Crossovers are nothing new in the world of gaming, whether it’s aHalo-themed DLC pack forGears 5or the various non-Nintendo characters inSuper Smash Bros. Ultimate. However, one players have been binning years for in the world of fighting games is forMortal Kombat’sfightersto cross fists with the roster ofStreet Fighter.Mortal Kombat’sco-creator Ed Boon understands the desire for this crossover as well, but explains on Twitter that making such a game happen is not as easy as players hope.
Ed Boonspoke about why aMortal KombatandStreet Fightercrossover hasn’t happened after another user broached the question. Specifically, the question implies why the crossover didn’t come together in both franchises' formative years in the 90s. The NetherRealm Studios head explains the issue comes having two publishers work together cohesively to make such a game happen, which he says is not as simple as “people want it, so do it.”
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Crossovers are nothing new to either franchise, though, as both have crossed paths with notable franchises inside and outside of gaming.
In the case ofMortal Kombat, 2008’sMortal Kombatvs.DC Universesaw the former’s fighters face off with the heroes and villains of DC Comics. It would be the last game in the series released by Midway before the franchise was bought byWarner Bros. Interactiveand the studio reformed under WB as NetherRealm. Since then, NetherRealm has jumped back and forth betweenMortal Kombatand its DC seriesInjustice.
As forStreet Fighter, players were treated to a crossover with Bandai Namco’s flagship fighting seriesTekkenwith the release of 2012’sStreet Fighter X Tekken. It was meant to be the first of a two-game crossover, with the first game done in the 2-D gameplay style ofStreet Fighterand the second in the 3-D gameplay style ofTekken. However,Street Fighter X Tekkenwas met with blowback despite positive reviews after it was found DLC characters were locked on the game disc. Adding to that,Tekken X Street Fighterhas reportedly been “on pause” since 2016, thoughTekkenlead director Katsuhiro Haradainsists the game is still happening.
Regarding aMortal KombatandStreet Fightercrossover, Boon’s statement makes sense as it is a problem seen in most media when two separate entities try working together. Typically, both companies will want to have consistent and meaningful input in the project to ensure its franchise is bolstered by the crossover. Take into account how both Capcom and Midway would take little shots at each other’s fighting game series during the 90s, and its easy to understand why neither studio may have been in a rush to work together.
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