Updated: Ed Boon’s ‘Tick’ Teaser Was the First Major Hint at Mortal Kombat 1.
Key Highlights:
- Ed Boon posted the word “tick” 12 times on social media, prompting fresh Mortal Kombat 12 speculation.
- Warner Bros. previously confirmed the next Mortal Kombat game was in development.
- NetherRealm Studios has yet to announce the game officially.
Warner Bros. confirmed earlier this year that the next Mortal Kombat game was in development, but NetherRealm Studios has remained quiet on when it will be formally revealed. Now, a cryptic social media post from franchise co-creator Ed Boon has sparked fresh speculation that an announcement could be drawing closer.
Ed Boon has built a reputation for teasing upcoming announcements through cryptic social media posts, and his latest message is no exception.
The NetherRealm chief simply posted the word “tick” twelve consecutive times. While the post offers no explanation, many fans quickly interpreted it as a possible reference to Mortal Kombat 12 or even a countdown towards an official reveal.
At the time of writing, neither Boon nor NetherRealm Studios has commented further on the meaning behind the post.
I’ve followed Ed Boon’s social media activity for years, and while his teasers often generate discussion, they rarely confirm anything on their own.
Although the game had not yet been officially unveiled when this article was first published, Warner Bros. Discovery executives confirmed during an earnings call that the next Mortal Kombat title was scheduled to launch in 2023.
Beyond that announcement, very little had been revealed.
Reports at the time also suggested NetherRealm Studios was working with updated technology following job listings referencing a new game engine. However, the studio did not confirm what technology was powering the project or how it would differ from previous entries.
Whenever the next Mortal Kombat arrived, it would enter one of the most competitive periods the fighting game genre had seen in years.
Capcom was preparing to launch Street Fighter 6, while Bandai Namco was developing Tekken 8. Other established franchises, including Guilty Gear Strive and The King of Fighters XV, also continued to receive post-launch fighters and balance updates.
That competitive landscape meant NetherRealm would likely choose its reveal carefully rather than rush an announcement.
Ed Boon’s latest teaser has certainly reignited discussion, but it remains exactly that: a teaser. Until NetherRealm Studios confirms its plans, any connection between the post and Mortal Kombat 12 remains speculative.
Warner Bros. has already confirmed the next Mortal Kombat is on the way. The remaining questions are when NetherRealm will unveil it and what direction the studio has chosen for one of fighting games’ biggest franchises.
