Mortal Kombat 1 Sales Reach 6.2 Million Units as Developers Strive for Optimal Game Balance

Mortal Kombat 1 has reached a remarkable sales milestone, surpassing 6.2 million units since its debut in September 2023. This figure is a significant increase from the 5 million units reported in January. Game Director Ed Boon announced this achievement on X, while expressing the studio’s dedication to ensuring that NetherRealm Studios delivers its most balanced game to date.

(1 of 7) Lot of Mortal Kombat related news recently: Let’s start with MK1. With over 6.2 million games sold, we’re still committed to refining MK1 to be our most balanced game. Check out this video for details on the balance patch we released today.https://t.co/LQhWBLWCgy

— Ed Boon (@noobde) August 8, 2025

In line with their commitment to balance, a new hotfix for Mortal Kombat 1 was released recently, introducing critical adjustments to numerous fighters. Below are the detailed changes made for some of the characters:

Ashrah

Absolving a Sin with Heaven attacks do 30 damage (an increase from 20).

Hawk

The first hit of Flesh Wound (Back Punch, Back Punch) now hits Mid (previously overhead).
The second hit is now an overhead (previously Mid).
Combo damage scaling increased after Skab Stab (Away + Back Punch, Back Punch, Front Punch + Front Kick).
Recovery on block and miss for Destroying Balance (Away + Back Punch, Back Punch, Back Kick) has been increased by 7 frames.

Often

Heighten Senses (Back Kick, Back Kick) can now be special cancelled.
Impaler (Away + Back Punch in Sento Stance) recovers 7 frames faster.

Li Mei

Calculated (Back Kick, Front Kick, Back Kick) recovers 7 frames faster on hit.
(Air) Enhanced Flipping Heel Kick’s last hit is no longer more negative when Flawless Blocked.
Sky Lantern detonated by Nova Blast now hits overhead (previously Mid).

Liu Kang

Punishing Palm (Front Punch, Back Punch, Front Punch) can now be special cancelled.

Rain

Water Beam and Enhanced Water Beam have a faster startup by 3 frames.

Reptile

Dr. Wreckyl (Towards + Back Punch, Front Punch, Front Punch) and Kneet Trick (Towards + Back Punch, Front Punch, Front Kick) are no longer more negative when Flawless Blocked.

Shang Tsung

Knee Reverser (Back Punch, Back Kick in Young Form) recovers 3 frames faster.
Spin Kick (Towards + Back Kick, Front Kick, Back Kick in Young Form) can now be special cancelled and deals 50 damage (down from 70).

Quan Chi

Psycho Skull and Enhanced Psycho Skull now have a startup that is 5 frames faster.
Sorcerer Smack (Front Punch) now has an additional 2 frames of blockstun.
Bow Already! (Back Punch, Front Punch, Back Kick) features an extra 5 frames of hitstun.
Best Foot Backward (Down + Towards + Back Kick) now hits overhead (previously Mid) with adjusted hit region.

Omni-Man

Earthquake Stomp (Towards + Front Kick) has a 2nd hit that provides 5 more frames of blockstun.

Ermac

Behind You releases the opponent 10 frames sooner.

Homelander

Combo damage scaling increased after Vought Drop, The Seven Slam, and See No Evil (Away + Back Punch, Back Punch, Front Punch + Front Kick).

Conan

Fixed a rare issue that sometimes prevented Barbarian’s Blitz and Barbarian’s Blade from hitting correctly in trade situations.
Barbarian’s Blitz and Barbarian’s Blade recover 5 frames faster on both hit and miss.
Atlantean Bulwark’s 4th hit has 7 more frames of hit advantage.

T-1000

Multiplanar Laceration (Back Kick, Front Kick, Back Kick, Front Kick, Back Kick) has its 3rd hit changed to hit Mid (previously overhead).
Combo damage scaling increased after Liquiform Suplex and Nasal Pierce (Away + Front Kick, Back Punch, Front Punch + Back Punch).

Cyrax

Capture Foam is now destroyed upon being hit by other projectiles.
Close, Mid, and Far Bomb build less meter when performed and deal less damage when blocked.
Bomb Mistwalk also builds less meter when performed and provides less damage when blocked.

Sector

(Air) Burst Grenade no longer builds meter on miss.
(Air) Burst Grenade damage is now 50 (was 60).
(Air) Burst Grenade and (Air) Enhanced Burst Grenade now deal less damage when blocked.
Flamethrower now does 30 damage on the first hit (down from 50) and 50 damage on the second hit (up from 30).
Enhanced Flamethrower’s first hit now deals 50 damage (down from 90) and 50 damage on the second hit (up from 30).

As Mortal Kombat 1 continues its trajectory, the goal of selling an additional 8.8 million units within the next year and a half seems ambitious. However, deep discounts may influence its sales potential significantly.

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