First Mortal Kombat 1 T-1000 Gameplay Looks Straight Out of Terminator 2, and There's a Surprise Kameo DLC Character Coming Too

Mortal Kombat 1 developer NetherRealm Studios has unveiled the first gameplay footage for their upcoming DLC guest character, the T-1000, and simultaneously announced Madam Bo as a new DLC Kameo fighter.

The T-1000 gameplay showcases a range of attacks reminiscent of Terminator 2, including his signature blade and hook arms. His moveset shares similarities with characters like Baraka and Kabal. A particularly striking moment features the T-1000 transforming into a liquid metal blob before erupting from the ground with an uppercut reminiscent of Killer Instinct's Glacius.

Robert Patrick, the actor who famously portrayed the T-1000 in the 1991 film, provides both the voice and likeness for the character in Mortal Kombat 1. This gameplay teaser offers the first glimpse of Patrick's voice work, featured in a confrontation with Johnny Cage. The trailer culminates in a showcase of one of the T-1000's Fatalities, a recreation of the iconic Terminator 2 chase scene where the T-1000 pursues Arnold Schwarzenegger and Edward Furlong in a truck. In this Fatality, the T-1000 morphs out of the driver's seat to unleash a deadly barrage of bullets on the unfortunate Cage.

In a surprise announcement, NetherRealm revealed that Madam Bo, a fan-favorite character from Mortal Kombat 1's main story, will join the roster as a DLC Kameo fighter, launching alongside the T-1000. Madam Bo, the resourceful elderly restaurant owner who bravely defends herself against Smoke and his henchmen, is briefly shown in the trailer, first in a quick pre-fight scene between the T-1000 and Johnny Cage, and later assisting the T-1000 in combat.

The T-1000 will be available in Mortal Kombat 1 starting March 18th as part of the early access period for Khaos Reigns owners, with general release on March 25th. Madam Bo will be available on March 18th as a free update for Khaos Reigns owners or as a standalone purchase.

The T-1000 marks the final DLC character for the Khaos Reigns expansion, following the release of Cyrax, Sektor, Noob Saibot, Ghostface, and Conan the Barbarian. Speculation continues regarding the possibility of a third DLC character pack or Kombat Pack 3, fueled by questions surrounding Mortal Kombat 1's sales performance.

However, Warner Bros. Discovery has reaffirmed its commitment to the Mortal Kombat franchise. In November, CEO David Zaslav stated that the company plans to significantly increase investment in only four game titles, with Mortal Kombat being one of them.

In September, Mortal Kombat creative director Ed Boon revealed that NetherRealm had determined its next project three years prior, while assuring fans of continued support for Mortal Kombat 1 "for a long time to come."

Many anticipate NetherRealm's next title to be a third installment in the DC fighting game franchise, Injustice, although this remains unconfirmed by NetherRealm or Warner Bros. The first Injustice game, Injustice: Gods Among Us, launched in 2013, followed by Injustice 2 in 2017. After releasing Mortal Kombat 11 in 2019, NetherRealm deviated from its apparent pattern of alternating between Mortal Kombat and Injustice games, instead releasing the soft reboot, Mortal Kombat 1, in 2023.

In a June 2023 interview with IGN, Boon offered a nuanced explanation for this decision, citing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the team's transition to a newer version of the Unreal Engine (Mortal Kombat 11 used Unreal Engine 3, while Mortal Kombat 1 utilizes Unreal Engine 4) as contributing factors. Boon confirmed that the Injustice franchise remains a possibility for future development.