NetherRealm Studios' Mortal Kombat 11 has shown that it is not afraid to cross over with multiple 1980s action franchises, and no video game embodies the 1980s mentality better than Grand Theft Auto: Vice City, which is why Tommy Vercetti should be Mortal Kombat 11 Ultimate's next DLC character. MK11 recently announced it would be releasing on next-gen consoles, and including a well-known character like Tommy Vercetti would be the perfect bonus for early adopters of Mortal Kombat 11 Ultimate, the newest version of Mortal Kombat 11 following the release of MK11 Aftermath earlier this year.
Grand Theft Auto fans haven't seen or heard much of Tommy Vercetti since the end of Grand Theft Auto: Vice City. While it is entirely possible the character is dead (it has been nearly thirty years in the Grand Theft Auto timeline since he was shown on-screen, after all) it's also equally likely that Vercetti is still alive, and could even be the current mob boss of Rockstar's fictional version of Miami. Of course, the Mortal Kombat franchise doesn't bother much with continuity or timelines when it comes to guest stars, as evident with their recent inclusions of characters like Leatherface, the Xenomorph, and RoboCop.
Mortal Kombat 11 has arguably gone farther into the territory of "unnecessary crossovers" than ever before in franchise history. While Mortal Kombat (the 2011 reboot, not the 1992 original) only featured guest characters such as Freddy Kreuger and Kratos from the God of War series, Mortal Kombat 11 has gone all-out with their inclusions. Not only are characters like The Joker (from both the Injustice series and DC Comics) and Spawn featured, but MK11 also includes the Terminator, RoboCop, and, now, John Rambo. This is a LOT of 1980s action heroes, but NetherRealm seems to be forgetting the best one.
Why GTA's Tommy Vercetti Is Perfect For Mortal Kombat
While Grand Theft Auto: Vice City may have originally released in the 2000's, the game embodies 1980s themes just as well as any film featuring the characters listed above. Vice City is heavily influenced by crime dramas like Carlito's Way and Scarface, and the main character, Tommy Vercetti (voiced by Ray Liotta) would make for a great addition to MK11's ever-expanding roster.
Unlike Mortal Kombat guest characters like RoboCop, the Terminator, or Rambo, GTA: Vice City's Tommy Vercetti has a wide arsenal outside of the many, many guns he's known for using. Melee weapons in Grand Theft Auto: Vice City include a knife, meat cleaver, golf club, nightstick, screwdriver, machete, katana, nightstick, baseball bat, hammer, and even a chainsaw, not to mention thrown weapons like grenades, tear gas, and Molotov cocktails. Much like Mortal Kombat characters such as Stryker, Sonya Blade, Cassie Cage, and Jax, Vercetti could easily utilize a mix of both physical fighting styles and these melee and projectile attacks to create both up-close and long-range problems for opponents.
While Rockstar Games and NetherRealm Studios have yet to cross over before, such a collaboration would likely be greatly embraced by the communities of each. Both companies have created flagship franchises which have remained incredibly popular for decades despite the controversy they have spawned (and, in some cases, sought out) and, more importantly, both companies would stand to profit immensely from their fanbases intermingling. Murder, death, and mayhem are common occurrences in both Grand Theft Auto and Mortal Kombat, after all, and it would just make sense for the two to finally combine in some fashion.
The Mortal Kombat franchise, especially Mortal Kombat 11 in particular, seems fascinated with action heroes from the 1980s. Tommy Vercetti from Grand Theft Auto: Vice City is the best video game equivalent to a 1980s action hero star available. This pairing just makes sense. If more DLC characters are coming to Mortal Kombat 11 Ultimate after its next-gen release, this Grand Theft Auto icon should be included.