NetherRealm has announced that it is shutting down Mortal Kombat: Onslaught, a spin-off of the fighting game franchise released for mobile devices last year.
Built exclusively for mobile, Mortal Kombat: Onslaught is an action-adventure beat 'em up role-playing game. Players could take on the role of their favorite Kombatants — with over 50 iconic characters available to play as — and jump into fast-paced team battles against waves of enemies. Each fighter had unique skills and special attacks, allowing you to strategically build powerful teams of four. The game also featured a story mode, complete with a full cinematic narrative.
Unfortunately, it sounds like Mortal Kombat: Onslaught never quite caught on with fans of the franchise. This month, NetherRealm quietly shut down its mobile division and, as a result, Mortal Kombat: Onslaught is also shutting down.
NetherRealm confirmed that Mortal Kombat: Onslaught will shut down on October 21, 2024. However, the game was removed from the App Store and Google Play today, July 22nd, meaning no new players can download it. If you already have the game, you can still make in-game purchases until August 23, 2024, with the game completely shutting down on October 21, 2024.
"It has been an honor creating this game for our Kommunity, and we appreciate the enthusiasm from our fans," NetherRealm wrote on social media.
When Mortal Kombat: Onslaught was first announced, NetherRealm creative director Ed Boon said the team was "pushing the boundaries of Mortal Kombat to allow players to experience the franchise in new ways, while still staying true to its core visceral nature."
The game had solid scores on both the App Store and Google Play, suggesting that fans did enjoy it. But it seems it probably wasn't profitable enough to continue operating.
While we bid farewell to Mortal Kombat: Onslaught, NetherRealm's core franchise remains a success. Mortal Kombat 1, which also released last year, received favorable reviews and sold around three million units as of January 2024. The game is about to wrap up its first Kombat Pack with the release of Takeda Takahashi. The new Kombatant will arrive in Mortal Kombat 1 on July 23 for Kombat Pack owners. He will be available for everyone on July 30th.
Takeda Takahashi is the sixth and final DLC character to be released as part of the Kombat Pack. He joins the previously released fighters: Omni-Man (Invincible), Quan Chi, Peacemaker, Ermac, and Homelander (The Boys). The Kombat Pack is available as part of the Mortal Kombat 1 Premium Edition ($109.99) or can be purchased separately ($39.99).
We don't know what's next for Mortal Kombat 1 following Takahashi's release, although there are rumors that additional DLC characters could arrive, including the T-1000, Conan the Barbarian, Ghostface, Cyrax, Sektor, and Noob Saibot.