Why we're even more excited for NetherRealm's next game

with Mortal Kombat 1 It is the latest work of a prolific artist and is still attracting attention even after a year. Netherrealm Studios Speculation has grown about the developer's next major release for the fighting game franchise. However, expectations for a more polished and feature-complete product have been raised following NetherRealm's Ed Boon's recent comments that this upcoming title has been in the works for several years already.

Details about the unnamed upcoming NetherRealm Studios game are still elusive. However, the relatively long development time may be a sign that the entire standard for NRS is changing. The longevity of post-game support, along with the quality of the primary release itself, will benefit from longer production cycles between titles, giving the studio an opportunity to set an example as a leader in the Western-developed fighting game market.

Breaking NetherRealm’s Two-Year Cycle

In the past, NRS transitioned quickly and maintained consistent spacing between releases. MKX to injustice 2 Then Mortal Kombat 11 All within about 5 years. This turnover is considered rapid within the fighting game genre due to its potential for release with competitive staying power and strong post-launch support, strengths that have been hampered throughout NRS' rapid development pattern.

when it came MK1However, the studio extended the production cycle to four years for the reboot. Mortal Kombat franchise. If we can continue to focus on investing more time into each item, giving existing releases a longer period of time to update before they succeed, we're practically guaranteed that whatever title comes next will have a legacy worthy of its contemporaries.

NetherRealm's next game is more than two years in the making.

In an interview with ComicBook, Ed Boon confirmed that the studio's next project has already been conceptualized for several years.

“…we knew what the next game would be three years ago and have been working on it for some time since then.”

Despite these insights, it's unclear how long this upcoming title has actually been in development, but the extended schedule still deviates from the studio's usual approach.

Over 3 years in the making, this could be one of the greatest western fighting games in years

NetherRealm Studios' Most Polished Possible Release

If NRS continues its trend of longer development cycles, the potential for ambition is at an all-time high. With longer periods of time to fine-tune mechanics and improvements that will hold up over the long term, the studio will be aiming for a release that can definitely match, or even surpass, the success and staying power of the industry's other major fighting game series. Will it work out in the end? injustice 3 Or even if you're developing a new IP, this extra time can help ensure a strong launch that lays the foundation for your next title to have lasting appeal in the competitive scene. With titles such as killer instinct and Skullgirls 2nd Encore As essentially the only Western representative in the genre, NetherRealm has the opportunity to raise the bar for an entire sector of the industry.

MK1 should have received the reception

While achieving continued success Mortal Kombat 1 As a reboot in many ways, it received decent reviews, but it didn't necessarily reach the unanimous response many were hoping for in areas like balancing DLC ​​support and monetization. Expanded development on the next title could directly address these concerns, avoiding the same pitfalls that could undermine its larger scope, as outlined by NetherRealm Studios' creative director himself.