Mortal Kombat 11 Guide: Characters, Gameplay and Release

In this guide to Mortal Kombat 11 we inform you about

  • the release date of the game
  • the different retail versions
  • the roster, that means the playable characters

Mortal Kombat stands for challenging fights and a whole lot of pixel blood. That doesn't change with the new part. Mortal Kombat 11 focuses on detail improvements and includes a customization feature for the first time.

This means that you can individualize the fighters. In this guide, we'll tell you everything you need to know about the fighting game. We'll keep the article up to date - so it's worth checking back later. We also recommend our Mortal Kombat 11 tutorial guide and our MK11 trophy overview.

Guide Table of Contents

  1. Release Date: When will the game be released for PC & consoles?
  2. Premium Edition, Kollector's Edition: The versions at a glance
  3. USK rating: From what age is Mortal Kombat 11 suitable?
  4. PC System Requirements: What hardware do I need?
  5. DLCs & Microtransactions: What do I get for more money?
  6. Leaks & rumors about DLC and guest characters
  7. Mortal Kombat 11: Differences to the predecessor
  8. Roster: Which characters are included?
  9. Ronda Rousey & Co: Actors in Mortal Kombat 11?
  10. Scooby-Doo: Is Shaggy Rogers on board?
  11. Demo or beta: Can I play Mortal Kombat 11 in advance?

1. Release Date: When will the game be released for PC & consoles?

Fans of the series can look forward to April 23, 2019. Because then Mortal Kombat 11 will be released for PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One and even a version for Nintendo Switch. This means that the fighting game will be available for computer owners as well as all current home consoles.

2. Premium Edition, Kollector's Edition: The versions at a glance

Mortal Kombat 11 will reach you (as usual today) in several versions. Besides the standard version, you can also buy a Premium or Kollector's Edition.

Standard Edition

Here you get the main game and two additional bonuses on top, if you pre-order the fighting game. Shao Khan will be added to your roster and you will also get access to the closed beta in March 2019. However, these extras will only reach you if you pre-order the Xbox One and PS4 variants.

Premium Edition

This version offers the Kombat Pack in addition to the main game. You get six new fighters, which will be released later as DLC, and you get to play them a week before everyone else. You also get seven skins and gearsets.

Collector's Edition

The game and Kombat Pack are also available in the Collector's Edition. On top of that, you'll also get a magnet, a life-size Scorpion mask, and a metal box that everything comes in. This box is only available for the PS4 and Xbox One version.

3. USK rating: How many years old is Mortal Kombat 11 suitable for?

Since the series was indexed in Germany for years, it should quickly become clear that part 11 also only belongs in adult hands. An official label from the USK is still pending, but it should also receive an 18 rating.

4. PC system requirements: What hardware do I need?

Here are the minimum and recommended system requirements for Mortal Kombat 11 on PC.

Minimum System Requirements

  • Operating System: WINDOWS® 7, 8.1, 10 (64-BIT)
  • Processor: Intel® Core™ i5-750, AMD Phenom II X4 965 or better
  • Memory: 8 GB RAM
  • Graphics: NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 670 or AMD Radeon HD 7950
  • DirectX: Version 11

Recommended system requirements

  • Operating System: WINDOWS® 7, 8.1, 10 (64-BIT)
  • Processor: Intel® Core™ i3-2100, AMD FX-6300 or better
  • Memory: 8 GB RAM
  • Graphics: NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 780 or AMD Radeon R9 290
  • DirectX: Version 11

Mortal Kombat 11 stays true to its roots.

5. DLCs & Microtransactions: What do I get for more money?

In an interview with YouTuber Angry Joe, developer Ed Boon already assured before release that the intention was not to make anyone angry with DLCs. Expansions will thus be limited to new characters and costumes. Pay To Win DLCs will not be available.

The first additional character will be the wizard and Mortal Kombat 1 boss Shang Tsung.

Shang Tsung is the first DLC character in Mortal Kombat 11.

In the release trailer you can already see Shang Tsung's moveset. He partially transforms into Ermac, Reptile, Sub-Zero, Scorpion, Rain or Noob Saibot to use their moves. Shang Tsung has been available for Season Pass owners since June 18, 2019, while everyone else had to wait until June 25, 2019. On the same day, new DLC costumes in classic ninja look were also released for Scorpion, Sub-Zero & Noob Saibot.

Meanwhile, the already leaked DLC characters Sindel, Nightwolf, the Terminator, the Joker, as well as comic book hero Spawn were also officially announced. They are all part of the first Kombat Pack.

If you purchase the Premium Edition and Kollector's Edition, you'll even get to use the bonus fighters a week before everyone else. Additionally, you will receive seven skins as well as gearsets.

6. Leaks & Rumors about DLC and Guest Characters

There are already some leaks about further DLC characters. In this Reddit thread, someone dug through the Mortal Kombat 11 files and found files with the names of some Mortal Kombat veterans and potential guest characters. Previous Mortal Kombat parts also had DLC characters from different movie universes, such as Freddy Krueger or the Predator, which makes the leaks seem plausible.

The characters found are:

  • Joker(confirmed/known from the DC comics && )
  • Nightwolf(confirmed - release on August 20, 2019)
  • Terminator(confirmed/known from the- release on Oct. 15, 2019)
  • Sindel(confirmed)
  • Spawn(confirmed/known from the )
  • Ash Williams (known from the horror series )
  • Fujin
  • Sheeva

Todd McFarlane's comic book hero Spawn has been associated with the Mortal Kombat series for years. That's why we're especially pleased that he's finally making it into the game. Netherrealm Studios also developed the DC Comics brawler, so having the Joker as a guest character makes perfect sense.

Meanwhile, five of the previously leaked characters have been officially confirmed, which of course increases the credibility of the remaining leaks. Furthermore, Ash Williams actor Bruce Campbell made a meaningful reference to the last DLC trailer. Therefore, we assume that the rest of the characters found in the game files will also be announced in the nearest future. After all, Neatherrealm won't leave it at one Kombat Pack.

7. Mortal Kombat 11: Differences to the predecessor

As usual, in the 2.5D brawler you'll hit each other with AI opponents or friends and experience over-the-top brutal finishers. Of course, you can also expect some new features. The biggest of these is the customization feature, which lets you individualize your fighters. You'll be able to change their appearance with skins and also choose their equipment, special abilities, finishers or poses.

Just like in the predecessor, you'll be able to spend resources to improve special attacks of your character. These are now divided into two different bars for offensive and defensive maneuvers, which slowly regenerate after use. Both resources are filled at the beginning of the fight.

Another change is in the extremely brutal X-Ray attacks, for which a completely filled bar had to be spent in the previous parts. In Mortal Kombat 11, there are the so-called "Fatal Blows", which can only be used as soon as a character has below 30% of his health points. A "Fatal Blow" doesn't cost any bars, but can only be used once per fight. You can find more information in our Mortal Kombat 11 tutorial.

8. Roster: Which characters are included?

By now, all fighters of the basic version of Mortal Kombat 11, as well as some DLC characters are known. The following characters are included:

  • Baraka
  • Cassie Cage
  • Cetrion (New character)
  • D'Vorah
  • Erron Black
  • Frost
  • Geras (New Character)
  • Jade
  • Jacqui Briggs
  • Jax
  • Johnny Cage
  • Joker (DLC/Guest Character)
  • Kabal
  • Kano
  • Kitana
  • Kollector (New character)
  • Kotal Khan
  • Kung Lao
  • Liu Kang
  • Nightwolf (DLC)
  • Noob Saibot
  • Raiden
  • Scorpion
  • Shang Tsung (DLC)
  • Shao Kahn (DLC/Pre-Order Bonus)
  • Sindel (DLC)
  • Skarlet
  • Sonya Blade
  • Spawn (DLC/Guest Character)
  • Sub-Zero
  • Terminator (DLC/Guest Character)

Old familiar faces also return for part 11 and are as dangerous as ever.

9. Ronda Rousey & Co: Actors in Mortal Kombat 11?

In addition to familiar characters, Mortal Kombat 11 will also feature a few familiar voices.

Probably the most prominent guest speaker is former MMA titleholder Ronda Rousey. She has been seen more in the wrestling league WWE and in movies like3 (2014) and7 (2015) in recent years. In Mortal Kombat 11, Ronda Rousey has taken over the dubbing of Sonya Blade.

Another familiar face is the Japanese-American actor Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa, who mimes the voice of Shang Tsung. He had already played him in the 1995 series Mortal Kombat Legacy (2013). Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa also impersonated the villain Heihachi Mishima in the fighting game adaptationsand Tekken: Kazuya's Revenge (2014).

10. Scooby-Doo: Is Shaggy Rogers on board?

A petition has ensured that a meme about Mortal Kombat 11 received a lot of attention. This is because many fans have wished for Shaggy Rogers, known from Scooby-Doo, to be a fighter. In fact, this wish even ended up with the developers. However, they have made it clear that Shaggy will not appear in the game.

11. Demo or beta: Can I play Mortal Kombat 11 in advance?

Pre-orderers of the PS4 and Xbox One version can try out the fighting game in advance. They will automatically get access to the closed beta. This will begin for Europeans on March 27, 2019 and end on April 1, 2019. PC and Switch players will unfortunately be left empty-handed.

Within the beta, you will be able to try out the characters Baraka, Jade, Kabal, Scorpion and Skarlet. You can read our impressions from the MK11 beta here.

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