Ed Boon Polls Fans on Whether the Next Mortal Kombat Should Be MK2, MK12, or MK13

Mortal Kombat co-creator Ed Boon has given fighting-game fans a fresh topic to debate: what should the next installment actually be called? In two polls posted on X on November 6, 2026, Boon asked his audience whether it would prefer the next game to carry the title Mortal Kombat 13, Mortal Kombat 12, or Mortal Kombat 2.

At the time the poll results were noted, Mortal Kombat 2 had taken an early lead with 43% of votes. Mortal Kombat 13 followed at 33%, while Mortal Kombat 12 had 23%. It is a deceptively simple question, but one that touches on the unusually tangled naming history of NetherRealm Studios' flagship fighting series--and may offer a small hint that the team is considering how it wants to present the project publicly.

There is no announced title, release window, platform list, or gameplay information for the next Mortal Kombat. Boon confirmed in May 2026 that another game in the series was officially in development, but NetherRealm has otherwise shared little about its plans. The poll should therefore be treated as a conversation with fans rather than a formal reveal. Still, after months of limited news, even a question about a numeral has naturally drawn close attention.

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Why Mortal Kombat's next number is not straightforward

The current uncertainty stems from the franchise's history of resets, sequels, and title changes. The 2011 reboot was officially called simply Mortal Kombat, though players commonly refer to it as Mortal Kombat 9 because it followed the numbered continuity of earlier mainline games. Its follow-up, Mortal Kombat X, effectively served as the tenth entry, and Mortal Kombat 11 continued that approach.

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Then came 2023's Mortal Kombat 1, a rebooted-era installment whose title intentionally returned the series to the beginning. That decision makes the next game difficult to label in a way that satisfies every interpretation of the series' lineage.

• Mortal Kombat 2 would directly follow the new-era branding established by Mortal Kombat 1.
• Mortal Kombat 12 would acknowledge the previous mainline sequence, treating the newest game's "1" primarily as a reboot title.
• Mortal Kombat 13 would count Mortal Kombat 1 as the twelfth mainline installment and proceed with the next number.

Each option has a logic behind it. The early popularity of Mortal Kombat 2 suggests that many fans would prefer NetherRealm to commit fully to the universe and continuity established in the latest game. It is also a title with obvious significance for longtime players, as the original Mortal Kombat II remains one of the most beloved arcade fighting games of the 1990s. At the same time, using that name again could create its own confusion, particularly when searching for or discussing the classic game.

Mortal Kombat 12 and Mortal Kombat 13, meanwhile, would offer a more conventional sense of progression. Yet the fact that Boon included all three possibilities underscores that the studio is at least aware of the differing expectations surrounding the series' numbering.

A quiet period after Mortal Kombat 1

The naming poll arrives at a time when the Mortal Kombat community has been looking ahead. Mortal Kombat 1 stopped receiving new content updates in May 2025, closing the door on further additions after its post-launch support period. Its tournament presence has also been relatively subdued, leaving competitive players eager to learn what NetherRealm's next major fighting game will be.

That does not mean a new Mortal Kombat is necessarily close to release. Game development timelines are long, and confirmation that a project is underway does not establish when it will be formally shown or launched. The current information only confirms that another entry is being developed and that its name remains a point of public discussion.

For players, the wait has encouraged a familiar cycle of speculation around NetherRealm. The studio is known primarily for alternating its work between Mortal Kombat and DC-based Injustice games, although it has never been bound to a rigid pattern. That history has made every comment from Boon, every alleged test report, and every piece of apparent evidence a potential spark for theories about the studio's next announcement.

Injustice rumors remain separate from confirmed Mortal Kombat development

Rumors surrounding Injustice 3 have continued alongside discussion of the next Mortal Kombat. Fans have pointed to résumés associated with stunt performers that reportedly listed Injustice 3, while claims of alleged playtests emerged earlier in 2026. None of that amounts to an official announcement from NetherRealm.

In September, Boon addressed an online claim that NetherRealm was testing Injustice 3, Mortal Kombat 13, and/or Mortal Kombat 9. He called those claims false, while adding an important qualification: the absence of external testing does not mean a game is not in development.

That response is especially relevant now. It leaves room for internal work on one or more projects, but it does not validate specific rumors, titles, remasters, or test builds. The confirmed fact remains that a new Mortal Kombat game is in development. Everything beyond that--including whether it will be called Mortal Kombat 2, 12, or 13--is still unsettled.

A second poll revives Marvel fighting-game conversation

Boon's Mortal Kombat question was not his only fighting-game poll. In a second post, he asked fans which hypothetical Marvel fighter they would rather see released next: Marvel Tokon 2 from Arc System Works or Marvel vs. Capcom 4. The response was heavily in favor of Marvel vs. Capcom 4.

The question is notable coming from the developer behind the Injustice series, but it should not be interpreted as confirmation of a Marvel project or a new Marvel vs. Capcom game. Rather, it reflects the wider fighting-game community's continued enthusiasm for crossover fighters and for the return of older competitive series.

The contrast between the two options also highlights the genre's ongoing arguments about accessibility, competitive design, and legacy. Marvel Tokon has prompted debate over player numbers and a difficult PC launch, as well as divided opinions on its mechanics at a high level. Meanwhile, the Marvel vs. Capcom brand endured a troubled reception for Marvel vs. Capcom: Infinite, though interest in the older games has grown in recent years. Community projects, including the Beyond fan mod, have contributed to that renewed attention.

For NetherRealm fans, however, the poll is more likely to reinforce a broader point: Boon remains highly engaged with the conversation around fighting games, their communities, and the types of projects players want to see. His social-media questions do not substitute for an announcement, but they provide a rare public sign of where fan interest currently sits.

Fans still want the next real reveal

The next Mortal Kombat's eventual title will matter, especially because it will communicate whether NetherRealm sees Mortal Kombat 1 as the beginning of a newly numbered series or as another chapter within the franchise's larger history. But a name is only the first question fans want answered.

Players are also waiting to learn which characters will return, whether the Kameo system will evolve, what direction the story will take after the rebooted timeline, and how NetherRealm plans to support the game for both casual and competitive audiences. Those details remain unknown, as do its target platforms.

For now, Boon's poll has made one thing clear: the community has strong opinions on what comes next, even before the game has a public identity. Whether NetherRealm ultimately chooses Mortal Kombat 2, Mortal Kombat 12, Mortal Kombat 13, or a completely different title, the answer will set the tone for the series' next era.