A Mortal Kombat 1 cross-play feature would enable players of all systems to play together, as is the case with other popular fighting games like Street Fighter 6. But NetherRealm Studios has never launched a game with the feature before. Here’s whether or not Mortal Kombat 1 has cross-play.
Does MK1 have cross-play?
Mortal Kombat 1 did not launch with cross-play. Cross-play was initially a question in the game’s official FAQ when it was first put up near its summer announcement, but the answer was quickly scrubbed. It noted that the studio wants to add the feature after launch.
And while it was deleted, the studio tweeted shortly before Mortal Kombat 1’s early access launch that it was coming sometime in the future. The team explained that it is “hard at work at implementing the feature into the game and it will be koming post launch.” No more specific time table was given.
It is also unclear what platforms will have cross-play. Mortal Kombat 11 had a cross-play beta that never left beta and only applied to the PS4 and Xbox One versions (and then in the PS5 and Xbox Series X|S upgrades when those launched). PC and Nintendo Switch owners were left out and could only play with people on their platform. Given the power differences between the Switch and the other systems, it seems possible that it would be left out.
Cross-play in Mortal Kombat 11 was limited not only to certain consoles, but also in modes. It was not possible to play ranked matches with cross-play turned on. It was also not possible to party up with people on other consoles. It was rather limited, explaining why it had and never got rid of its “beta” classification. It remains to be seen how Mortal Kombat 1’s cross-play stacks up.
MK1 Cross-Play FAQ
A: No, Mortal Kombat 1 did not have cross-play at launch. However, NetherRealm Studios has expressed interest in adding this feature post-launch, although a specific timetable has not been provided.
A: Yes, while the studio initially mentioned cross-play in the game’s official FAQ and later removed it, they confirmed via a tweet before the game’s early access launch that they are working on implementing cross-play in the future.
A: In Mortal Kombat 11, cross-play was indeed limited. It was restricted to certain consoles and did not include ranked matches. Additionally, players couldn’t party up with those on other consoles. It’s still uncertain how Mortal Kombat 1’s cross-play will compare or if it will have similar limitations.
