Mortal Kombat 12 Quietly Confirmed – And It's Releasing In 2023

Mortal Kombat 12 was seemingly announced during a recent Warner Bros. earnings call, with the brutal series’ next entry apparently arriving in 2023.

Warner Bros. Discovery has officially revealed that Mortal Kombat 12, the highly anticipated next entry in the brutal fighting game series, is in development at NetherRealm Studios and will release in 2023. The previous entry in the franchise, Mortal Kombat 11, released back in 2019 and received post-launch support up into 2020. While rumors have swirled about what NetherRealm is currently working on, it appears that Mortal Kombat 12 is officially next in line for the beloved developer.

As reported by GameSpot, a quiet Mortal Kombat 12 reveal was unexpectedly made during Warner Bros. Discovery’s recent fourth quarter 2022 earnings call. In a short clip from the call, shared by Twitter user Gui, Warner Bros. Discovery’s executive vice president Andrew Slabin reveals that Mortal Kombat 12 is set to release in 2023 alongside Rocksteady Studios’ Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League. While this may not be a bombastic official reveal for the project, Slabin’s statement does fit with recent Mortal Kombat 12 teases from Mortal Kombat creator Ed Boon.

Related: Which Fighters Mortal Kombat 12 Needs The Most

Mortal Kombat 11 Set Up An Intense Sequel

As the most recent entry in the ruthless fighting game series, Mortal Kombat 11 placed heavy emphasis on customization while delivering impressively realistic graphics. While each entry in the franchise has starred a colorful roster of characters, each with their own unique abilities, MK11 pushed the envelope by letting players choose between various outfits, color schemes and accessories for each fighter. MK11 DLC characters like Schwarzenegger’s Terminator added even more variety to the experience, with each playable combatant possessing various powers and abilities that could be mixed and matched to suit the player’s style.

Mortal Kombat 12 Has Already Been Heavily Rumored

While the title has only just been officially confirmed, rumors have been swirling about Mortal Kombat 12 since even before NetherRealm ended post-launch support for MK11. The end of the franchise’s previous installment saw Liu Kang rise to replace Raiden as Earthrealm’s Fire God protector, with the Aftermath expansion seeing the warrior deity travel to the past to train the legendary Great Kung Lao. Rumors suggest that Mortal Kombat 12 will follow history’s first Mortal Kombat tournament, which would mean an entirely new time period and cast for the sequel. However, it seems unlikely that the Mortal Kombat 12 roster will leave out series staples like Scorpion, Sub-Zero and Raiden.

Following years of rumors, it seems that Mortal Kombat 12 has been officially revealed as NetherRealm Studios’ next fighting game epic. Despite the lack of even a cinematic announcement trailer, Warner Bros. Discovery’s Andrew Slabin claims that the next installment in the series will be released this year. After the events of Mortal Kombat 11, the eternal blood-soaked battle for Earthrealm has the potential to visit new settings and introduced brand-new combatants. Even as they wait for an official trailer and firm release date, Mortal Kombat fans can begin sharpening their skills for the imminent arrival of Mortal Kombat 12.

More: Mortal Kombat Characters MK12 Is Better Off Without

Sources: GameSpot, Gui/Twitter