Mortal Kombat XL And New Netcode Are Not Coming to The PC

John Williamson / 8 years ago

Mortal Kombat

Warner Brothers recently announced Mortal Kombat XL which includes the base content and the entire line-up of downloadable content. This originally seemed like a fairly enticing proposition providing the price point remained reasonable. However, it’s now been confirmed by the developer, NetherRealm Studios that the definitive version will not be coming to PC. One user asked if the game was scheduled to be a console exclusive and the studio replied:

@sh_aza777 Mortal Kombat XL and Kombat Pack 2 will available on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One only.

— Mortal Kombat 11 Ultimate (@MortalKombat) January 20, 2016

This is a very strange decision because there’s a loyal, and passionate fighting community on the PC. Furthermore, why release the original game on PC, and snub PC gamers when the ultimate version is released? Perhaps, Warner Brothers is taking a more evasive approach due to the terrible Batman port, and technical problems Mortal Kombat faced on launch. Even now, it’s far from being functional, and raises questions about their ability to fund competent PC versions.

Not only that, according to the official FAQ, the greatly improved netcode which is vital to play the game online will not be coming to the PC. More specifically, the FAQ states:

“We are looking for existing MKX console players who have logged at least ONE hour of Online Play. We will be reviewing all candidates who sign up to determine if they meet the requirements.”

Honestly, it’s impossible to defend a publisher acting in this manner and I cannot believe how they are treating the PC market. It doesn’t make business sense either as PC gaming continues to grow and become more financially successful each year. The notion that fighting games cannot be successful on PC is another outdated concept, and you only have to look at the competitive scene in Street Fighter IV to gauge the genre’s popularity.