Mortal Kombat 1 Pre-Order Beta Confirmed for August

Mortal Kombat 1 director Ed Boon has announced that NetherRealm Studios will be conducting a beta test for the upcoming fighter, this one scheduled from August 18 to August 21.

While Mortal Kombat 1 has previously been playable via closed network tests, this one will feature a bunch of new content, including the newly-revealed Li Mei. The official Mortal Kombat 1 account laid out all of the available content:

Fighters: Liu Kang, Sub-Zero, Kenshi, Kitana, Johnny Cage, and Li Mei
Kameos: Kano, Sonya, Jax, and Frost
Stages: The Teahouse & Johnny Cage’s Mansion

August 18th

My mother’s birthday.
Tobias’s mother’s birthday.
1995 MK Movie release date.

and now… the #MK1 pre-Oder beta !!pic.twitter.com/ow8bxNcOKI

— Ed Boon (@noobde) July 27, 2023

The beta will take place ahead of Mortal Kombat 1’s official release date, which is currently scheduled for September. Here’s our full Mortal Kombat 1 preorder guide if you’re looking to get access to the beta.

The announcement follows Mortal Kombat 1’s recent San Diego Comic-Con presentation in which NetherRealm Studios revealed returning warriors Baraka, Li Mei, and Tanya as well as special guests Omni-Man, Peacemaker, and Homelander. The reveal followed a leak confirming their inclusion in the upcoming fighter.

Aside from providing an early glimpse of Mortal Kombat 1, August 18 is notable for a number of other reasons. Boon and co-creator John Tobias’ mothers share a birthday on that day, and the 1995 Mortal Kombat movie released on that day. Truly an auspicious day.

Mortal Kombat 1 was announced earlier this year, with the “1” donating that it’s both a reboot and a sequel after newly-minted God of Fire Liu Kang remakes the universe. It is notably brighter and more colorful than other games in the series, but it still retains Mortal Kombat’s distinctive look and feel, particularly it’s gruesome fatalities.

We went hands-on with Mortal Kombat 1 back in June, and you can find our full impressions right here. Mortal Kombat 1 releases September 14.

Kat Bailey is IGN’s News Director as well as co-host of Nintendo Voice Chat. Have a tip? Send her a DM at @the_katbot.