Mortal Kombat 1 (2023): The New Timeline
Liu Kang's new timeline and Titan Shang Tsung's plot.
Mortal Kombat 1 is a 2023 fighting game by NetherRealm Studios and Warner Bros. Games, the twelfth main game and the series' second reboot. It is set in a new timeline that Liu Kang created at the end of Mortal Kombat 11's Aftermath, where he gathers fighters for the latest tournament in Outworld while an alliance formed by Titan Shang Tsung works against him.
Lore & Background
As Fire God, Liu Kang remakes the universe with Kronika's Hourglass and keeps the tournaments going in an uneasy alliance with Outworld. He recruits the farmhands Kung Lao and Raiden, the struggling actor Johnny Cage and the former yakuza Kenshi; Raiden is named Earthrealm's champion and wins. Meanwhile a figure called Damashi helps the powerless Shang Tsung and Quan Chi become sorcerers and, with General Shao, turn Empress Sindel against Earthrealm. Damashi proves to be Titan Shang Tsung from another timeline; Sindel dies and names Mileena her heir, and Liu Kang, his Titan powers restored, gathers allies from other timelines and erases Titan Shang Tsung. The Khaos Reigns expansion pits Liu Kang's timeline against Titan Havik.
Reader's Guide
The game added Kameo Fighters, a separate roster of assist partners, and brought back Fatal Blows. It was released on September 19, 2023 and sold more than 8 million copies.
More in Tournament Arcs & Timelines
Elsewhere in Mortal Kombat
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