Summary
Mortal Kombat 1’s much-anticipated story expansion,Khaos Reigns, has been revealed as part of the game’s San Diego Comic-Con 2024 panel alongside a free, nostalgic update that could give players a reason to revisit the 2023 fighting game.Mortal Kombat 1followed the “good” ending forMortal Kombat 11’sAftermathDLC, which saw Fire God Liu Kang recreate the universe after securing the power to alter the timeline and bring peace to the six realms, giving the series a fresh start in an attempt to welcome newcomers while retaining the lore of the past titles for established fans.
Khaos Reignsis set after the events of the story campaign and centers on the invasion ofTitan Havik from an alternate reality, who seeks to spread chaos - or “khaos” - across all of the timelines. Therefore, Liu Kang must rally his champions and put faith in his enemies to defeat this new threat, or else the New Era will be reduced to anarchy.
Mortal Kombat 1: How to Unlock Every Brutality
A Brutality is a bloody finishing attack in Mortal Kombat 1, but every version of these stylish moves have to be unlocked with specific button inputs.
The Khaos Reigns Expansion Is Bundled With A New Kombat Pack
Six New Playable Characters Are Joining Mortal Kombat 1
TheKhaos Reignsexpansion also comes withKombat Pack 2, which adds six more fighters to the game, much likeKombat Pack 1, which featuredthreeMortal Kombatcharacters and three guest fighters from other mediaalongside several Kameo characters.The threeMortal Kombatcharacters inKombat Pack 2are reimagined versions of characters who also play a part inKhaos Reigns' story mode- and will be playable upon the DLC’s launch -, such as fan favorite ninja Noob Saibot - who claims that Havik “perfected” him in the trailer - and the now female Sektor and Cyrax.
As for the three nostalgic crossover guest fighters, whereasKombat Pack 1includedInvincible’s Omni-Man, DC’s Peacemaker, andThe Boys' Homelander,Kombat Pack 2will include Conan the Barbarian (based on the version played by Arnold Schwarzenegger in the 1982Conan the Barbarianmovie), Ghostface from theScreamseries, and the T-1000 fromTerminator 2: Judgment Day. Much like with the previousKombat Pack, these characters will be coming at a later date, and there’s no confirmed release window for their arrival yet.
Pre-orderingKhaos Reignsalso unlocks the following four new skins:
Players can’t purchaseKombat Pack 2separately, and the only way to get it is via theKhaos ReignsDLC.
Mortal Kombat 1: How to Unlock Every Fatality (& Button Inputs)
Every Fatality in Mortal Kombat 1 has to be unlocked by performing a unique motion and button input with your character to execute a defeated rival.
Mortal Kombat 1’s Free Update Is Nostalgic
Animalities Are Back, Alongside A ’90s-Based Skin
At the same time asKhaos Reignscomes out,Mortal Kombat 1is receiving a free update that brings back thevariant Fatalities called Animalities, which were first introduced back in 1995’sMortal Kombat 3. These kinds of beastial finishing moves involve characters morphing into animals before ripping apart their opponents in classicMortal Kombatfashion. TheKhaos Reignsannouncement trailer revealed Mileena transforming into a giant, horrifying praying mantis, for example, a gorilla ripping their opponent in half from the mouth, and a re-animated T-Rex skeleton combing its foe. An accompanying press release also states every playable fighter will have an Animality.
While many players may be able to guess what theMortal Kombatcharacters' Animalities may be from previous games, this statement didn’t seem to indicate that the crossover-based characters will be left out, suggesting that the likes of Homelander or Ghostface could transform into animals for some brutal takedowns as well.
Mortal Kombat 3has already featured heavily in the pre-order bonuses forKhaos Reigns, and the free addition of Animalities further show that NetherRealm Studios is looking back to 1995 with its new content. This is the case with further content that those who ownMortal Kombat1can access for free now. Accompanying the SDCC panel and theKhaos Reignstrailer reveal on July 26,the “MK95 Scorpion” skin was added toMortal Kombat 1completely free, with the design modeled after the character’s appearance in the live-action 1995Mortal Kombatfilm.
Mortal Kombat 1’sKhaos ReignsandKombat Pack 2expansion bundle launches on September 24 on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch, and PC via Steam and the Epic Games Store and will retail for $49.99 on every platform except for Nintendo Switch, where it will cost $39.99. While this pack is set to continue the storyline, there’s certainly plenty of free content for those who own the base game to enjoy as well, especially those players who have been nostalgic for the more classic ’90s era of the franchise.
