History of Mortal Kombat in Timeline
Mortal Kombat is a media franchise originating as a fighting video game series by Midway Games in 1992. Known for its graphic violence and fatalities, the series revolves around a martial arts tournament where fighters from different realms battle for supremacy. Key elements include the ongoing conflict between Earthrealm and Outworld, iconic characters like Scorpion and Sub-Zero, and complex storylines involving gods, demons, and ancient prophecies. The franchise has expanded into movies, television series, comic books, and merchandise, maintaining its popularity through numerous sequels and reboots.
2 days ago : Mortal Kombat 1 and Final Fantasy 7 Hit Historic Low Prices, Dev Loses Rights
Mortal Kombat 1 and Final Fantasy 7 achieve historic low prices. A developer lost Mortal Kombat rights due to a family vacation causing significant financial loss.
1984: Karate Champ Inspiration
In 1984, Karate Champ served as an inspiration for Mortal Kombat, with the development team intentionally working on making a game different from Capcom's Street Fighter II.
1991: Mortal Kombat Development Begins
In 1991, Mortal Kombat began development with Ed Boon, John Tobias, John Vogel, and Dan Forden.
August 1992: Original Mortal Kombat Arcade Release
In August 1992, the original Mortal Kombat game was released by Midway in arcades.
1992: Universal Soldier Movie Release
In 1992, Midway was approached to create a video game adaptation of the then-upcoming film Universal Soldier, starring Jean-Claude Van Damme. This inspired the creation of Johnny Cage as a spoof of Van Damme in Mortal Kombat.
1992: Original Mortal Kombat Release
In 1992, Mortal Kombat was released as a 2D fighting game using a joystick and five buttons: high punch, low punch, high kick, low kick, and block.
1993: Release of Techno Syndrome
In 1993, "Techno Syndrome", the iconic theme incorporating the "Mortal Kombat!" yell, was released as a single and was used as theme music for the Mortal Kombat film series.
1993: Mortal Kombat II Release
In 1993, Mortal Kombat II was released as a 2D fighting game using a joystick and five buttons: high punch, low punch, high kick, low kick, and block.
1993: Mortal Kombat II Arcade Release and Home Ports
In 1993, Mortal Kombat II was released for arcades, featuring an increased roster and improved graphics and gameplay. It was also ported to numerous home systems in the same year.
1994: Release of Mortal Kombat: The Album
In 1994, Mortal Kombat: The Album, a techno album based on the first game, was created for Virgin America by Praga Khan and Oliver Adams as The Immortals.
1994: Introduction of ESRB
In 1994, the original Mortal Kombat game paved a way for the introduction of the ESRB (Entertainment Software Rating Board) game rating system as well as the Australian Classification Board.
August 18, 1995: Mortal Kombat Film Release
On August 18, 1995, the Mortal Kombat film was released, grossing $23 million on its first weekend.
1995: Release of Mortal Kombat Kard Game
In 1995, BradyGames produced the collectible card game Mortal Kombat Kard Game, which was compared unfavorably to Magic: The Gathering.
1995: Character Design Process
In 1995, John Tobias described the character design process: first figuring out the type, then the theme, then designing the costume, and creating the storyline.
1995: Mortal Kombat 3 and Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3 Release
In 1995, Mortal Kombat 3 and Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3 were released as 2D fighting games, adding a sixth "run" button to the control scheme.
1995: Mortal Kombat 3 Release and Updates
In 1995, Mortal Kombat 3 was released in both arcade and home versions. It received two updates which expanded the number of characters and other features: Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3 in arcades, and Mortal Kombat Trilogy for home consoles.
1995: Mortal Kombat: The Journey Begins Release
In 1995, Mortal Kombat: The Journey Begins, an animated prequel to the Mortal Kombat film, was released direct-to-video.
1995: Publication of Mortal Kombat Novel
In 1995, the novel Mortal Kombat by Jeff Rovin, featuring an original plot preceding the events of the first game, was published.
1996: Mortal Kombat Trilogy Release
In 1996, Mortal Kombat Trilogy was released as a 2D fighting game.
1996: Release of Mortal Kombat: Defenders of the Realm
In 1996, Mortal Kombat: Defenders of the Realm, an animated series, was released and ran for one season but received negative reviews.
1996: Mortal Kombat Film Breaks Records
In 1996, the Mortal Kombat film obtained the "highest grossing film based on a beat ‘em up video game" according to Guinness World Records Gamer's Edition.
1996: Expansion of Mortal Kombat: Live Tour
In 1996, the Mortal Kombat: Live Tour, featuring Mortal Kombat characters in a theatrical display on stage, expanded after its launch in 1995.
1997: Mortal Kombat 4 Release
In 1997, Mortal Kombat 4 was released, marking the jump of the series to 3D rendered graphics instead of digitized 2D graphics.
1997: Mortal Kombat Mythologies: Sub-Zero Release
In 1997, Mortal Kombat Mythologies: Sub-Zero was released for the PlayStation and Nintendo 64.
1998: Release of Mortal Kombat: Conquest
In 1998, Mortal Kombat: Conquest was released, lasting one season.
1999: Mortal Kombat Gold Release
In 1999, an updated version of Mortal Kombat 4 titled Mortal Kombat Gold was released for the Dreamcast.
2000: Tobias' Writing and Artistic Input Ends
Around 2000, John Tobias' writing and artistic input on the Mortal Kombat series ended following the release of Mortal Kombat 4.
2000: Mortal Kombat Total Revenue Reaches $5 Billion
By 2000, the Mortal Kombat franchise had generated a total revenue of $5 billion.
2000: Mortal Kombat: Special Forces Release
In 2000, Mortal Kombat: Special Forces was released for the PlayStation.
2002: Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance Release
In 2002, Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance was released initially for the Xbox, PlayStation 2 and GameCube and the series' naming scheme changed to favor the use of sub-titles instead of numbered installments.
2004: Mortal Kombat: Deception Release
In 2004, Mortal Kombat: Deception was released for the PlayStation 2, Xbox, and GameCube.
2005: Mortal Kombat: Shaolin Monks Release
In 2005, Mortal Kombat: Shaolin Monks, starring Liu Kang and Kung Lao, was released for the PlayStation 2 and the Xbox.
2006: Mortal Kombat: Armageddon Release
In 2006, Mortal Kombat: Armageddon was published for the PlayStation 2 and Xbox.
2007: Mortal Kombat: Armageddon for Wii Release
In 2007, Mortal Kombat: Armageddon was published for the Wii.
2008: Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe Release
In 2008, Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe, a non-canonical crossover fighting game, was released for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360.
2008: Mortal Kombat Series Awarded Seven World Records
In the 2008 edition of Guinness World Records Gamer's Edition, the Mortal Kombat series was awarded seven world records, including "most successful fighting game series".
2009: GameTrailers Ranks Mortal Kombat
In 2009, GameTrailers ranked Mortal Kombat as the ninth top fighting game franchise and the seventh bloodiest series of all time.
April 2011: Release of Mortal Kombat: Legacy web series
In April 2011, Mortal Kombat: Legacy, a web series inspired by the Rebirth short and directed by Kevin Tancharoen, was released for free on YouTube, promoted by Machinima.com.
September 2011: New Mortal Kombat Film Announced
In September 2011, New Line and Warner Bros. announced that Kevin Tancharoen would direct a new feature-length Mortal Kombat film from a screenplay by Oren Uziel, aiming for an R rating.
2011: Mortal Kombat Returns to 2D Plane
In 2011, Mortal Kombat returned to a single 2D fighting plane, although characters are rendered in 3D. Each of the controller's four attack buttons corresponds to one of the character's limbs.
2011: Mortal Kombat Reboot Release
In 2011, a ninth game in the series, a reboot titled Mortal Kombat, was released for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. Downloadable content became a feature of games in the series at this time.
2011: Mortal Kombat Series Holds Ten World Records
In 2011, the Mortal Kombat franchise held ten world records in the Guinness World Records Gamer's Edition.
2011: GameSpy praises Mortal Kombat
In 2011, the staff of GameSpy wrote "its place in fighting game history is undeniable" about Mortal Kombat.
2011: Release of Mortal Kombat: Songs Inspired by the Warriors
In 2011, the video game Mortal Kombat saw the release of Mortal Kombat: Songs Inspired by the Warriors, a soundtrack album featuring electronic music by various artists.
2011: Mortal Kombat game becomes a popular game at tournaments
Since the 2011 Mortal Kombat game was released, the game has been one of the most popular games at these events.
March 2012: Mortal Kombat Film Production Delayed
In March 2012, the production of the new Mortal Kombat film, initially slated for a 2013 release, was delayed due to budget constraints.
2012: Complex on Mortal Kombat's Impact
According to Complex in 2012, "Years ago, Mortal Kombat became a phenomenon far outside gaming circles alone. Its name has become recognizable enough to be name dropped on sitcoms (Malcolm in the Middle and Married... with Children), found in movies (Christian Slater plays Mortal Kombat 4 in Very Bad Things), and used as part of cultural studies (see Justine Cassell and Henry Jenkins' book From Barbie to Mortal Kombat: Gender and Computer Games)."
2012: Yoshinori Ono comments on Street Fighter vs. Mortal Kombat
In 2012, Capcom's Street Fighter producer Yoshinori Ono said he is getting a lot of requests for Street Fighter vs. Mortal Kombat and understands why people want it, "but it's easier said than done. Having Chun Li getting her spine ripped out, or Ryu's head bouncing off the floor...it doesn't necessarily match."
2012: Complex Ranks Mortal Kombat
In 2012, Complex ranked Mortal Kombat as 37th best video game franchise overall, commenting on its "legendary status in video game history".
2012: Tobias Plans Future Story
In 2012, John Tobias said he knew exactly what he was going to do with a future story and wrote a sequel to the first Mortal Kombat film.
2012: Mortal Kombat PS Vita Port
In 2012, Mortal Kombat was ported to the PlayStation Vita.
2012: Tobias comments on the pop culture impact of Mortal Kombat.
In 2012, Tobias commented on the lasting pop culture relevance of Mortal Kombat, comparing it to the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and stating it would always be available for revival.
February 2013: Mortal Kombat unbanned in Australia
Mortal Kombat (2011) was banned in Australia until February 2013.
October 2013: Kevin Tancharoen Quits Mortal Kombat Film
In October 2013, Kevin Tancharoen quit the production of the new Mortal Kombat film.
2013: Mortal Kombat Microsoft Windows Port
In 2013, Mortal Kombat was ported to Microsoft Windows.
2013: Release of Mortal Kombat: Legacy Season 2
In 2013, the second season of Mortal Kombat: Legacy arrived.
2013: Reference to Mortal Kombat in Wale and Rihanna's "Bad (Remix)"
In Wale and Rihanna's hit 2013 song called "Bad (Remix)," Wale references Mortal Kombat with the line "you try and play Sub-Zero, I be Scorpion, pshh get over here today".
2014: Martial artist Frankie Edgar says Mortal Kombat has been far superior to Street Fighter.
In 2014, martial artist Frankie Edgar opined Mortal Kombat has been far superior to Street Fighter.
2014: "Mortal Kombat" Recreational Drug Introduced
In early 2014, the name "Mortal Kombat" was given to a dangerous illegal recreational drug that was introduced and caused multiple fatalities.
September 2015: End of Mortal Kombat X comic series
In September 2015, the Mortal Kombat X comic series by DC Comics, which was set before the game's events, concluded its run.
2015: Mortal Kombat X Release and Mobile Game Debut
In 2015, Mortal Kombat X was released on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Microsoft Windows, marking a return to numbered sequels. The first Mortal Kombat game for tablet and smartphones, Mortal Kombat Mobile, was also released.
2015: All Mortal Kombat games unbanned in Germany
In Germany, every Mortal Kombat game was banned for ten years from its release until 2015.
2018: Reference to Mortal Kombat in Nicki Minaj's "Miami"
In Nicki Minaj's 2018 song "Miami" from her album "Queen," she refers to herself as a made-up guest character with the line "Mortal Kombat, ninja Nicki, who ya pick is?"
2018: Mortal Kombat games returned to Combo Breaker
Mortal Kombat games returned to Combo Breaker in 2018.
2019: Mortal Kombat 11 Release
In 2019, Mortal Kombat 11 was released for the PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and Microsoft Windows.
April 2020: Mortal Kombat Legends: Scorpion's Revenge Release
In April 2020, Mortal Kombat Legends: Scorpion's Revenge, the first of a series of direct-to-video films, was released as the first R-rated Mortal Kombat film.
April 23, 2021: Mortal Kombat (2021) Released
On April 23, 2021, the Mortal Kombat reboot film was released in theaters and simultaneously on HBO Max, grossing over $84 million worldwide despite mixed reviews.
August 2021: Mortal Kombat Legends: Battle of the Realms Release
In August 2021, Mortal Kombat Legends: Battle of the Realms, the second film in the Mortal Kombat Legends series, was released.
2021: Mortal Kombat Series Surpasses Competitors in Sales
As of 2021, the Mortal Kombat franchise surpassed competitor fighting game franchises in worldwide lifetime series sales.
October 11, 2022: Mortal Kombat Legends: Snow Blind Release
On October 11, 2022, Mortal Kombat Legends: Snow Blind, the third film in the Mortal Kombat Legends series, was released.
October 18, 2022: Mortal Kombat: Onslaught Announcement
On October 18, 2022, Mortal Kombat: Onslaught was announced; it is a role-playing game released in 2023 for Android and iOS.
2022: Mortal Kombat franchise sold 79 million units
As of 2022, Mortal Kombat franchise had sold about 79 million units.
September 2023: Mortal Kombat 1 Release
In September 2023, Mortal Kombat 1, a sequel to Mortal Kombat 11, was released.
October 17, 2023: Mortal Kombat Legends: Cage Match Release
On October 17, 2023, Mortal Kombat Legends: Cage Match, the fourth film in the Mortal Kombat Legends series, was released.
2023: Mortal Kombat: Onslaught Release
In 2023, Mortal Kombat: Onslaught, a role-playing game, was released for Android and iOS.
2025: Mortal Kombat franchise surpassed 100 million copies
By 2025, Mortal Kombat franchise has surpassed over 100 million copies.
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