Ed Boon,NetherRealm Studios' creative director forMortal KombatandInjustice, is inexplicably teasing the release window for the studio’s next game. Many fans ofMortal Kombatwere hoping for a major reveal during The Game Awards 2022, a setting whereNetherRealmhas unveiled previous projects. Sadly, NetherRealm did not participate in the event. Boon has instead decided to share news about NetherRealm’s next game in a surprise Twitter “Ask Me Anything.“The status of NetherRealm Studios has been up in the air sinceAT&T split off WarnerMedia and merged it with Discovery. Related or not, NetherRealm has been thrown off its cadence of major game releases every two years, withMortal KombatandInjusticetaking turns since 2011. It’s now been three years since the release ofMortal Kombat 11, and NetherRealm’s next game has yet to even be announced. That may change relatively soon, though.RELATED:Ed Boon Will attempt to Get Raven for the Injustice 3 RosterIn a surprise Twitter AMA, Ed Boon responded candidly to a number of questions from fans of bothMortal KombatandInjustice. Few expected Boon to respond to a question as direct as what the release window of NetherRealm’s next project was. Yet Boon responded by saying, “I really shouldn’t 23-answer that.” In other words, Boon is hinting thatNetherRealm’s next gamecould tentatively be planned for release in 2023.
Several other answers from Boon add some other interesting details surrounding NetherRealm’s in-development work. For example, Boon also confirms that fans will know the name of NetherRealm’s next project by the end of 2023. Further, he says, “Signs point to yes,” for a reveal in 2023. However, he also clarifies that he “Can’t say” whenMortal Kombat 12will arrive, and he won’t say when fans will know about what NetherRealm is working on. Still, hinting that the next NetherRealm game could be announced and released in 2023 in a Twitter thread is surprising, to say the least.
Boon also dances around a couple of subjects that have long been rumored without directly addressing them. For example, it’s been reported that NetherRealm’s next game isMortal Kombat 12and notInjustice 3. Boon answers many questions aboutMortal Kombatin the thread, but when askedif they’re makingInjustice 3, he says he hopes he gets the chance to make it. There are also rumors that NetherRealm could be sold, and Boon does seem dubious about future projects and cross-media offerings.
What matters, though, is that NetherRealm is currently hard at work on its new game, and whatever the future may hold that game could be revealed and potentially launched in 2023. That game seems likely to beMortal Kombat 12. Hopefully,NetherRealmwon’t keep fans waiting too long before a more formal announcement is made.
MORE:Why NetherRealm’s Absence at The Game Awards Could be a Good Thing for Mortal Kombat
