NetherRealm Studios Would Love to Venture Into Genres Beyond Fighting Games

The fighting game genre is deeply integrated into NetherRealm Studios‘ relatively brief history. Interestingly, a handful of the studio’s developers have been a part of the Mortal Kombat creative team since the beginning. As such, apart from a few experiments here and there, fighting games are all they’ve developed. According to Creative Director and MK Co-Creator, Ed Boon, the studio does have hopes and dreams that venture beyond crafting another fighter. Whether or not the opportunity will ever arise seems to be another matter entirely.

In a recent interview with Game Informer, Boon expressed the team’s desire to explore other options. He told the publication, “While we love making Mortal Kombat games, we would love to expand into other genres, other IP, other things like that for sure.” Boon continued, explaining that the franchise’s success makes it difficult for them to call it quits. “One of the challenges of having your last game sell the most of any other game is, you know, it’s hard to just stop from there and say, ‘you know, well, we’re done.’ But, certainly, we can take a break from it, and build up anticipation for a future title.”

In many respects, it’s difficult to imagine NetherRealm doing anything that isn’t in the fighting genre. Of course, were the studio to venture beyond traditional fighting games, hopes are high a sequel to Mortal Kombat: Shaolin Monks would be a possibility. Unlike other installments in the long-running franchise, Shaolin Monks offered players an action-adventure experience with beat ’em up gameplay. Its return could not possibly be anymore desired.

Whatever NetherRealm has planned next won’t be detailed for quite some time. At least there’s another Mortal Kombat entry to look forward to, though, and it’s right around the corner. Mortal Kombat 11 will hit the PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, PC, and Xbox One later this month on April 23rd.

[Source: Game Informer]