Netherrealm Studios Launches Mortal Kombat 1: Khaos Reigns, Kombat Kast, New Kameos Confirmed

[Gambid]

Today all Mortal Kombat fans have a reason to celebrate as Netherrealm Studios and Warner Bros. Games Launch Mortal Kombat 1 (2023): Khaos Reigns, an expansion to last year's Mortal Kombat 1 (2023) that brings a lot of new content to the game:

• New Story Mode Chapters centered around Havik
• New main fighters: Noob Saibot, Sektor and Cyrax
• New main fighters: Ghostface, T-1000, Conan The Barbarian (Available Post-Launch)
• New Arenas and Arena Variations (free for everyone)
• Animalities (free for everyone)
• New Brutalities (free for everyone)
• Towers of Time (free for everyone)
• New Moves and Balance fixes for main and kameo fighters
• Quality of life fixes and improvements

You can find the official patch notes right here.

Watch the trailer for Mortal Kombat 1 (2023): Khaos Reigns here:

From the official press-release:

Developed by award-winning NetherRealm Studios, Mortal Kombat 1: Khaos Reigns continues the cinematic narrative with new Story mode chapters centered around peace and anarchy. To defend his New Era of peace, Fire God Liu Kang must rally his champions and put faith in his enemies to defeat a perilous threat from an alternate timeline, led by the ruthless Titan Havik, whose sole purpose is to plunge the realms into khaos.

Mortal Kombat 1: Khaos Reigns adds to the growing roster of playable characters with the return of Cyrax, Sektor, and Noob Saibot, who are available now as part of Kombat Pack 2 and incorporate unique backstories that fit within the reimagined Mortal Kombat 1 Universe. Cyrax is a young Lin Kuei warrior and martial arts prodigy who can leverage cybernetic technology; Sektor, a master armorer and skilled Lin Kuei warrior in her own right, is Cyrax’s mentor and Sub-Zero’s most trusted lieutenant; and Noob Saibot is a shadowy henchman created from Bi-Han’s (a.k.a. Sub-Zero) soul, dedicated to fomenting anarchy alongside Havik.

Kombat Pack 2 will also bring a new batch of guest fighters into the mix with Ghostface, the recurring identity donned by antagonists from the Scream horror movie franchise, voiced by Roger L. Jackson; T-1000, the liquid metal-based Terminator and deadly cybernetic assassin from the Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991) film, featuring the voice and likeness of actor Robert Patrick; and Conan the Barbarian, the towering warrior from the Conan the Barbarian (1982) film, featuring the likeness of actor Arnold Schwarzenegger in the role of the title character. Release timing for the three guest fighters will be announced at a later date.

Additionally, all Mortal Kombat 1 owners have access to a free content update beginning today, including Animalities, the fan-favorite finishing moves allowing all playable characters to morph into their spirit animal to annihilate defeated opponents; Towers of Time, a returning mode with an on-going rotation of challenges and in-game events; and four new arenas – Chaoseum, Night Market, The Maze, and Havik’s Citadel.

For the launch of the expansion, the team at Netherrealm Studios also held their longest Kombat Kast yet. It includes an overview of the new features, interviews with several team members and a deep dive into Noob Saibot's gameplay mechanics. Have a look:

To promote the launch of Khaos Reigns, Ed Boon did an interview with Polygon to discuss the expansion in detail. From the approach the team took with this expansion, the new characters and Animalities, to the seasonal content, the changes to invasions and the fact that there are more kameo fighters coming our way:

What about new Kameo Fighters? You haven’t announced new ones, but is that something you’re looking to expand in year two of MK1 as well?
Yes. To my fault, I guess I never really communicated it clearly outside of the team, but yes. To me, it would feel a little bit weird to suddenly just stop doing them, with as many as we have in the game now. I think that the mix-and-matches are interesting. I really love seeing players [coming up with] crazy combos with this Kameo and this main fighter. I think that just keeps things really interesting.

Click here to read the entire interview.

Mortal Kombat 1 (2023): Khaos Reigns launches today, September 24th, 2024 for the PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC and Nintendo Switch.

For a lot more information and guides visit our Mortal Kombat 1 (2023) section.

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[Roy Arkon]

Just finished the story, I didn't expect Rain and Tanya to get their own chapter, that was a nice surprise. I also really like how much emphasize they put on Bi-Han's character, and how they let it not get resolved already, letting his character development continue to the next game. The fight scenes were amazing and the presentation was incredible as always, both in terms of graphics, voice acting and soundtrack. Overall, amazing story once again by NRS/WB.

And regarding the interview, I'm glad Ed Boon clarified that Invasions is not a live-service, for those interent trolls who like throwing labels at anything that is not 110% convenient for them, and that we will get more variety to Invasions after we already got more and more stuff over time, which is exactly the point of seasonal-based content. And as for Kameos, it was obvious they are gonna keep coming. I suspect that once all the guest characters come out, they are gonna release a Kameo pack with 4-5 new Kameos, having one new Kameo each month before the start of year 3 and Kombat Pack 3.

Time to go and get the new Endings, Brutalities and cosmetics.

[Gambid]

Now that I have finished the story, my honest opinion is: Weak beginning with sort of non-impressive setting, writing and dialogue, amazing middle, and an OK-ish ending.

Noob Saibot talked a bit too much for my taste. They never once said his name as well, they kept calling him Bi Han the whole time. Kind of ruined for me the magic of his character. Did enjoy him in the center though.

Overall an enjoyable Story Mode expansion, but for me still behind MK11 Aftermath's Story Mode. That did have the Shang Tsung's factor though.