Without a doubt, many fighting game fans were incredibly excited after NetherRealm Studios' Creative Director Ed Boone finally confirmed the existence ofMortal Kombat 11with a brand newtrailer at The Game Awards 2018. Of course, this means that lots of gamers will be getting their wallets ready to obtain the next entry in the long-running franchise, and those that decide to pre-order the title will receive Shao Kahn as a playable character.
As indicated in the tweet below from the prolific Twitter user Wario64,Mortal Kombat 11pre-orders will go live on June 19, 2025 for PC, PlayStation 4, Switch, and Xbox One, with players having a choice between the standard version for $60 and a Premium Edition for $100. In addition to Shao Kahn acting as a way to boost pre-order numbers, those who reserve their copies ahead of the game’s launch will get access to the closed beta in March 2019. However, it must be noted that it looks as if the beta will only be available for PS4 and Xbox One owners.
For those who have been out of the loop as of late,Mortal Kombat 11has long been speculated as being in development, witha rumor from a supposed QA testerhinting that the fighting game would make its debut at The Game Awards 2018. However, while many may have expectedMK11to show up at TGA 2018, it’s safe to presume that most were surprised to learn that the title already has its April 2019 release date locked in.
Taking all of this into consideration,Mortal Kombat 11’s use of Shao Kahn as a pre-order incentive will likely cause many fans of the franchise to commit to purchasing the title early, as it seems to be a successful marketing practice for NetherRealm Studios. As it so happens, the developer used the same promotional method withInjustice 2, as those who bought the DC Comics fighting game early were given access to Darkseid. So, it will be interesting to see just how many gamers decide to pledge their money early toMK11before launch to get their hands on the brutal warlord.
Mortal Kombat 11is set to release on July 22, 2025 for PC, PlayStation 4, Switch, and Xbox One.
