NetherRealm Studios, renowned for its Mortal Kombat franchise, appears to be gearing up for its next big project. While the studio is currently focused on the upcoming Mortal Kombat 1 expansion titled “Khaos Reigns,” which promises new fighters, story content, and the return of fan-favorite features like animalities, there are signs that NetherRealm is also working on something entirely new.

Job Listings Hint at New AAA Game with Story Mode

Two recent job postings by Warner Bros. Discovery, the parent company of NetherRealm and Warner Bros. Games, have sparked speculation about what the studio might be planning next. These job listings strongly suggest that NetherRealm’s next AAA title will include a story mode, a hallmark of the studio’s approach to fighting games.

Details from the Associate Producer and Senior Animator Postings

The first job posting is for an Associate Producer at NetherRealm, where the candidate will be involved in “the day-to-day management of a AAA title that NetherRealm Studios is working on.” While this alone is intriguing, the second job posting provides even more insight.

The position for a Senior Animator, Cinematics, is explicitly linked to the creation of “high-quality cinematic animation for our story mode campaign.” The job description highlights the need for expertise in character motion and the 3D animation pipeline, with a preference for candidates familiar with Unreal Engine 4/5 and experience in martial arts or fighting games. This indicates that NetherRealm is aiming to deliver another visually stunning, narrative-rich experience.

Speculation on the Potential IP and Game Engine

Based on the job requirements, it seems likely that NetherRealm’s next project could be built on Unreal Engine 5, marking a potential leap forward from Mortal Kombat 1, which runs on Unreal Engine 4. However, the most tantalizing question remains: which IP will this game explore?

While many fans hope for a sequel to Injustice, which hasn’t seen a new entry since 2017, Warner Bros. owns a wealth of properties that could be ripe for a fighting game adaptation. Given NetherRealm’s history of incorporating guest characters from horror and film franchises into Mortal Kombat, there is also the possibility of a crossover game featuring characters from various Warner Bros. universes.

Final Thoughts: Anticipating NetherRealm’s Next Move

With these job postings, it’s clear that NetherRealm is working on something big, and the inclusion of a story mode suggests that the studio is staying true to its roots of combining deep narratives with intense fighting gameplay. Whether this new game turns out to be a continuation of an existing franchise like Injustice or an entirely new IP, it’s bound to make waves in the gaming community. As the fighting game genre enjoys a resurgence, NetherRealm’s next project will undoubtedly be one to watch.

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