Mortal Kombat X offers a new fully-connected experience that launches players into a persistent online contest where every fight matters in a global battle for supremacy.  For the first time, Mortal Kombat X gives players the ability to choose from multiple variations of each character impacting both strategy and fighting style. Players step into an original story showcasing some of the game’s most prolific characters including Scorpion and Sub-Zero, while introducing new challengers that represent the forces of good and evil and tie the tale together.

Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment and NetherRealm Studios have teamed up with esports company ESL, for the Who’s Next? Mortal Kombat X Worldwide Competitive Program, which includes the Fatal 8 Exhibition Tournament, ESL Mortal Kombat X Pro League Tournament and the Mortal Kombat Cup. The series of tournaments invites Mortal Kombat X players from North America and Europe to compete for bragging rights and the chance to secure winnings from a prize pool that starts at US$100,000. 

The program kicks off April 11 with the Fatal 8 Exhibition Tournament showcasing top pro-fighting players from around the globe as they go head-to-head in the inaugural Mortal Kombat X competition. Fans can watch the tournament live from the ESL studios in Burbank by getting tickets or online at NetherRealm Studios’ Twitch channel.

Beginning April 19, the worldwide ESL Mortal Kombat X Pro League Tournament opens to Xbox One players from across North America and Europe. Through weekly competitions that offer cash prizes, players can earn their spot as one of the 16 players sent to the grand finals to be held July 11 in Los Angeles.

The Mortal Kombat Cup is a series of live tournaments taking place in 19 International territories. The fights will run from April through June, culminating in an International finale live from the JAPAN EXPO in Paris on the 5th July.

“NetherRealm Studios is a huge supporter of the pro fighting game scene and to be able to work with ESL on the Pro League Tournament allows us to take the Mortal Kombat X competition beyond what we’ve ever done before,” said Ed Boon, Creative Director, NetherRealm Studios and co-creator of Mortal Kombat. “We’ve seen some incredible match-ups in the past and we can’t wait to see what this next level of competition brings.”

Mortal Kombat fans can support their favorite Mortal Kombat X tournament combatants by purchasing the exclusive Blue Steel Sub-Zero skin.  A portion of the proceeds will go directly to support Mortal Kombat X tournament prize pools.