Mortal Kombat 1, developed by NetherRealm, is currently under the spotlight for unexpected reasons. Players in Russia and Belarus have reported being barred from accessing online play and pre-order bonuses. This restriction has caused a surge of disappointment, especially considering these players could access online features during the game's stress test phase.
Disrupted Online Functionality
Mortal Kombat 1's recent move to block online functionality for players in Russia and Belarus appears to be an act of alignment with the boycott established in the wake of the 2021 invasion of Ukraine. The cause for unrest among the players is that, during the stress test of the game, these online functionalities were available. Thus, players made purchases expecting to enjoy these features upon the game's official launch.
Metacritic Reviews Reflect Discontent
The current scenario is evident on Metacritic, where numerous disappointed players are voicing their grievances. A common complaint is the inability to claim the Shang Tsung pre-order bonus or even engage in the Invasion mode. The lack of prior communication from NetherRealm or Warner Bros. Games about this limitation has further agitated the situation. Metacritic pages are now inundated with zero-star reviews from players in the affected regions.