The next Mortal Kombat game, a reboot called Mortal Kombat 1, finally answers the question of which ending to Mortal Kombat 11 is canon. This most recent installment in the long-running franchise released in 2019, but cliffhanger endings left it unclear as to which direction the series would follow. 2020 saw the release of the Mortal Kombat 11: Aftermath, an expansion that offered two different possibilities for an ending with more finality. Although Mortal Kombat 1 can be expected to take things back to the start in some respects, it also makes it clear which of these endings is sticking around.

In Mortal Kombat 11, Raiden merged his soul with Liu Kang, creating the powerful entity known as Fire God Liu Kang. A climactic showdown pits Fire God Liu Kang against antagonist Kronika, with the most successful of the three Mortal Kombat 11 endings leading to Liu Kang preparing to protect the timeline and future however he can. In the Aftermath DLC, players can choose to pick up this fight as Liu Kang or play as the classic antagonist Shang Tsung. Success as each will lead to different results, with Liu Kang's victory ensuring that the world is reborn according to his designs and Shang Tsung's leading to his conquest of the realms.

Mortal Kombat 1 Makes The MK11 Good Ending Canon

Liu Kang Mortal Kombat 11 Aftermath Fire Teleport

The official trailer for Mortal Kombat account indicates that Mortal Kombat 1 will act as a "new dawn" for the series, implying that the newly restored world created by Fire God Liu Kang appears to be the canon going forward. This good ending of MK11: Aftermath sees Liu Kang preparing a new iteration of the Great Kung Lao to train, presumably for future tournaments in this new timeline.

This effectively resets the story of Mortal Kombat and allows the new game to pick up either with the tournaments anew, likely taking place in the past allowing for familiar characters to appear either as fans know them or in unfamiliar ways.

What's Different From The MK11 Aftermath Bad Ending

If the Mortal Kombat reboot was following the bad ending of Mortal Kombat 11: Aftermath instead, the stakes of the story would be apocalyptic. Many characters would have new motivations to avenge Shang Tsung's actions, with his new god-like status making for a major uphill battle. As Shang Tsung rewrote the timeline less than Liu Kang did, this would be a more traditional Mortal Kombat sequel rather than the reboot that is arriving in its place. Fans looking for a dark storyline and intense threats might have preferred this option, while those interested in a back-to-basics game can look forward to Mortal Kombat 1's fresh start.

Although Mortal Kombat has never shied away from violence, canonizing the more merciful path does make for a positive outcome following MK11. The upcoming Mortal Kombat reboot marks a way for the bloodshed to begin anew, however, and fans can no doubt expect to see a fresh variety of violent Mortal Kombat fatalities for graphic viewing pleasure. Details about the setting and concept of the upcoming game will come as more information is revealed before a new era for the series is ushered in with the September 19 launch of Mortal Kombat 1.

Source: Mortal Kombat/Twitter