Cianciolo said story has been a huge part of Mortal Kombat from the beginning, as the original game was a comparatively “small affair” that “really resonated with fans” because of elements like character bios. He feels players are more engaged if they are emotionally invested in a game’s characters, and Mortal Kombat 11 is the current pinnacle of how rich its universe has become.

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The team from NetherRealm Studios was inspired by media like Westworld, Terminator — later a DLC addition to Mortal Kombat 11 - and Looper for the time travel story that interested Ed Boon from early stages. “You can see the fingerprints of Back to the Future 2 all over Aftermath,” Cianciolo said, but he emphasizes Johnny Cage as one of the most “fertile” examples of their narrative because of how they capitalized on the transition from his old-school cocky design and attitude.

Cianciolo also discusses the “Mortal Kombat civil war” between Lu Kang and Raiden as a development built from previous games, the team’s attempts to flesh out characters like Mortal Kombat 11 Aftermath DLC fighter Fujin, and how they toyed with traditionally evil characters like Shang Tsung. Part of the drive was to “encapsulate the entire history of Mortal Kombat,” and Cianciolo feels NetherRealm Studios succeeded.

Despite it being more than a year old, the success of NetherRealm Studios’ latest outing continues to be seen through its high sales numbers, no doubt in-part thanks to this focus on keeping players engaged with the characters. Mortal Kombat 11 was the fifth best-selling game of June 2020, according to recent reports from the NPD Group.

As far as the legacy of Mortal Kombat 11’s time-traveling story, Cianciolo hopes being able to capture its series’ history will stick in people’s minds as they move toward the future. Even following the massive release of Aftermath, Mortal Kombat 11 is continuing to receive new content such as a Summer Heat Skin Pack coming in August.

Mortal Kombat 11 is available now for PC, PS4, Stadia, Switch, and Xbox One.

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