What comes after a reboot that already reset the numbering? That question is becoming surprisingly important for Mortal Kombat. NetherRealm Studios has another installment in development, but even its potential title presents a dilemma. Should the franchise continue its new timeline, return to the old numbering or acknowledge how many main games have actually been released?
Ed Boon has now put those possibilities directly to fans. Early voting favors Mortal Kombat 2, although the other choices tell a different story about how players see the franchise’s identity. Meanwhile, a second poll has brought Marvel’s fighting games into the conversation.
Mortal Kombat 2 leads the vote despite its unusual history
On November 6, 2026, Mortal Kombat co-creator and NetherRealm Studios creative director Ed Boon published a poll on his official X account asking fans what they would want the next Mortal Kombat to be called.
Three possible titles appeared in the poll. During its opening hours, Mortal Kombat 2 was leading with 43% of the votes, ahead of MK13 with 33% and MK12 with 23%. These figures represent an early snapshot rather than final results, since voting was still open.
However, the choices are more interesting than a simple popularity contest. Each one represents a different way of interpreting the franchise’s history:
- Mortal Kombat 2 (43%): This would continue the numbering established by the 2023 reboot, treating that game as a fresh starting point. However, that title is already the name of the classic released in 1993.
- Mortal Kombat 13 (33%): This would follow the total number of main installments, counting the 2023 reboot, MK1, as the twelfth entry and its successor as the thirteenth.
- Mortal Kombat 12 (23%): This would return to the numerical sequence established before the reboot, following MK11 from 2019 rather than counting the 2023 game as installment twelve.
There is an important distinction here. These names are possibilities offered to fans, not officially confirmed titles. Likewise, the early percentages should not be interpreted as a final community verdict or evidence that NetherRealm has selected the leading option.
Mortal Kombat faces a numbering problem created by its reboot
The confusion comes from a deliberate creative reset. MK11 arrived in 2019, while MK1 launched in 2023 as the franchise’s twelfth main installment. Instead of adopting the expected number, NetherRealm restarted the timeline and presented the series under a familiar name with a new beginning.
Consequently, the next game could follow two different kinds of continuity. A title such as Mortal Kombat 2 would emphasize the rebooted era. MK13, by contrast, would recognize the complete sequence of main releases. The remaining option, MK12, would preserve the numbering that existed before the reset.
There is also a practical issue with the leading choice. The original MK2 has existed since 1993, meaning another game with exactly the same title could make searches, comparisons and discussions less straightforward. Fans would need to distinguish between the classic sequel and a potential modern release.
That does not necessarily make the name a bad choice. In fact, its simplicity could help reinforce the reboot’s identity. Nevertheless, the poll highlights a tension between attracting newcomers and maintaining a clear historical identity for a series that has been around for more than three decades.
A second poll brings Marvel vs Capcom 4 into the conversation
Boon did not limit his November 6 activity to NetherRealm’s flagship franchise. He also asked fans to choose between two hypothetical Marvel fighting-game sequels: Marvel Tokon 2 by Arc System Works and Marvel vs Capcom 4.
The overwhelming preference in that second vote was Marvel vs Capcom 4. However, this result needs careful interpretation. Neither Marvel vs Capcom 4 nor Marvel Tokon 2 has been officially announced, and the poll does not establish that either project is being developed.
Instead, the comparison offers an interesting glimpse into two different fighting-game identities. Marvel vs Capcom represents a familiar crossover legacy, whereas Marvel Tokon offers a newer approach to superhero battles through Arc System Works.
That newer direction is already visible in the current game’s content. Battle4Play recently covered Phoenix Cyclops’ moveset and Dark Phoenix transformation in Marvel Tokon, illustrating how the studio incorporates comic-book powers into combat mechanics.
Meanwhile, the arrival of Marvel Tokon’s free Phoenix Five costume for Magik shows another way the game draws on established Marvel storylines to expand its appeal.
These examples help explain why the second poll is worth discussing even without an announcement. It places an existing modern fighting-game direction alongside the possibility of reviving a well-known crossover series. Still, fan preference is not confirmation of a sequel, and no development conclusions can be drawn from the vote alone.
The next Mortal Kombat is in development but remains unnamed
Beyond the naming debate, there is one significant confirmed detail. In May 2026, Ed Boon confirmed that the next Mortal Kombat game was in development. That followed the end of new content support for MK1 in May 2025.
For anyone trying to separate confirmed information from speculation, the current situation is straightforward:
- Development: The next Mortal Kombat game was confirmed to be in development in May 2026.
- Official title: No name has been announced. MK13, MK12 and MK2 are poll options.
- Release date: No launch date or release window has been confirmed.
- Platforms: No supported systems have been officially detailed.
- Characters and gameplay: No roster, gameplay systems or other specific features have been confirmed.
- Previous installment: MK1 stopped receiving new content in May 2025.
For now, the biggest unanswered questions concern the game’s actual direction. A sequel bearing the number 2 might appear to follow the reboot’s naming logic, but a title alone would not establish its story, characters or gameplay. Similarly, choosing 13 would not automatically mean abandoning the new timeline.
That is why Boon’s poll matters without being an announcement. It reveals how differently fans interpret the series’ numbering, while leaving NetherRealm’s plans unresolved.
Mortal Kombat now has a confirmed future but no confirmed identity for its next installment. The early lead for Mortal Kombat 2 makes the debate particularly interesting, especially given the 1993 original. Ultimately, the more revealing moment will come when NetherRealm announces the actual game. Until then, which matters more to you: a clean reboot sequence or numbering that reflects the franchise’s entire history?
Creator of the website, Pokemon trainer by nature. Trying to report on everything related to the world of video games, series and movies. Yu-Gi-Oh is my weakness, collecting cards since the dawn of time.
