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Mortal Kombat 12: Release Date Speculation, News, Leaks, Characters & Updates

Jump into combat with our breakdown of everything you need to know about Mortal Kombat 12's release date, leaks, story and much more.
Mortal Kombat 12: Release Date Speculation, News, Leaks, Characters & Updates

One of the biggest questions floating around the fighting game scene is; when will we see Mortal Kombat 12? We know that the studio has been working on a new project ever since July 2021 to work on a new project, but will this be the highly anticipated Mortal Kombat 12? 

If these questions also plague your brain, then don't fret, as this guide covers everything you need to know regarding Mortal Kombat 12. Below you can find all the details you need to know, from its release date, leaks, story, and much more. 

Update on 11 September 2023: This article was updated and checked for the latest 'Mortal Kombat 12' news and leaks.

Mortal Kombat 1 has officially been announced, and releases 19 September 2023. Check out our fast-growing Mortal Kombat 1 section.

Latest Mortal Kombat 12 News & Leaks

9 August 2023: Mortal Kombat 1 guides and news!

Visit our Mortal Kombat 1 section for a plethora of guides and news.

19 May 2023: Check out the official Mortal Kombat 1 announcement trailer!

 

18 May 2023: New Mortal Kombat official reveal on 18 May at 06:00 PT

 

16 May 2023: Mortal Kombat 1 Edition Leaks
4 May 2023: Could MK2 be a reboot?

Read our article about the possibility of Mortal Kombat 12 being a reboot.

2 May 2023: First official MK12 teaser appears!
5 April 2023: Mortal Kombat 12 reveal coming soon?
23 March 2023: Mortal Kombat 12 confirmed for 2023 release!?
24 February 2023: No MK12 news yet, but Ed Boon jokes about Injustice 3
8 February 2023: What features do you want to see from MK12?
25 January 2023: Checked for new MK12 news or leaks

We've checked but couldn't find new information about Mortal Kombat 12 (MK2).

29 December 2022: Mortal Kombat 12 dream guest fighter? Ryu!
19th December 2022: New Banner Placeholder For MK12 Spotted

A Mortal Kombat dataminer posted to Twitter on 18th December 2022 that a new banner placeholder has appeared in Mortal Kombat 11. According to TheThiny, they cited that this banner placeholder may be used to promote NetherRealm Studios'  upcoming release, Mortal Kombat 12.

14th December 2022: Mortal Kombat 12 roster tease?

Mortal Kombat series co-creator Ed Boon recently took to Twitter with a simple "ask me stuff" and hinted at Mortal Kombat 12's roster, all but confirming some characters.

8th December 2022: Watch The Game Awards 2022 live!

Mortal Kombat 12 is unlikely to show up at The Game Awards 2022 since NetherRealm Studios' CCO Ed Boon noted that neither MK12 nor Injustice 3 will be there.

Tune in the watch The Game Awards 2022 via the YouTube stream embedded below. It kicks off on 8 December at 7:30 PM ET / 4:30 PM PT and 9 December at 00:30 GMT.

Mortal Kombat 12 Release Date Speculation

At the time of writing, there is no official confirmed release date for Mortal Kombat 12, but in this article, you’ll find all (if any) information that the developer shared, as well as some speculation from Ginx on when we could see it launch.

NetherRealm has yet to announce the game. It is likely that an MK12 will be revealed in 2023  with a 2024/2025 release date window.

Mortal Kombat 12 Release Date Leaks Characters and More possibly released in 2023
A reveal or possible release for Mortal Kombat 12 will likely come in 2023. (Picture: NetherRealm Studios)

This would fall in line with how NetherRealm releases its games, which are usually on a two-year cycle. The past few years have been challenging in terms of the development cycle at many studios thanks to COVID-19 and other factors, but now that some form of normality has been restored, we expect a release date announcement very soon. 

Mortal Kombat 12 Leaks & News

NetherRealm senior production manager Jonathan Andersen may have dropped a major hint that the studio's next game could be Mortal Kombat 12. Andersen tweeted the image below in January 2022, then deleted it promptly. 

Mortal Kombat 12 Release Date Leaks Characters and More leaks and post by senior production manager
Fans have begun to speculate about the details in a quickly deleted post by NetherRealm's senior production manager. (Image: Twitter / @Jandy_NRS)

Fans with keen eyes (and quick-save buttons) noticed a file named "MK12 Mast" on the monitor. Those who zoomed in and enhanced the image also noticed a portion of an email that reads, "our fans eagerly scrape the internet for any trace... Take extra precautions with this material."

Some fans suspect that this was a planned leak to tease us with a bait-and-switch while they work on the game or even something else. Regardless, NetherRealm has refused to comment on the post, so we'll have to wait for the studio to make an official announcement before we know more.

Mortal Kombat 12 Characters 

It's near impossible to predict with certainty which characters will appear in Mortal Kombat 12. Depending on the direction that this new story takes and the effects that Mortal Kombat 11's conclusion will have on the established timeline, the story can go in almost any direction, and thus the characters can be varied. 

There's a good chance that many characters will return based on the end of MK 11 in some form once the new game releases. This is based on Lord Liu Kang response that his friends "are not gone" and will "live again" at the end of MK 11. 

This leads to some unique opportunities for new and established characters to return to the franchise and keep it fresh with good narrative reasons for their return. So we're hoping that NetherRealm takes this opportunity to revitalize the game and give us brand-new experiences to enjoy.

Mortal Kombat 12 Story

Mortal Kombat 11 Aftermath, the game's campaign DLC that was released a year after its initial release, is the only way for fans to get a feel for what to expect in Mortal Kombat 12. The "bad" ending is obtained by choosing to play as Shang Tsung, whereas the "good" ending, in which Shang Tsung is defeated, is obtained by choosing to support Lord Liu Kang. Although it hasn't been confirmed, many people anticipate that the "good ending" will continue as the perceived canon.

After defeating Shang Tsung, Lord Liu Kang is then able to use Kronika's Hourglass to alter history, which he refers to as his "New Era" and in which he hopes none of his friends will be "lost."

Mortal Kombat 12 Release Date, Leaks, Characters and More story and contiuation
The story for Mortal Kombat 12 will likely continue from the events of the Aftermath campaign DLC. (Image: NetherRealm Studios)

If this means that the timeline has been reset, Mortal Kombat 12 might usher in a completely new period of Mortal Kombat. And possibly take place hundreds of years before the events of the first Mortal Kombat arcade game.

So to conclude what we suspect, the story for Mortal Kombat 12 will see new faces appear and old faces return, with a blank sleight (the reset timeline) for them to battle it out in epic new battles.

For now, that's everything you need to know about the possible future of Mortal Kombat 12. As mentioned before, be sure to check back here soon for more news and updates as they become available for the future installment of the brutally epic Mortal Kombat franchise.