Ed Boon Wants to Know What Fans Want the Next Mortal Kombat Game to Be Called
Fighting game fans around the world are watching closely as NetherRealm Studios co-creator Ed Boon generates fresh discussion about the next Mortal Kombat game. With recent polls posted on social media, players are debating the official title, potential crossover projects, and what the future holds for the legendary fighting franchise.
What Is the Current State of the Mortal Kombat Franchise?
It has been a quiet and somewhat challenging period for dedicated Mortal Kombat fans. The latest entry in the main series, Mortal Kombat 1 (MK1), officially stopped receiving new content updates back in May 2025. That update marked the end of new character additions, balance adjustments, and narrative expansion chapters for the title.
Since the end of active post-launch support, the presence of Mortal Kombat 1 within competitive fighting game community tournaments has declined. The competitive scene has seen reduced engagement as players look ahead toward future releases. Fighting game enthusiasts have been eagerly awaiting concrete news regarding where NetherRealm Studios will take the franchise next.
Co-creator Ed Boon provided initial confirmation about the studio's schedule in May 2026. At that time, Boon confirmed that another project in the series was officially in the works behind closed doors. However, official information remained sparse for several months following that announcement.
That silence finally broke when Boon returned to social media to directly interact with fans. By running targeted public polls, the developer appears to be gauging community expectations and gathering feedback on naming conventions for the next Mortal Kombat game.
What Will the Next Mortal Kombat Game Be Called? Ed Boon Twitter Poll Breakdown
On November 6, 2026, Ed Boon published two separate polls on his official X (formerly Twitter) account. The first poll focused directly on the title of NetherRealm Studios' upcoming fighting game project. Boon asked his followers a straightforward question: "What would you want the next Mortal Kombat to be called?"
The poll provided fans with three distinct naming options, reflecting the complicated timeline and reboot history of the franchise. The choices offered in the poll were:
- Mortal Kombat 2: The option favored by the majority of participants, receiving approximately 43 percent of the total votes.
- Mortal Kombat 13: The choice representing traditional sequential numbering, gathering roughly 33 percent of fan votes.
- Mortal Kombat 12: The numerical choice skipping the previous reboot title, earning about 23 percent of the votes.
The voting distribution highlights an interesting preference among community members. The strong lead for Mortal Kombat 2 suggests that players are comfortable continuing the narrative reset established in MK1. Because the 2023 release restarted the universe's timeline under Fire God Liu Kang, calling the follow-up title Mortal Kombat 2 represents a logical continuation of that story arc.
Conversely, the support for Mortal Kombat 13 demonstrates that a significant portion of the audience still prefers numerical continuity. Tracking the franchise from its 1992 debut through to a thirteenth mainline entry provides a sense of historical progression. The lowest vote share went to Mortal Kombat 12, likely because MK1 filled the chronological slot that followed Mortal Kombat 11.
Why Did Ed Boon Ask Fans About Marvel Fighting Games?
Ed Boon's social media polling did not stop with title choices for NetherRealm projects. The developer followed up his initial question with a second poll focused on rival properties in the superhero fighting game space.
In his second post, Boon posed a question that surprised many long-time followers of the fighting game community. He wrote: "With two great Marvel fighting games being made by different teams, which would you like to see come out next? Marvel Tokon 2 by Arc System Works, or Marvel vs Capcom 4?"
With 2 great Marvel fighting games being made by different teams. Which would you like to see come out next?
— Ed Boon (@noobde) November 6, 2026
Marvel Tokkon 2 by Arc System works.
or
Marvel vs Capcom 4
The response from fans was decisive. An overwhelming majority of voters selected Marvel vs Capcom 4 over Arc System Works' Marvel Tokon sequel. This outcome reinforces the deep nostalgia and lasting enthusiasm surrounding the iconic crossover franchise developed by Capcom.
Industry observers noted that Boon's interest in Marvel games is particularly noteworthy. NetherRealm Studios is owned by Warner Bros. Games, the parent company that holds the rights to DC Comics properties. As the primary developer behind the DC-focused Injustice series, Boon asking public questions about Marvel titles naturally generated speculation across social media platforms.
Analyzing the Marvel Fighting Game Landscape
The possibility of a traditional brand-new crossover title in the Marvel space remains uncertain. A brand-new entry in the Marvel vs Capcom series has long been considered highly improbable by industry analysts, given licensing complexities and changing publisher priorities.
Meanwhile, Arc System Works' Marvel Tokon title has faced its own set of challenges within the competitive community. Players have engaged in extensive debates online regarding the game's active player counts and its difficult PC launch. Mechanically, competitive players remain divided on whether Tokon offers the depth required for long-term tournament play.
On the Capcom side, the crossovers experienced a prolonged decline following the release of Infinite. However, the title has enjoyed a commercial and community revival over recent years. Much of this renewed interest can be attributed to community initiatives, such as the fan-made Beyond fan mod, which refreshed gameplay mechanics and brought players back to the title.
What Is the Status of Injustice 3 Rumors?
Ed Boon's social media activity comes amidst ongoing rumors regarding NetherRealm Studios' broader production pipeline. Before the recent focus on the next Mortal Kombat game, rumors surrounding Injustice 3 circulated heavily throughout the gaming community.
Fans uncovered potential evidence indicating that a third superhero entry was in development. Online sleuths discovered public resumes from stunt performers that explicitly listed work on Injustice 3. Additionally, reports surfaced earlier in the year claiming that external playtests were actively taking place for the project.
Boon directly addressed these rumors in September. Responding to a tweet asserting that NetherRealm was currently testing Injustice 3, Mortal Kombat 13, or a potential Mortal Kombat 9 project, Boon denied the claims outright.
"All false," Boon clarified on social media. "Appreciate the interest & enthusiasm, but just because a game isn't currently being tested externally doesn't necessarily mean the game isn't in development."
Boon's statement clarified that while internal development efforts remain active, unannounced titles do not always follow the public testing timelines assumed by online rumors.
Could We Ever See a Mortal Kombat vs Street Fighter Crossover?
Beyond video game development, the wider Mortal Kombat brand continues to generate interest across media formats. During promotional interviews for the live-action Street Fighter movie, cast members expressed strong enthusiasm for future project crossovers.
Several actors noted that they would jump at the opportunity to participate in a crossover film with the cast of the Mortal Kombat cinematic franchise. The idea of bringing the two iconic fighting game properties together on the big screen captured the attention of fans of both series.
Ed Boon himself quickly responded to our report regarding the actors' comments. While acknowledging the fun of cinematic crossovers, Boon stated that his personal preference lay within interactive media.
The veteran developer clarified that he would much rather see a true Street Fighter x Mortal Kombat game brought to life before any movie adaptation gets produced. Boon played down historical rivalries between the franchises, reiterating his desire to see iconic characters like Ryu or Chun-Li make guest appearances in NetherRealm's fighting engine.
Summary of NetherRealm Studios' Potential Pipeline
To help organize the current landscape of news, leaks, and social media teasers regarding NetherRealm Studios, here is a quick summary of where key projects currently stand:
- The Next Mortal Kombat Game: Confirmed to be in active development. Title choices like Mortal Kombat 2, Mortal Kombat 13, and Mortal Kombat 12 are under public discussion.
- Mortal Kombat 1 (MK1): Active DLC and story expansion updates officially ended in May 2025.
- Injustice 3: Highly rumored following stunt performer resume leaks, though external playtests were denied by Boon in September.
- Street Fighter Crossovers: Actors have expressed interest in a crossover film, while Ed Boon favors a fighting game crossover instead.
Looking Ahead to the Next Mortal Kombat Game
As NetherRealm Studios prepares for its next major announcement, community engagement remains exceptionally high. Whether the upcoming title is officially christened Mortal Kombat 2 or takes on a completely different name, players are eager to see how the team builds upon its long-standing fighting legacy.
For now, fans must wait for formal announcements from Ed Boon and Warner Bros. Games. As development continues on the next Mortal Kombat game, players will be watching carefully to see which ideas from these public polls make their way into the final product.
from IGN India
-via DynaSage
