Key Highlights:
- The Mortal Kombat 1 pre-order beta runs from 18 to 21 August on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S.
- Six Main Fighters, four Kameo Fighters and two stages are available during the test.
- PC and Nintendo Switch pre-orders do not include access to the beta.
The pre-order beta for Mortal Kombat 1 is now live, giving PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S players who reserved the game access from 18 to 21 August 2023.
That platform restriction is the catch. Players who pre-ordered Mortal Kombat 1 on Windows PC or Nintendo Switch cannot participate in the beta. The test is limited to PS5 and Xbox Series X|S.
The beta opened at 4pm BST on 18 August and runs until 4pm BST on 21 August, giving eligible players one weekend with a restricted selection of Mortal Kombat 1 content.
Access is available to eligible players who pre-ordered the Standard, Premium or Kollector’s Edition on either supported console.
The test includes six playable Main Fighters:
- Liu Kang
- Sub-Zero
- Kenshi
- Kitana
- Johnny Cage
- Li Mei
Four Kameo Fighters are also available: Kano, Sonya Blade, Jax and Frost. The Kameo system allows a separate partner character to assist the selected Main Fighter during combat.
Players can fight across The Teahouse and Johnny Cage’s Mansion, with both online 1v1 matches and Klassic Towers included in the beta build.
The pre-order beta follows the smaller June stress test, which NetherRealm used primarily to test Mortal Kombat 1’s online infrastructure with a more limited group of players.
This weekend test provides a broader look at the game by adding characters such as Johnny Cage, Kitana and Li Mei to the playable selection while retaining the core online and single-player fighting modes.
I think the useful distinction between the two tests is their purpose. The June stress test was built around server performance, while the August beta gives pre-order customers a more representative sample of the playable roster and Kameo system before launch.
PC and Nintendo Switch players remain excluded from the beta weekend, so pre-ordering on either platform does not provide equivalent early access.
