Warner Bros. is working to appease upset Mortal Kombat 1 players by offering two ‘free’ Fatalities after facing backlash for introducing a $10 USD Fatality animation to the game’s premium store.
Despite being sold at full price of £59.99/$69.99 USD, the latest installment of the long-standing fighting series from developer NetherRealm features an in-game shop selling store-exclusive cosmetics, including costumes and gear, which can only be purchased with real money. Mortal Kombat 11 allowed players to buy cosmetics as well, but these were mostly obtainable through in-game activities.
The premium store for Mortal Kombat 1 has already sparked controversy, and matters escalated when Warner Bros. and NetherRealm began selling a store-exclusive Halloween Fatality animation for $10, sparking outrage among players. To put it in perspective, $20 could get you several DLC characters in Mortal Kombat 11.
The backlash prompted a response from Warner Bros. after complaints, with the company stating, “We appreciate your feedback.” However, instead of adjusting store pricing, Warner Bros.’ solution involves rewarding those who spent $10 on the controversial Halloween Fatality with two ‘free’ cosmetics – the Thanksgiving Fatality and Winter Fatality – that will be included in an upcoming premium Seasonal Bundle, likely to cost $30.
These aggressive monetization tactics are expected to become more common in Warner Bros. titles. Rocksteady’s upcoming Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League has already faced backlash for its cosmetics-focused battle pass, and Warner Bros. CEO David Zaslav has outlined plans to transform the company’s gaming franchises from traditional console and PC releases into “always on” live service games.
