Okay, I figured I would have a little fun and throw a prediction out there.
We know a new MK game is most likely coming because of NRS' track record, the fact that Ed Boon and other NRS-related social media is talking more and more about MK specifically (including accounts that haven't talked about it in like a year), and the fact that they seemed to have officially dropped Injustice 2 and it's DLC releases and I really don't think NRS is going to go so long without releasing anything.
Name of the game will be "Mortal Kombat 0" and will be announced June 8th. A couple reasons why I think it will be announced on the 8th: 1) Injustice 2 was announced on the same date, 2) On PlayStation Blog they have an article up saying that starting on the 6th they will be showing stuff leading up to E3, and on the 8th they are showing a new non-VR game. It could be anything, but since this is my wild prediction, I'm going to say that it's MK.
I think the story will focus on realms clashing because of some drama related to Corrupted Raiden, Emperor Kotal Kahn, Revenant Liu Kang/Kitana, some plots brewing behind the scenes, etc. The focus will be on Earthrealm and Outworld again, but with a twist: most of the good guys will actually stand with Outworld (including Bo' Rai Cho) because they don't like what Raiden is wanting to do, which is probably something bad. However, other realms will get involved like Netherrealm but also realms that we haven't seen in a while, like Orderrealm, Chaosrealm, and maybe even Dreamrealm which was mentioned in both MK9 and MKX arcade endings, I think. It's going to be a major war between the realms, some will live, some will stand to the side and kinda let everyone do their business, others will die -- one of which I think is going to be Jax at the hands of Erron Black, which sets a new rivalry between him and Jacqui. Anyway, near the end of the story Blaze will be introduced through a cameo appearance, and at the end of the game Onaga is teased. Somewhere in between all of this characters will get fleshed out more. Takeda will take on the Red Dragon, Fujin becomes the new Earthrealm protector, Cassie masters her powers with Bo's help, etc.
When it comes to new game mechanics, I think it will have:
- And expanded Faction War system, but this time done right. Instead of choosing Black Dragon, Special Forces, etc, you instead choose a realm you want to represent. So there will be Earthrealm, Outworld, and so on. The rewards will be better and consistent, including cosmetic items.
- Variations aren't coming back, but they will instead try to do something similar to Injustice 2's gear system, but this time with more of a focus on gear sets. Example: you can get new and classic costume pieces by leveling up characters (character leveling will be new, btw), progressing through modes, completely challenges, and probably opening up loot boxes. You won't be able to buy boxes, but you will be able to quick-unlock specific items you want, maybe even whole sets using either earnable Koins or real money. This is how NRS extra monetization will come into play. There will be no "gear moves" though, but shaders will be back including more special ones. It won't be called gear and shaders though, it will be called something else. There will also be more overall depth to the system than in Injustice 2.
- The kombat mechanics will include redone stamina, run, and grab systems. There will be new "super jumps and dashes" that look/work uniquely to each character. Example: Sub-Zero's super jump has him create a small pillar of ice underneath him that kinda pushes him up and lets him jump across the screen. The pillar actually stays there, and if he or his opponent go back to where it was at they can pick it up and throw it like an interactable. His super dash will have him slide across the ground either forwards or backwards and it leaves a trail of ice. If the opponent is in it, they walk/run slower. Every character's will be different. Certain characters will get double jumps, air dashes, or even air combos also.
- 30 characters at launch this time, including the pre-order bonus which will be Shao Kahn. I'm not going to try to predict all the characters, but here are some off the wall predictions: Kai will be in the game as a White Lotus member and hero that wants to stop Raiden, and so he teams up with Bo' Rai Cho and his followers who seek the same thing. Hotaru will be the one and only representative of the Orderrealm and NRS will use some of that Naginata tech they made for Tanya in MKX. Reiko will be one of the first DLC characters, speaking of which, there will be 11 DLC characters.
- Classic modes are back including the Krypt, where you can find some costume pieces for characters to form whole sets, while others can be bought through a shrine using koins or real money like I mentioned above. Same goes for shaders/palettes. Other things you can find includes concept art, music, and the return of behind-the-scenes videos and tech demos. Other modes are Living Towers expanded on, and the return of Chess Kombat.
- The "-alities" in the game will be Fatalities, Brutalities, including stage versions of both, Friendships, and a new "-ality" that hasn't been done in the past. No Animalities.
