Update: Since this article was published, Warner Bros. has clarified that it will continue to support Mortal Kombat Mobile and Injustice 2 on mobile devices. The full statement can be found below.
Mortal Kombat creator NetherRealm has been struggling with a gigantic number of layoffs and announced the closure of one of its popular mobile games.
As users have noticed on Reset EraNetherRealm developers announced on LinkedIn that they have been laid off as part of what appears to be a gutting of the company’s mobile team. One of the affected employees said that NetherRealm’s entire mobile team has been shut down. That team handled live services for multiple titles, including Mortal Kombat Mobile, Injustice 2, and Mortal Kombat Onslaught.
We are depressed to announce that Mortal Kombat: Onslaught will be ending in October. It has been an honor to create this game for our community and we appreciate the enthusiasm of our fans. We will provide specific end dates in the coming weeks.
— Mortal Kombat: Onslaught (@mkonslaught) July 18, 2024
The X/Twitter page for Mortal Kombat: Onslaught has announced plans to shut down the game in October 2024, just one year after its launch. “It’s been an honor to create this game for our community and we appreciate the enthusiasm of our fans,” the statement reads. “We will provide a specific shutdown date in the coming weeks.”
Regarding the Mortal Kombat Mobile and Injustice 2 Mobile X/Twitter pages, Warner Bros. said in a statement sent to IGN: “NetherRealm Studios would like to assure all players and fans of our continued commitment to Mortal Kombat Mobile and Injustice 2 Mobile. Both games will continue to be fully supported. Additionally, we have made the difficult decision to end Mortal Kombat: Onslaught in the coming months. We are deeply grateful to all players who have joined us on the Mortal Kombat: Onslaught journey.”
Both games have received updates in recent days; in fact, these releases come just one day after Mortal Kombat Mobile received a significant update that added guest character Spawn to the game. Spawn is set to be the first of three modern characters coming to Mortal Kombat Mobile as part of the summer update, followed by Onslaught Jax and MK1 Kenshi.
Spawn makes his mark on #mkmobile! The first of three modern combatants coming in the Summer Update! 🔥 Keep your eyes peeled – Onslaught Jax and MK1 Kenshi are next. Jump in and discover a modern Turret, Loadout, and more!
Official patch notes: https://t.co/4zuni915En photo:twitter.com/3jcpVLAmjR
— Mortal Kombat Mobile (@MKMobileGame) July 17, 2024
NetherRealm and Mortal Kombat franchise owner Warner Bros. Games have marketed Mortal Kombat: Onslaught as a mobile-only RPG set in the Mortal Kombat universe. The free app features team-based combat that plays out automatically, with players tapping to activate special abilities and combos. There’s a strong story mode that revolves around Shinnok’s quest for destruction. Mortal Kombat veterans Liu Kang, Kung Lao, and Sub-Zero face off against familiar villains like Shang Tsung, Kano, and Shao Kahn in their Mortal Kombat 11 visual style.
The layoffs hit NetherRealm as the company prepares to reveal plans for a second year of Mortal Kombat 1 updates and DLC characters during a panel at San Diego Comic-Con. NetherRealm development chief Ed Boon has yet to tweet about the layoffs or the game’s closure.
NetherRealm’s cuts come at one of the most arduous times for the video game industry in recent years. Thousands of people have lost their jobs over the past two years as publishers and developers struggle in an increasingly arduous market. Microsoft announced it would shed 1,900 jobs across its games business this year, Sony announced 900 layoffs, and many other AAA game publishers have also suffered losses.
Wesley is the UK News Editor for IGN. Find him on Twitter @wyp100. You can contact Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.
