Mortal Kombat 1 Player 1 advantage is a surprising feature that NetherRealm Studios undoubtedly did not mean to include in the game. It has many players — especially those who study the finer details of fighting games — stressing over the inherent inequality that it brings. Here’s what MK1 Player 1 advantage is and when it will possibly get fixed.
What is MK1 Player 1 advantage?
Player 1 advantage in MK1, as its title implies, is when the person who starts out on the left side of the screen gets an unfair advantage over Player 2. Players have demonstrated this odd bug by showing a mirror match of the same two characters where Player 1 can do certain combos without any problem, while Player 2 drops it just about every single time. This is not tied to one specific character, either, as some have shown combos with Nitara, Kitana, Scorpion that have similar issues.
It seems like it could be tied to a slight difference in combo gravity. Regardless, series co-creator Ed Boon tweeted that NetherRealm is aware of the issue and has already fixed it. He stated that the update with the fix is “being prepped for release very soon.” He didn’t give a specific window, but the official Mortal Kombat Twitter account noted that the studio was aiming to release a patch on September 29. The official bug report website also has a ticket of the glitch and reiterates that NetherRealm is working on it. (Update: It has since been fixed.)
Player 1 advantage has actually a history with Mortal Kombat. 2011’s Mortal Kombat reboot notoriously also had it, as there was no trading melee hits. If both players did an attack and both attacks would land on the exact same frame, Player 1 would win every time. That, however, was never fixed and still remains in the game today. Mortal Kombat 1, on the other hand, will seemingly not be doomed to the same fate.
MK1 Player 1 Advantage FAQ
A: The MK1 Player 1 advantage refers to a situation where the person starting on the left side of the screen, or Player 1, gains an unfair advantage over Player 2. This manifests as Player 1 being able to execute certain combos without any problem, while Player 2 struggles to do the same. The issue isn’t character-specific and is thought to be related to a slight difference in combo gravity.
A: Yes, NetherRealm Studios is aware of the issue. Series co-creator Ed Boon has confirmed that they have already fixed the problem and are preparing an update for release soon. However, there is no specific timeline provided for when this update will be available.
A: Yes, Player 1 advantage has a history with the Mortal Kombat series. The 2011 Mortal Kombat reboot also exhibited this issue, where Player 1 would always win when both players’ attacks landed on the exact same frame. Unlike the MK1 Player 1 advantage, this issue in the 2011 reboot was never fixed and remains in the game today.
