History of Mortal Kombat in Timeline

Mortal Kombat is a popular American media franchise that began as a series of fighting video games in 1992, developed by Midway Games. The games are known for their high levels of gore and violence, including the iconic finishing moves called 'Fatalities'. The series revolves around a martial arts tournament where fighters from different realms battle for supremacy, often involving conflicts between good and evil forces. Key characters include Scorpion, Sub-Zero, Raiden, and Liu Kang. The franchise has expanded beyond video games to include movies, television series, comic books, and animated projects, contributing to its enduring presence in popular culture.

1984: Karate Champ Inspiration

In 1984, John Tobias cited Karate Champ as an inspiration for Mortal Kombat. He intentionally worked on making a game different from Capcom's Street Fighter II in every way.

1991: Mortal Kombat Development Begins

In 1991, Mortal Kombat started development with a team of four: Ed Boon, John Tobias, John Vogel, and Dan Forden. The initial idea was a ninja-themed project, which evolved after a failed attempt to create a video game adaptation of the film Universal Soldier.

October 1992: Original Mortal Kombat Arcade Release

In October 1992, the original Mortal Kombat game was released by Midway in arcades, with ports to several console and home computer systems released by Acclaim Entertainment.

1992: Original Mortal Kombat Developed

In 1992, Midway Games originally developed the first fighting video game in the Mortal Kombat series, marking the beginning of the American media franchise.

1992: Universal Soldier Consideration for Mortal Kombat

In 1992, Midway was approached to create a video game adaptation of the then-upcoming 1992 film Universal Soldier, starring Jean-Claude Van Damme. Tobias imagined a fighting game featuring a digitized version of Van Damme which ultimately led to Johnny Cage becoming "a spoof on the whole Van Damme situation."

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1993: Mortal Kombat II Arcade Release

In 1993, Mortal Kombat II was released for arcades, featuring an increased roster and improved graphics and gameplay, and then ported to numerous home systems between 1993 and 1995, released again by Acclaim.

August 18, 1995: Mortal Kombat Film Release

On August 18, 1995, the first Mortal Kombat film was released, grossing $23 million during its opening weekend. It became a financial success, grossing approximately $70 million in the U.S. and over $122 million worldwide.

1995: Character Design Process Described

In 1995, John Tobias described the character design process for Mortal Kombat: First the type (male or female, big or small) and theme (ninja or robot) are decided. Then the costume is designed, along with the storyline and the character's fit into the universe. Finally, an actor resembling the character is found.

1995: Mortal Kombat 3 and Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3 Release

In 1995, Mortal Kombat 3 and Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3 were released. These 2D fighting games, included a sixth 'run' button in addition to the five buttons present in previous versions: high punch, low punch, high kick, low kick, and block.

1995: Mortal Kombat 3 Release

In 1995, Mortal Kombat 3 was released in both arcade and home versions. Later that year, it received an update, Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3, which expanded the number of characters and other features.

1995: Mortal Kombat: The Journey Begins Release

In 1995, an animated prequel to the Mortal Kombat film titled Mortal Kombat: The Journey Begins was released direct-to-video.

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1996: Mortal Kombat Trilogy Release

In 1996, Mortal Kombat Trilogy was released as part of the 2D fighting game series. The arcade cabinet versions of the first two used a joystick and five buttons: high punch, low punch, high kick, low kick, and block; Mortal Kombat 3 and its updates added a sixth 'run' button.

1997: Mortal Kombat 4 Release

In 1997, Mortal Kombat 4 was released, marking the jump of the series to 3D-rendered graphics. It was ported to the PlayStation, Nintendo 64, and Microsoft Windows.

1997: Mortal Kombat Mythologies: Sub-Zero Release

In 1997, Mortal Kombat Mythologies: Sub-Zero, an action-adventure spin-off, was released for the PlayStation and Nintendo 64. The story focused on the first incarnation of Sub-Zero before the first Mortal Kombat game.

1999: Mortal Kombat Gold Release

In 1999, Mortal Kombat Gold, an updated version of Mortal Kombat 4, was released for the Dreamcast.

2000: John Tobias' Writing and Artistic Input Ends

Around 2000, following the release of Mortal Kombat 4, John Tobias' writing and artistic input on the Mortal Kombat series ended.

2000: Mortal Kombat: Special Forces Release

In 2000, Mortal Kombat: Special Forces, an action game starring Major Jackson Briggs, was released for the PlayStation. The game received poor critical reception.

2002: Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance Release

In 2002, Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance was released initially for the Xbox, PlayStation 2, and GameCube. This marked a shift towards console-focused releases and the use of sub-titles instead of numbered installments, and the first Mortal Kombat game to feature fully 3D gameplay.

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, developed by Midway Studios Los Angeles, was released for the PlayStation 2 and the Xbox, starring Liu Kang and Kung Lao. The game tells an alternate version of the events between the first and second Mortal Kombat games.

2006: Mortal Kombat: Armageddon Release

In 2006, Mortal Kombat: Armageddon was published for the PlayStation 2 and Xbox, adding to the series of Mortal Kombat releases.

2007: Mortal Kombat: Armageddon Release on Wii

In 2007, Mortal Kombat: Armageddon was released for the Wii console, expanding the game's availability.

2008: Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe Release

In 2008, Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe, a non-canonical crossover fighting game between the Mortal Kombat franchise and DC Comics, was released for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360.

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, developed by NetherRealm Studios (formerly Midway Games). Downloadable content became a feature of games in the series at this time.

2012: John Tobias Plans Future Story

In 2012, John Tobias mentioned that he had plans for a future story, including a sequel to the first Mortal Kombat film and an advancement to the game's mythological roots.

2012: Mortal Kombat Port to PlayStation Vita

In 2012, Mortal Kombat was ported to the PlayStation Vita.

2013: Mortal Kombat Port to Microsoft Windows

In 2013, Mortal Kombat was ported to Microsoft Windows.

2015: Mortal Kombat X Release

In 2015, Mortal Kombat X was released on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Microsoft Windows, and Mortal Kombat Mobile was released for tablets and smartphones.

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 in a series of direct-to-video films, was released, marking the first R-rated Mortal Kombat film.

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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.

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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.

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October 18, 2022: Mortal Kombat: Onslaught Announcement

On October 18, 2022, Mortal Kombat: Onslaught, a role-playing game for Android and iOS, was announced. NetherRealm promised a cinematic experience loyal to its core visceral nature.