Mortal Kombat Onslaught, the team-based RPG developed by NetherRealm Studios, is set to shut down on October 21, 2024, just over a year after its initial launch. This announcement has sparked discussions within the gaming community about the viability and challenges of maintaining live-service games.

The Lifecycle of Mortal Kombat Onslaught

Launched on October 17, 2023, Mortal Kombat Onslaught brought a new dimension to the Mortal Kombat universe by incorporating RPG elements into the traditionally fighting-centric franchise. Despite the innovative approach, the game will cease operations and be removed from the App Store and Google Play as of today, July 22, with in-game purchases being disabled a month later on August 23.

Reasons Behind the Shutdown

While NetherRealm Studios has not provided specific reasons for the decision to shut down the game, such closures are not uncommon in the competitive gaming industry, especially for titles that may not meet ongoing operational expectations or financial goals. The brief lifespan of Mortal Kombat Onslaught raises questions about market dynamics, player engagement, and the challenges developers face with live-service models.

Industry Perspective on Live-Service Games

The shutdown coincides with recent commentary from the CEO of Digital Extremes, developers of Warframe, who emphasized the importance of persistence in managing live-service games. The quick closure of games like Mortal Kombat Onslaught reflects a growing trend where developers may opt to cut their losses on projects that don’t achieve anticipated success swiftly.

Impact on the Mortal Kombat Franchise

NetherRealm Studios, renowned for their development of the main Mortal Kombat series, recently released Mortal Kombat 1, the twelfth installment of the main series, in September 2023. The shutdown of Onslaught might redirect the studio’s resources and focus towards the main series and other projects, potentially influencing their future strategic decisions. This event also comes at a time when anticipation is building for the next Mortal Kombat movie, set for release in October 2025, underscoring the franchise’s continued cultural impact.

Final Thoughts

The closure of Mortal Kombat Onslaught after just one year is a significant event that highlights the unpredictable nature of the gaming industry, particularly for new ventures within established franchises. For NetherRealm Studios, this might be an opportunity to recalibrate and focus on strengthening the core Mortal Kombat series and other future projects. For the gaming community, it serves as a reminder of the transient nature of digital entertainment and the harsh realities of the business behind it.

Also Read: