Mortal Kombat 1 may be NetherRealm Studio's next game, but that doesn't mean the door is closed on a potential Injustice 3, according to NetherRealm chief creative officer Ed Boon.

　　In an interview with IGN, the Mortal Kombat and Injustice co-creator said the decision to create another Mortal Kombat game following the release of Mortal Kombat 11 in 2019 came down to a number of factors, some of which he said he "probably shouldn't" discuss. NetherRealm has alternated between Mortal Kombat games and a new entry in the DC universe fighter ever since the release of the first Injustice: Gods Among Us in 2013.

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　　Now Playing: Mortal Kombat 1 Character Changes And Story Explained By Ed Boon

　　However, two reasons Boon was willing to discuss was the impact of COVID-19 on development and the team's decision to move to a newer version of the Unreal Engine for their next game. Mortal Kombat 1 runs on Unreal Engine 4, whereas Mortal Kombat 11 was on Unreal Engine 3. Epic Games, the creators of Unreal, released Unreal Engine 5 last year.

　　"We really wanted to be careful with COVID and all that stuff and everybody staying safe," Boon said. "So there were a bunch of variables involved that we eventually realized, 'Okay, let's do another Mortal Kombat game and hopefully we'll get back to the Injustice games."

　　While it may still be several years before another entry in the Injustice franchise surfaces, there does seem to be plenty about Mortal Kombat 1 to get excited about. Mortal Kombat 1 will introduce a new timeline for the series, one where the extensive lore of the franchise has been turned on its head. Lui Kang having become a god and series mascots Sub-Zero and Scorpion now being brothers are just two examples of what to expect.

　　Fans recently got their best look yet at Mortal Kombat 1's part of Summer Game Fest, where a gameplay trailer showed off the new Kameo assist system. Using the Kameo system, players can call in various partner characters to use their signature attacks at nearly anytime, useful for dishing out deadly combos. GameSpot's recent Mortal Kombat 1 hands-on preview declared that with the new Kameo system and a focus on aerial combos, the latest entry in the series is a "creative fighter's dream."

　　Mortal Kombat 1 will release on September 19, 2023 for Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, and PC. Those who buy the Premium or Kollector's edition of the game will get early access starting on September 14. A closed beta for those who pre-order Mortal Kombat 1 will be available in August.

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