NetherRealm is currently hosting a stress test for Mortal Kombat 1, meaning that select players can try out the upcoming fighting game all weekend long. After a few years of rumors and speculation, NetherRealm formally announced the next installment of the famed Mortal Kombat series in May. Mortal Kombat 1 is a continuity reboot, with the newly-minted Fire God Liu Kang using Kronika's reality-altering Hourglass to create a peaceful new timeline. However, Shang Tsung soon returns, forcing Liu Kang and his allies back into battle once more.More of Mortal Kombat 1 was shown off during this month’s Summer Game Fest, as Mortal Kombat co-creator Ed Boon took to the stage to discuss some of the game’s newest features. While most of the brutal and bloody fighting action fans have come to expect from MK will be present and accounted for, Mortal Kombat 1 is shaking things up with Kameo Fighters, supporting fighters who can be called upon to assist the player during a match. While most fans will have to wait until Mortal Kombat 1 makes its official release in September, a lucky few will get to step into the blood-soaked arena a bit early. Back in May, NetherRealm set out invitations for a special Mortal Kombat 1 stress test, and now it is being held this weekend. The official Mortal Kombat Twitter account heralded this testing period by announcing that codes for the game had been sent out to participating players yesterday. Anyone with said code can try Mortal Kombat 1 from now until 11 AM Eastern Time (or 8 AM Pacific) on June 26.
NetherRealm also revealed that the Mortal Kombat 1 development team noticed an unspecified issue in the testing a day before sending out the codes for the stress test, but was able to fix it in short order. This stress test is meant to test Mortal Kombat 1’s online functionality, so players will compete against each other in 1v1 matches and play against AI-controlled opponents in a limited version of the game’s Klassic Towers mode. However, it isn’t available on Nintendo Switch or PC, nor is there any cross-platform support on PS5 and Xbox Series X/S.
Mortal Kombat 1 looks promising already, and the feedback generated from this weekend's stress test could help make the game even better when it finally launches in September. For now, select fans can get a small preview of the brutality to come when the forces of Earthrealm return to do battle once more this fall.
Mortal Kombat 1 is scheduled to release September 19, 2023, for Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S.