The Injustice franchise has given fans of the fighting genre two action-packed offerings that feature some of DC's biggest heroes and villains. NetherRealm Studios has staked its claim as the developer responsible for the long-running Mortal Kombat series, and Injustice puts a compelling comic book spin on this formula.
Injustice tells a dark tale that sees Superman building an authoritarian regime after the Joker tricks him into killing Lois Lane. Her death, along with the destruction of Metropolis, forces Superman into a much darker role than how he is usually portrayed, and it's a fascinating departure. Now that hope for Injustice 3 has recently been revived, there's no telling what a new chapter could look like. While the game has yet to be confirmed, a third Injustice game can't just be a rehash of old material. This time around, Injustice hopefully grows alongside the evolving DCU.
A NetherRealm Marvel Game Could Actually Be Darker Than Injustice
For years now, many fans have wanted NetherRealm to tackle a Marvel fighting game, and if it ever happened, it could be even darker than Injustice.
Injustice 3 Needs to Be Far More Than a Run-of-the-Mill Threequel
NetherRealm Studios Has Met With James Gunn and Peter Safran
- Back in 2022, Warner Bros. Hired James Gunn and Peter Safran to reboot the DC cinematic universe.
- This new era of DC is now underway, with its first project being last year's animated series Creature Commandos.
- Superman is set to be the first major release of this era.
Ever since Gunn and Safran took over the DCU, many longtime fans of the brand have been wondering what this new era might look like. Creature Commandos launched to pretty solid reviews, but the real test will be the upcoming Superman reboot. Even more intriguing, though, is that Gunn and Safran have confirmed that the duo has been in talks with Warner Bros.-owned developers NetherRealm and Rocksteady.
Back in February, Safran was quoted saying, "James and I sit with the guys that run the studios under JB, whether it’s NetherRealm or Rocksteady. We sit with them, and we talk about characters and stories that we’re interested in and that they’re interested in." This immediately caught the attention of both Injustice and Arkham fans. While this isn't a full-blown confirmation of a new game in each series, it's enough to drum up excitement.
Superman hits theaters on July 11, 2025. David Corenswet is set to play the titular hero alongside Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane and Nicolas Hoult as Lex Luthor.
NetherRealm Should Embrace DC's Changes
Whether it be through specific characters Gunn and Safran use or storylines, NetherRealm may benefit from tying itself to the DCU, at least a little bit. Of course, a third Injustice game can still continue its tradition of being a darker, alternate timeline, but embracing this new era could draw in a fresh audience. Characters like Booster Gold and Guy Gardner as Green Lantern could give Injustice 3 the shake-up it needs to excite longtime fans while also catching the eye of modern followers.
There have been rumors that NetherRealm studio has canceled its third DLC for Mortal Kombat 1. This has yet to be confirmed, but if true, it could signal a major pivot for the developer.
Injustice 3 Still Waits in the Shadows
Right now, there's no way to know if NetherRealm has any real intention of making a third Injustice game. Such a follow-up could still be a pipe dream, but all hope isn't lost just yet. It may be hard to meet fan expectations, but taking note of the changes in this new DCU could help give NetherRealm an idea of what risks work well or not.
This new era of the DC franchise could finally bring the kick it needs. Only time will tell, of course, but once Superman arrives in theaters, it will be exciting to see if NetherRealm makes any DC-related announcements.
Injustice 2
-
OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 87 /100 Critics Rec: 97%
- Released
- May 11, 2017
- ESRB
- T for Teen: Alcohol Reference, Blood, Language, Suggestive Themes, Violence
- Developer(s)
- NetherRealm Studios
- Publisher(s)
- Warner Bros. Games
- Engine
- unreal engine 3, unreal engine 4
- Multiplayer
- Online Multiplayer
- Franchise
- Injustice
WHERE TO PLAY
Power up and build the ultimate version of your favourite DC legends in INJUSTICE 2.
EVERY BATTLE DEFINES YOU: With every match you'll earn gear to equip, customise and evolve your roster.
A NEW THREAT RISES: Picking up where Injustice left off, Batman struggles against Superman's regime, as a new threat appears that will put Earth's very existence at risk.
THE BEST OF DC: Choose from the biggest DC Universe roster ever and battle across iconic locations in epic-scale battles.
BUILT BY NETHERREALM: Developers of the best-selling and critically acclaimed MORTAL KOMBAT franchise.
- Genre(s)
- Fighting
