Mortal Kombat 1 Has Cemented Itself As The Best-Selling Fighting Game Of This Generation Despite Ending Support After Just 20 Months

The Numbers Game: When Success Doesn’t Equal Longevity

Here’s where things get spicy. Mortal Kombat 1 has cemented itself as the best-selling fighting game of this generation, but let’s be real about what that actually means in the grand scheme of things. Sure, 6.2 million copies sold is nothing to sneeze at, especially when you’re stacking it against the competition. Street Fighter 6 reported 5 million sales just two months ago, and Tekken 8 hit 3 million five months back. So yeah, MK1 is technically winning this particular pissing contest.

But here’s the thing that’s got me scratching my head – and apparently the entire fanbase too – if your game is performing so damn well, why are you treating it like yesterday’s leftovers? It’s like having the hottest restaurant in town and deciding to close it down because you want to try your hand at food trucks instead.

The really brutal part? Mortal Kombat 11, the predecessor that everyone loves to compare MK1 to, managed to move over 15 million copies by 2022. So while 6.2 million sounds impressive when you’re comparing it to Street Fighter and Tekken, it’s looking pretty modest next to its own family tree.

NetherRealm’s Track Record: A History of Hit-and-Run Development

Let’s talk about NetherRealm’s commitment issues, shall we? These guys have turned cutting support short into an art form. It’s become so predictable that fans probably start planning memorial services for their games before they even launch.

Street Fighter 5 got six years of love and attention. Tekken 7 enjoyed four solid years of major updates. Hell, even Mortal Kombat 11 managed to squeeze out two full years before NetherRealm decided they were done playing house. But MK1? This poor bastard got barely 21 months before the studio started eyeing other projects like a commitment-phobic boyfriend spotting an attractive stranger across the bar.

The most frustrating part is that Boon himself promised things would be different this time around. Back in 2022, when asked about MK11’s relatively short support window, he assured fans that “the next game should be even longer.” Spoiler alert: it wasn’t. In fact, it was shorter. Way shorter.

The Promise vs. Reality: When Marketing Meets the Real World

Remember when NetherRealm was selling us on the idea that Mortal Kombat 1 would get extended support? Pepperidge Farm remembers, and so do the thousands of disappointed fans flooding social media with their hot takes about broken promises.

Boon’s recent post tries to soften the blow with reassurances that they’re “still committed to refining MK1 to be our most balanced game.” He’s asking fans which fighters need buffs, which ones don’t, and whether they prefer smaller DLC packs or larger ones. It’s sweet that he’s still engaging with the community, but it feels a bit like asking someone what flowers they’d like at their own funeral.

The reality is that balance patches and minor tweaks aren’t what the fanbase was hoping for when they signed up for this ride. They wanted new characters, story expansions, maybe some surprising crossover content that would keep them coming back for months or even years. Instead, they got the gaming equivalent of a participation trophy: “Thanks for playing, here’s a minor damage adjustment to Kitana’s combo strings.”

The Competition is Laughing All the Way to the Bank

While NetherRealm is busy calculating how quickly they can move on to their next project, the competition is playing the long game like chess masters. Street Fighter 6 continues to roll out content that keeps players engaged and wallets open. Tekken 8 might have lower sales numbers, but at least their fans aren’t wondering if Bandai Namco is going to ghost them before the game hits its second birthday.

It’s particularly galling when you consider that Mortal Kombat has always attracted a broader, more casual audience than its competitors. These aren’t just the hardcore tournament players who’ll stick around no matter what – these are regular folks who bought the game expecting it to have legs. When you abandon support after less than two years, you’re not just disappointing your core fanbase; you’re potentially turning off future customers who might think twice about investing in your next release.

Community Backlash: When Fans Fight Back

The comment sections under Boon’s recent posts tell a story that’s more brutal than any fatality in the game itself. Fans aren’t just disappointed – they’re pissed. And rightfully so. When you promise extended support and then pull the plug faster than a rage quit, people tend to remember that kind of thing.

The frustration goes beyond just wanting more content. It’s about trust, consistency, and feeling like the developers actually give a damn about the product they’ve put out into the world. When you see other fighting games getting years of support while your favorite gets the short end of the stick despite being more successful sales-wise, it stings.

Some fans are already talking about being more cautious with future NetherRealm releases. Why pre-order or buy at launch if you know the support window is going to be shorter than a Hollywood marriage? It’s a fair question, and one that could bite the studio in the ass when they’re trying to drum up excitement for whatever comes next.

The Bottom Line: Success Without Commitment

At the end of the day, Mortal Kombat 1 has cemented itself as the best-selling fighting game of this generation, and that’s genuinely impressive. The game did a lot of things right – the graphics are gorgeous, the combat feels solid, and the roster delivered some fan-favorite characters alongside interesting newcomers.

But success in sales doesn’t automatically translate to success in community building or long-term player retention. When you abandon a game after just 20 months, especially one that’s outperforming the competition, you’re sending a pretty clear message about your priorities. And that message isn’t exactly “we’re committed to providing ongoing value to our customers.”

NetherRealm might be celebrating their sales figures, but they’re also creating a precedent that could hurt them down the road. Players have long memories, especially when they feel like they’ve been left hanging. The next time MK2 (or whatever they’re calling it) gets announced, don’t be surprised if the pre-order numbers are a little more modest and the community reception is a little more cautious.

Because at the end of the day, being the best-selling fighting game of your generation doesn’t mean much if you treat your success like it’s disposable.

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