Look, let’s be real for a second. We’ve all been there—scrolling through Twitter or Reddit, seeing another grainy screenshot of Scorpion from 1992, and feeling that sharp pang of nostalgia. It’s been decades since the original trilogy redefined what a fighting game could be, yet the community refuses to let it go. This isn't just about old games. It's about a specific, long-running movement known as the mortal kombat remaster petition that has become a bit of a legend, and a bit of a headache, in the gaming world.
People want those digitized sprites in 4K. They want the blood to look like actual red syrup again, not polygons. But as much as we scream into the void, the reality of getting a "Klassic" remaster is way more complicated than just pressing a "HD" button at NetherRealm Studios.
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The Blind Squirrel Fiasco and Why Fans Are Still Loud
To understand why the mortal kombat remaster petition exists in its current, desperate form, you have to look at what almost happened. A few years back, a project titled Mortal Kombat Kollection Online was actually in development. This wasn't just fan fiction. This was a real, licensed project being handled by Blind Squirrel Games. They were working on bringing MK1, MK2, and MK3 into the modern era with updated graphics, netcode, and UI.
Then, it just died.
Warner Bros. pulled the plug. No one really knows why, though the usual suspects—licensing issues, budget shifts, or focus on Mortal Kombat 11—are probably to blame. When those leaked screenshots of the Blind Squirrel remaster hit the internet, the fan base lost its collective mind. The quality was startling. Seeing Sub-Zero’s mask with actual texture while maintaining the original actor's likeness was the "holy grail" for many.
That cancellation is the primary fuel for the mortal kombat remaster petition on platforms like Change.org. Fans aren't just asking for something new; they are asking for something that was taken away.
The Eyeballistic Factor
Then you have the folks at Eyeballistic. This is an indie team that basically went to Ed Boon and Warner Bros. and said, "Look, we have the tech. We can do this." They even created a petition of their own to show WB that there’s a market for it. Their goal? To recreate the original trilogy using 3D models that look identical to the 2D sprites but allow for 4K resolution and 60 FPS gameplay.
They gathered thousands of signatures. Honestly, it's one of the few times a petition actually felt like it had teeth because a developer was behind it. But the silence from the top remains deafening.
Why NetherRealm Can't Just "Fix" the Old Games
We tend to think that because we can run an emulator on a toaster, a professional remaster should be easy. It's not.
The original Mortal Kombat games were made using digitized actors. Those actors—Daniel Pesina, Elizabeth Malecki, Ho-Sung Pak—were filmed against green screens. To do a true HD remaster, you’d ideally need the original raw film footage. Most of that footage is either lost, degraded, or sitting in a box in someone’s basement in Chicago. Without those original high-res files, you’re basically trying to "zoom and enhance" a low-res photo from 1992. It usually looks like garbage.
There are also legal webs.
The rights to certain characters or the likenesses of the actors have been a point of contention in the past. Remember the lawsuits in the 90s? While most of that is settled, big corporations like Warner Bros. Discovery are notoriously allergic to any project that might trigger a legal royalty dispute.
The "Mortal Kombat 1" Factor (The New One)
The recent release of the new Mortal Kombat 1 (the 2023/2024 reboot) complicates the mortal kombat remaster petition significantly. From a business perspective, why would WB want you playing a $20 remaster of a 30-year-old game when they want you buying $10 skins and $70 expansions in their newest "live service" title?
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It’s a brutal reality of the industry. Remasters often compete with the "current" version of a franchise.
What the Fans Actually Want (Beyond Just Pixels)
If you read the comments on the latest mortal kombat remaster petition, you see a pattern. It isn't just about graphics. Fans are hungry for a few specific features that the original ports (like the 2011 Arcade Kollection) lacked:
- Rollback Netcode: Playing UMK3 online is a nightmare without modern netcode. If it’s not smooth, the competitive community won't touch it.
- The "Lost" Content: People want the weird stuff. They want the hidden menus, the EJB menus, and the ability to play as bosses like Goro or Kintaro without hacking the game.
- Museum Features: High-quality scans of original production notes, behind-the-scenes footage, and interviews. Think of what Digital Eclipse did with the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Cowabunga Collection. That is the gold standard.
The Current State of the Movement
Right now, the most prominent petition has cleared over 50,000 signatures. In the grand scheme of a game that sells 12 million copies, 50k might seem small. But in the world of "hardcore legacy fans," that’s a massive, unified voice.
Ed Boon, the co-creator of the series, is very active on social media. He trolls. He teases. He knows the petition exists. He’s even acknowledged that he’d "love to see it happen." But Boon doesn't sign the checks; the suits at Warner Bros. Discovery do. And right now, WBD is more interested in cost-cutting and high-yield intellectual property than a niche nostalgia trip.
Is It Ever Going to Happen?
Honestly? Probably. But maybe not how we think.
Gaming history moves in cycles. We saw it with Street Fighter. We saw it with Killer Instinct. Eventually, the demand for a "35th Anniversary" or "40th Anniversary" collection will become too loud—and too profitable—to ignore. The work done by teams like Eyeballistic or the fan-made Mortal Kombat HD: Kommunity Edition proves that the passion is there.
The mortal kombat remaster petition serves as a constant reminder to the IP holders that there is a line item on a spreadsheet waiting to be filled. It keeps the conversation alive. Without it, the original games might just be relegated to buggy legacy ports on defunct consoles.
How to Actually Support the Cause
If you actually want to see these games return, clicking "sign" on a petition is only the first step. The industry responds to engagement and money.
- Support Official Legacy Releases: When WB releases something like the Mortal Kombat 11 "Klassic" skins, buy them if you like them. High sales on nostalgic DLC tell the marketing team that "Old School = Money."
- Engage with Developers Respectfully: Don't harass the devs. Tag Ed Boon and NetherRealm in cool fan art or HD mockups. Positive engagement usually gets more internal traction than "Where is MK HD??" spam.
- Keep the Community Alive: Play the original games on platforms like Fightcade. High player counts on third-party platforms are tracked by companies. They see where the audience is hanging out.
The fight for a true Mortal Kombat remaster is a marathon, not a sprint. The petition is the heartbeat of that fight. It might take another five years, or a sudden change in leadership at WBD, but the quest for a flawless, high-definition Fatality continues.
Stay loud. Keep the pressure on.
Next Steps for Fans:
Follow the official Eyeballistic social media accounts for updates on their technical pitches to WB. Additionally, monitor the "Mortal Kombat Warehouse" for any new leaks regarding potential anniversary collections, as these often appear in Steam database updates months before an official announcement.