‘Mortal Kombat 1’ SDCC Panel Reveals New Playable Characters

Today, during the Mortal Kombat 1 panel at Comic-Con International: San Diego, Warner Bros. Games and NetherRealm Studios revealed Li Mei, Tanya, and Baraka as the latest playable characters joining the game’s main roster.

All three fighters were showcased in a new trailer focused on the Umgadi, a contingent of warrior priestesses pledged to protect the Outworld royal family, complete with a first look at gameplay and story elements. Also announced were the six playable characters featured in the post-launch downloadable content (DLC) Kombat Pack, including returning klassic kombatants Quan Chi, Ermac, and Takeda Takahashi, along with guest fighters Peacemaker, Omni-Man, and Homelander.

Below is a rundown of announcements from today’s Mortal Kombat 1 panel:

Featured Panelists:

• The creative team at NetherRealm Studios joined top voiceover talent to discuss the Mortal Kombat 1 reimagined story, characters, gameplay features, art style, and more, including:
• Ed Boon (Chief Creative Officer, NetherRealm Studios & Co-Creator of Mortal Kombat)
• Dominic Cianciolo (Story & Voiceover Director, NetherRealm Studios)
• Thiago Gomes (Art Development Director, NetherRealm Studios)
• Kelly Hu (X2: X-Men United, BMF, Young Justice) as the voice of Li Mei
• Yuri Lowenthal (He-Man and the Masters of the Universe, Ben 10 franchise) as the voice of Smoke

Main Roster & Kameo Fighters:

• Li Mei – The former member of the Umgadi now serves as a constable in Outworld’s police force and has an array of magical abilities at her disposal
• Tanya – Leader of the Umgadi, she is a skilled fighter and one of the order’s most trusted members
• Baraka – An outcast due to the Tarkat plague that has turned him into a deadly monster, he now leads his fellow afflicted Outworlders in battle
• Darrius – The klassic character returns as a Kameo Fighter, providing support during matches with a range of assisting moves

Kombat Pack:

• Quan Chi
• Ermac
• Takeda Takahashi
• Peacemaker (Based on DC’s The Suicide Squad film & Peacemaker series on Max)
• Omni-Man (Based on the original comic book & animated television series Invincible)
• Homelander* (Based on the hit series The Boys) – Available in 2024
• Jean-Claude Van Damme (Johnny Cage character skin featuring voice & likeness of famed actor & martial artist)
• Ferra, Johnny Cage, Khameleon, Mavado & Tremor included asKameo Fighters
• Kombat Pack is available now for pre-order as part of the Mortal Kombat 1 Premium Edition & Kollector’s Edition

Mortal Kombat 1 is the latest installment in the acclaimed Mortal Kombat videogame franchise developed by award-winning NetherRealm Studios and introduces a reborn Mortal Kombat Universe set in a new story with iconic heroes and villains reimagined as they’ve never been seen before. The game features a wide-ranging cast of legendary fighters with all-new backstories, including Liu Kang, Scorpion, Sub-Zero, Raiden, Kung Lao, Kitana, Mileena, Shang Tsung, Johnny Cage, Kenshi, Smoke, Li Mei, Tanya, Baraka, and more, along with a separate roster of Kameo Fighters who can assist during matches.

Mortal Kombat 1 is scheduled to launch for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, and PC (Steam and Epic Games Store) on Sept. 19, 2023.

All Mortal Kombat 1 pre-orders will receive Shang Tsung as an in-game playable character, and those who pre-order the game for PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X|S will also receive access to the Mortal Kombat 1 Beta, which will be available in August 2023.

To learn more about Mortal Kombat 1, please visit MortalKombat.com or join the community conversation on Instagram (@MortalKombat), TikTok (@MortalKombat), Twitter (@MortalKombat), Twitch (NetherRealm), YouTube (Mortal Kombat), Facebook (MortalKombat), Discord (MortalKombat), or Reddit (MortalKombat). All assets can be found on the Warner Bros. Games Press Site. To access, please visit WarnerBrosGames-Press.com and click the “Register Now” button.