Ed Boon: Next Mortal Kombat aims for M-rating

Fighting franchise creator's Twitter says newest installment leaves superheroes behind in favor of "sick" fatalities.

Last year's Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe represented a huge departure for the Midway fighting franchise. Not only did it devote half of the game's roster to the comic book maker's star heroes and villains, but it also toned down the series' violence level in order to get a T for Teen rating.

That's more like it.

No more. In a series of posts on his Twitter page, Mortal Kombat creator Ed Boon confirmed that the next installment of the series (referred to as Mortal Kombat 9 for the time being), will go for the jugular.

"People want an M-rated MK," Boon said. "Dammit, we will give them an M-rated MK."

The post came shortly after Boon discussed a motion-capture session being done for the game's special moves and fatalities. It appears the designer is pushing his own comfort zone with the new fatalities, as he referred to them as "sick," before musing, "I hope we aren't taking these too far."

An M-rating would certainly preclude the game from being a sequel to Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe, and Boon confirmed that Mortal Kombat 9 would not feature any superheroes. When asked by another Twitter user if the motion-capture session was for a new game or rumored downloadable characters for Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe, Boon joked they were actually "for the next MK9: Attack of the Nuns: Get in the Habbit!" (sic)

Whatever shape the next Mortal Kombat takes, it might be some time before gamers get to see it. Earlier this month, Boon posted that the game is "over a year away." Similarly unknown is who the game's publisher will be. Midway recently declared bankruptcy, and while Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment has put in a $33 million bid for most of the company--including the Mortal Kombat license--other bids can be submitted until later this month.

410 Comments

  • geoff-uk123

    Posted Oct 30, 2009 4:13 am PT

    Yes, I can't wait to see some bloody fatalites in HD graphics.

    @Bed_Bug: Learn to respect other people's opinions, jerk.

  • freefadi

    Posted Jul 22, 2009 12:55 pm PT

    I lost my faith in the MK series since MK4,ahhh well,...we'll see!

  • griffinshotc

    Posted Jul 21, 2009 11:31 am PT

    Can't wait! I have a feeling that this might be the best MK version yet!

  • sevasek

    Posted Jul 17, 2009 5:07 am PT

    Mortal Kombat on the Gameboy was some of my best years of primary school. Now the Mortal Kombat IP is with Warner Bros. does that mean another movie might be coming soon??!!! We can only hope.

  • patton101

    Posted Jul 8, 2009 7:22 pm PT

    I havent enjoyed a MK game since MK3 on my Genesis. Don't get me wrong, I really want an awesome MK game to come again, I loved the first three(and the first movie) and always considered myself a fan. I do think its a sin that Boon is "aiming" for the next to be rated M. MK should ALWAYS be rated M, no excuses for the last installment. I also agree with people like Bigbacon87, they need a new approach to the combat, and I dont like the whole switching in and out of different fighting styles and weapons system either. That needs dropped. I think it would do the franchise some good to add some "brighter" characters as heroes and not always be so dark. Models need completely redone as well.

    I also think a single player or coop "beat'em up" style mode would be perfect for this franchise. It'd be so easy to do. You fight different mobs as you make your way to the "boss" at the end of each level and they would be the fighters we all know from the series. But dont go lazy on level design like the uninspired single player modes in the last generation games.

    Here's to a solid MK game in the future. I will pray.

  • Bed_Bug

    Posted Jul 8, 2009 9:02 am PT

    You're a f@g Dogman.

  • batmanboy11

    Posted Jun 28, 2009 11:36 am PT

    Good. as much as I like DC I'd rather have an M rated MK game.

  • Mac11_Fanboy

    Posted Jun 24, 2009 2:16 pm PT

    Beg the question why are the nuns attacking MK characters?

  • PopGamingMaster

    Posted Jun 24, 2009 4:34 am PT

    please boon please we need MORTAL KOMBAT !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • dogman7

    Posted Jun 24, 2009 4:13 am PT

    Too little, too late. The could have easily done this with MK vs. DC. Sorry Boon you lost me as a customer last year.

  • BigBacon87

    Posted Jun 23, 2009 8:02 pm PT

    And just like that I invent a UFC/Mortal Kombat style hybrid in my brain, imagine the 2 combined properly.

  • BigBacon87

    Posted Jun 23, 2009 8:00 pm PT

    Im on the fence when it comes to 2D vs 3D. Im definately not when it comes to M ratings though. I was pumped on MK vs DC just because I could play as Batman, even though they didnt give me Adam West or Michael Keaton In the end though the novelty wore off and I was left with a Mortal Kombat game with bunk fatalities, and I reverted to MK2 online and even Armageddon for my PS2 a few times. MK is about the gore man. Im getting more satisfaction outta UFC and nobody dies! Hoping for a solid reboot in the end... hoping.

  • alienmlbyrne0

    Posted Jun 23, 2009 7:53 pm PT

    My thoughts on all this is, MK vs DC was a mistake by Midway and this is a way for the franchise to hopefully redeem itself as a brutal fighting game and not some lame ass comic book/fighting game. No offense to DC fans

  • itwiz90

    Posted Jun 23, 2009 6:07 pm PT

    They should not have tried to toned down MK from the beginning. I abhorred MK vs DC. If I wanted watered fighting I would have played Mario Bros. I am glad they are going back to what made MK, MK........FATALITIES

  • hi-buzz

    Posted Jun 23, 2009 4:35 pm PT

    we need an updated 2D MK with more GORE/FATALITIES than ever before....!!!!

  • alkaline_DnB

    Posted Jun 23, 2009 3:47 pm PT

    maybe fatalities that actually don't suck...they need to get gruesome with the deaths instead of trying to make them funny. take a page out of eternal champions challenge from the darkside.
    2D would also be a huge plus...just look at SF4...2D with 3D elements just works better for these types of games.

  • Scorpion16

    Posted Jun 23, 2009 3:06 pm PT

    No 2D!!!!! 2D sucks ass!!!! Keep it 3D and make it like Deception. Deception was the last truely great MK game.

  • Rottenwood

    Posted Jun 23, 2009 1:00 pm PT

    This brand isn't even running on fumes anymore; it's running on the ghosts of fumes. Besides, how can they top Blitz 2, with close-up spinal ruptures and exploding scrotums?

  • kavadias1981

    Posted Jun 23, 2009 6:18 am PT

    @Kcube

    Agreed. Deffo needs to go back to its 2D roots, with an HD look. And plenty of unlockables too.

  • kavadias1981

    Posted Jun 23, 2009 6:16 am PT

    @AxL_2k7

    I am aware of that, numpty. After all I was a teenager in the early 90's and bought the freaking game for my SNES after all!

    I said 80's STYLE game. There were a lot of martial arts movies back then that had that sort of gory combat feeling and characters. Look at Johnny Cage for example; basically modelled on the early Van Damme characters.

  • wars45

    Posted Jun 23, 2009 12:37 am PT

    cool i have allways been a big fan .and did not like mk v dc now hes going back to wot mk all about it wont be the best fighting game out ther .but it will be a lot of fun

  • SicklySunStorm

    Posted Jun 23, 2009 12:16 am PT

    @ PlayTogether - that's actually a really good idea.... although I said myself 3D visuals on a 2D plane, I hadn't even thought of still keeping 2D visuals with a 2D plane, just making those 2D visuals extra, extra sharp and photo realistic... it could be inspired by the originals FMV look, but with much better up to date detail. Either way I can't wait to play a new MK game with proper gore....

    and @ soITYger - awesome, just awesome. My Mrs collects Care Bears and would be suitably horrified, like she was when she saw that Care Bear shot in the head on South Park's Imaginationland episodes... ha ha

  • solTYger

    Posted Jun 22, 2009 8:23 pm PT

    I wanna see MK vs Care Bears! w00t!!!

  • nate1222

    Posted Jun 22, 2009 8:05 pm PT

    Y'all know what? I find it ironic that so many people diss MK. Because EVERY TIME there's an articles about MK, all these damn comments start racking up. Stop hatin'!

  • nate1222

    Posted Jun 22, 2009 8:01 pm PT

    I still feel that MK2 was the best MK. Deception did a great job of bringing what made MK2 awesome to 3D. That being said, I think Boon & Crew need to go the Deception route with Fatalities, Hara Kiris, Multitiered Arenas, Death Traps and the minigames. Then throw in Friendships, Animalities, Babalities from MK2&3. Go "3D look with 2D gameplay" a la' SF4. And have "arcade-perfect ports" of their 2D predecessors as fan service. That would soooooo rock.

  • Kcube

    Posted Jun 22, 2009 5:50 pm PT

    It would be cool if they went back to 2D over 3D.ALso add more stuff to the crypt..I loved unlocking stuff.

  • saibot05

    Posted Jun 22, 2009 5:20 pm PT

    For the people who's CURRENTLY underestimating MK's goodness, MK came from hell (I mean below scorpion's hell) and back with the series. YES when MK3 thru MK: DA showed up, it went to deep crap. But now, the fanbase (I included) got back on the saddle of Kombat when Deception and MK vs. DC respawned the series as it was.

    Games nowadays, we can't just "expect" it anymore because we can't predict HOW it turned out, but WHY did/do we love it so much.

    Faith my peoples, give them time...

    and YAY! more blood!!!

  • danopix

    Posted Jun 22, 2009 5:05 pm PT

    Atta Boy!!! It's like coming out with new coke and when people went "Bleh" they came back with Coke Classic. The DC stuff was fun! But we want Mortal Kombat KLASSIC! And now we're dying for some bone snapping... blood spraying FANTASY violence!

  • josiah4972

    Posted Jun 22, 2009 4:29 pm PT

    i got bored of mortal kombat awhile ago, there gona have to go all out in this game or its gona flop

  • R0b3rT_K

    Posted Jun 22, 2009 1:23 pm PT

    Can't wait to see a real Mortal Kombat. it should have a great story awesome gameplay and many many gore

  • SonicX_89

    Posted Jun 22, 2009 1:06 pm PT

    From what I can tell, most people don't seem optimistic about a new MK title. I hope they can midway can pull it off, I love this series.

  • jcloverboy

    Posted Jun 22, 2009 1:02 pm PT

    I think the older versions in the series can just do an HD makeover and be done with it.

    I don't need anymore Mortal Kombat games.

  • AxL_2k7

    Posted Jun 22, 2009 12:04 pm PT

    Je je, just to say something but... the first Mortal Kombat was released in 1992, so is a 90's game not an 80's game ^-^

  • kavadias1981

    Posted Jun 22, 2009 11:52 am PT

    Go back to the roots of the franchise with the 80's style and Chinese-ness of the first 2 games. I want to be shocked by the level of brutality. Maybe set it a few hundred years ago to give the characters a primitive aggression. Samurai's, monks, ninjas, barbarians, knights, native Americans, African tribesman, Vikings and the odd demon. That sort of thing. Probably sounds a bit corny but I think Booney could make it work.

  • hyper_trunkx

    Posted Jun 22, 2009 11:41 am PT

    MK started sucking b4 the vs DC one...its gona suck again.

  • JOrdanFX

    Posted Jun 22, 2009 11:38 am PT

    I thought Armageddon was suppose to be the last MK game, because it probably should have been.

  • sieg6529

    Posted Jun 22, 2009 11:19 am PT

    Maybe if they re-programmed the dated gameplay, people might actually play again. Or maybe they just need to develop a new fighting franchise.

  • Blink3r

    Posted Jun 22, 2009 10:57 am PT

    "People want an M-rated MK," Boon said. "Dammit, we will give them an M-rated MK." this sounds like they'll just focus on it having lots of blood, leaving the gameplay like its been lately (read cr.ap)

  • dewey79

    Posted Jun 22, 2009 10:38 am PT

    I can't believe some people think MK vs DC was too slow. You can actually speed up a characters attack by how fast you input the combination. It doesn't get any more personalized than that. The movement in that game was near perfect and the fighting system from MK vs DC is a good system to build on. I loved it and there are still lots of people online having fun with it.

    I also don't know why some people say they should stop making MK when there areso many people who still love it. If you don't, why even bother. If you still love MK and want it to be the best it can, you should join Ed's twitter and respond when he asks for fan input.

  • R3NeGaDeAnGeL

    Posted Jun 22, 2009 10:37 am PT

    I think it would be a sweet change (although unoriginal, as it will be copyiny SF4) if they left the 3-d fight mechanics behind and went for two dimensional fighting with 3-d characters...maybe then montaro could actually have all his legs.

  • true_hurdler

    Posted Jun 22, 2009 10:17 am PT

    @ thenephariouson: Yea, because if they did that they woulda just had, oh what's it called...A GOOD FIGHTING GAME! o_O

  • funkymonkey4710

    Posted Jun 22, 2009 10:16 am PT

    I think they should keep the 3-D look, with the 2-D fighting inspiration like they did in MK .vs. DC Universe, only make it fast paced. No slow attacks and weak combos. Also I hope they have a brand new arsenal of fighters, maybe with some exceptions like Scorpion and Sub-Zero ...etc. Remember almost all of them died in Armageddon!

  • capmantay14

    Posted Jun 22, 2009 10:12 am PT

    I actually enjoyed the combat of MK vs. DC. But the finishers were lacking to say the least. Well, some of them gave me a chuckle. This time around, I hope they take a back to basics approach.2D kombat. None of that side-stepping crap. AND REAL FATALITIES!!!

  • PlayTogether

    Posted Jun 22, 2009 10:07 am PT

    Maybe this Mortal Kombat won't completely suck balls like MKvsDC. At what point did they actually think that making that game would be a good idea!??!

    please get rid of that ridiculous fighting in mid air too, and swap it for the old school uppercuts through the roof etc... all the stuff that made the old games so brilliant!

    and i agree with some previous posts - make it the style of the old games (upto mortal kombat trilogy, as that was essentially all the games put together). However I think instead of going for the Street Fighter IV style I reckon they should go for FULL 2D like the originals, just with immensely detailed HD graphics for all the characters/arenas etc

  • Adel4

    Posted Jun 22, 2009 9:54 am PT

    duude warner bros is bidding on MK that cannot be good
    also i played and beat MK2 and yea it requires skill but lately MK hasn't been as cool i hope this game is not as boring as Armageddon and is better than MK vs DC

  • AngelCage-2

    Posted Jun 22, 2009 8:58 am PT

    And why the people says that old-school mk games was boring and that you don't need any skills to win? MKII needs more skill (and guts) than any MK game released after it.

    Have you ever seen a guy playing MK2 making a 8-10 hits juggle combo with scorpion, Kitana (my personal best) or raiden?

    That playing skills was insane, the competition in the arcades was awesome... not this crap of predefined fast-combo sequences.

    Mastering MK2 needs more laying skills than any other MK game. Period.

  • AngelCage-2

    Posted Jun 22, 2009 8:48 am PT

    Yes, i want so badly an M-rated MK, a game on the line of MKII... But i don't wanna see an M-Rated CRAPPY mk game like all the garbage After UMK3 (and i don't like at all MK3... ) or Trilogy.

    With an HDMK2 i could be so Happy.

  • Tha_DRP

    Posted Jun 22, 2009 8:31 am PT

    This will be interesting, I'll definitely rent first, but even after all the failures to impress me that came before... I still have faith that MK can be revived ~ I grew up on MK and Street Fighter, maybe I'm just old school.

  • GhostyMcboo

    Posted Jun 22, 2009 8:27 am PT

    i think i'm the only person alive who thinks that DC vs MK was designed by 12 year olds

  • tommystockley

    Posted Jun 22, 2009 7:44 am PT

    I am actually one of the fans fortunate enough to get a few replies from Ed and Hector Sanchez. It would appear they are going for more exotic fatalities, including guts and more ways of portioning your opponent. As a hardcore MK fans I can honestly say I think we're in for a treat in this next game.

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