"Mortal Kombat 11"/NetherRealm Studios
"Mortal Kombat 11's" Cassie Cage is a real heart-breaker.
- "Mortal Kombat 11" is out now on Xbox One, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, and PC.
- The blockbuster fighting game features 25 playable characters, stunning visuals, loads of playable modes, and more of the over-the-top violence the series is known for.
- "Mortal Kombat 11" completely reworks the series' battle mechanics, but stays true to the long legacy of "Mortal Kombat" games.
- Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.
Since the series launched in 1992, "Mortal Kombat" has been synonymous with video game gore, earning legions of fans with over-the-top violence, edgy character designs, and an attitude that's almost too savage to be taken seriously.
Despite its reputation for gratuitous violence, the franchise has become an iconic part of pop culture, inspiring feature films, an esports tour for professional gamers, reality TV shows, and tons of fan-created content. "Mortal Kombat" strikes a careful balance between casual fun and hardcore fighting mechanics while preserving the irreverent tone the series is known for.
Read more: The new 'Mortal Kombat' game is the bloodiest yet - take a look at every gruesome 'fatality'
While violence has always taken center stage in "Mortal Kombat," the fighting game surrounding the gore has steadily improved through the years, thanks to a blockbuster budget and a passionate team of developers. Ed Boon, one of the original creators of "Mortal Kombat," still leads the game's development team at NetherRealm Studios.
NetherRealm has worked to develop the characters they debuted nearly 30 years ago, acknowledging both fan appreciation and the need to progress beyond the stereotypes of the '90s. The game's time-traveling storyline exemplifies how the series has grown from its arcade roots into a perennial blockbuster.
Here's everything you need to know about "Mortal Kombat 11," the latest entry in the brutal fighting game franchise: