The Haunting Price Tag on Mortal Kombat 1’s Halloween Fatality
In a season where candy is cheap and scares are abundant, it appears Mortal Kombat 1 decided to surprise its fanbase with a rather unwelcome trick rather than a treat. NetherRealm Studios and Warner Bros. Interactive rolled out a new Halloween-themed fatality, and the fan response is best described as monstrous. So what’s the hair-raising detail that’s sent shivers down the spine of the Mortal Kombat community? A ghastly price tag of 1200 Dragon Krystals—roughly translating to $10.
“This Halloween-themed Fatality in Mortal Kombat 1 costs 1200 Dragon Krystals, with a pack of 1250 Dragon Krystals costing roughly $10.”
For a game already priced at $70, this additional $10 for a seasonally thematic fatality has fans screaming—but not in the good, horror-movie kind of way.
The Anatomy of the Fatality: What’s All the Hubbub About?
This isn’t just any fatality. The sequence involves the player character hoisting a gargantuan pumpkin onto the opponent’s head, followed by an unsettling swarm of bugs feasting on them. As the gory coup de grâce, the pumpkin and the decapitated head are kicked into becoming a grim Jack-O-Lantern on someone’s doorstep.
“This is then topped off by the pumpkin and decapitated head being kicked to a doorstep, becoming a morbid-looking Jack-O-Lantern.”
Despite the gruesome creativity and the holiday-appropriate spook factor, the mere fact that it’s a premium item has made fans very skeptical.
Ain’t no way the Halloween fatality is 1200 Crystals man ain’t no way https://t.co/EcwGKWIXaM
— thethiny 🐰 (@thethiny) October 27, 2023
A History of Microtransaction Missteps
This isn’t Mortal Kombat 1’s first controversy. Despite receiving high critical acclaim, the game’s relationship with its player base has been precarious at best. The game’s been plagued with issues ranging from bugs and low-detail character models to more grievous sins like input issues.
“The game’s public perception has been less positive, despite its high critical reviews, due to a variety of issues.”
But the cherry on this problematic cake has been the game’s somewhat insidious reliance on microtransactions, encapsulated best by its in-game shop where players are coaxed into spending real-world money on Dragon Krystals to unlock cosmetic items.
1.2k Krystals is a bit too much for a fatality#Mortalkombat #MK1 #Mortalkombat1 pic.twitter.com/ftwHNx4QIH
— TQT (@TQT1995) October 27, 2023
The Uproar on Social Media and the Boycott
The fan backlash was immediate and visceral. Social media platforms have been ablaze with fans voicing their dissatisfaction.
“In response to this price tag, several players and fans began boycotting the Halloween Fatality.”
And this isn’t just a small pocket of resistance; the issue has resonated with a larger cross-section of the fan base who find the monetization scheme especially distasteful given that the game is already a full-priced release.
DO NOT BUY THAT SEASON FATALITY
byu/brokythe_reaper inMortalKombat
What’s Next for Mortal Kombat 1?
While the game plans to introduce DLC characters like Omni-Man from Invincible and Homelander from The Boys, it’s becoming increasingly apparent that the studio will have to tread carefully. The community’s patience is wearing thin, and without some form of recompense or change in strategy, Mortal Kombat 1 risks fatality-ing its own reputation.
So, the moral of the story? Sometimes, a trick can be far more expensive than a treat, especially if it costs you the loyalty of your fan base.
