special moves.

Button Shortcuts

Users can toggle multi-button inputs for single-button moves.

Test Your Might Gameplay Assistance Toggle

Users can toggle off the requirement for rapid button mashing for Test Your Might segments during Story mode.

Practice

Tutorials

Extensive Tutorials are included covering virtually every aspect of the game. All the Tutorials can be re-accessed at user discretion.

Tutorial Demos

Most tutorial segments provide a demonstration that shows button inputs and timing for practice.

Practice Modes

A controlled environment where users can learn their fighter’s moveset, with a wide array of customizable behaviors. Fatality practice can also be accessed, with the timer constraint being disabled.

Advanced Communication System

Speech to Text

Voice chat is transcribed into captions on-screen in real-time.

Keyboard to Speech

All text typed into the chat is narrated allowing for more players to use voice chat without the need of speech.

Note: This feature will be coming to the Nintendo Switch version of the game at a later date.

General

Settings Tooltips

All settings are accompanied by tooltips to inform users of what is affected.

Autosaving

The title includes an autosave feature, which saves progress at key moments during gameplay.

Accessibility Feedback

Accessibility (aka: a11y) means avoiding and correcting any unnecessary friction or barriers that prevent people with a range of impairments from enjoying games. We believe games are for everyone and strive to create and maintain accessible titles for all our players.

This includes problems related to any form of impairment: visual, motor, auditory, cognitive, or other. As well as any issues related to accessibility legislation such as the FCC’s CVAA (21st Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act).

Please email us at able@wbgames.com for any issues you experience related to accessibility (aka: a11y). For issues not related to accessibility, please contact us by clicking here to submit a ticket.

 

Mortal Kombat 1 is available for pre-order on all launch platforms*, including:

• Mortal Kombat 1 Standard Edition will be available physically and digitally for $69.99 (SRP) on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, and PC, including Steam and Epic Games Store.
• Mortal Kombat 1 Premium Edition will be available physically and digitally for $109.99 (SRP) on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, and PC (Steam and Epic Games Store) and will include all Standard Edition content, along with the Kombat Pack, early access to the game beginning Sept. 14, and 1,250 Dragon Krystals (in-game currency). The Kombat Pack will feature a Johnny Cage character skin with the likeness of famed actor and martial artist, Jean-Claude Van Damme (available at launch), early access to six new playable characters (available post-launch), and five new Kameo Fighters (available post-launch).
• Mortal Kombat 1 Kollector’s Edition will be available physically at select retailers for $249.99 (SRP) on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S only and will include all Premium Edition content, and early access, along with a 16.5-inch Liu Kang sculpture designed by COARSE and an inspired Liu Kang in-game character skin, three exclusive art prints, a steel case, and 1,450 additional Dragon Krystals (2,700 total).

All Mortal Kombat 1 pre-orders will receive Shang Tsung as an in-game playable character, and those who pre-order the game for PS5 or Xbox Series X|S will also receive access to the Mortal Kombat 1 Beta, which will be available in August 2023.

Mortal Kombat 1 is coming to for Nintendo Switch, PS5, Xbox Series X|S and PC on Sept. 19, 2023.