Mortal Kombat goes gold

April showers are raining blood. Warner Brothers Interactive Entertainment and NetherRealm Studios have jointly announced that Mortal Kombat has gone gold, ahead of its April 19 date with North American retail.

The first Mortal Kombat game since 2008's Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe and the ninth in the series, the reboot game is rated M for Mature for its gruesome fatalities.

The game's roster will be a throwback of sorts, full of fighters pulled from the first three games in the series. There is one particularly notable exception, as the PlayStation 3 version will feature God of War protagonist Kratos as a playable character.

According to a leaked memo, Mortal Kombat's online component will be roped off. If the source is accurate, the game will ship with a one-time use code that allows gamers to access the game's full gamut of online experiences. Those who purchase the game secondhand, or those without a code, will need to pay $10 to procure one.

For more on the upcoming fighter, check out GameSpot's most recent hands-on preview of Mortal Kombat.