Mortal Kombat 2 or Injustice 3: Which One Is Next?

It’s been 3 years since Mortal Kombat 1 (technically Mortal Kombat 12) came out. It’s been 9 years since Injustice 2 came out. On an unrelated, salty note, it’s been 20 years since Mortal Kombat: Shaolin Monks came out. The point I’m trying to make is that it’s been a while since we’ve gotten a game from NetherRealm Studios (NRS). This begs the question: What game are they making next? Let’s speculate.

Mortal Kombat 2

It used to be that an NRS game would be released every 2 years. Mortal Kombat in 2011, Injustice in 2013, MKX in 2015, etc. You might also notice that the franchise would alternate; one release would be Mortal Kombat, the next Injustice, then back to Mortal Kombat. That all changed with MK 1.

Mortal Kombat 11 came out in 2019, so history would suggest that Injustice 3 would release in 2021. That obviously didn’t happen. Instead, MK1 was released in 2023. You could blame a number of reasons: Covid, Warner Bros. wanting a massive gaming hit, or something else. All of this to say that fans shouldn’t automatically expect a new Injustice game because of NRS’s previous routine.

If we’re going by that track record, we should’ve gotten Injustice 3 in 2025. It’s 2026, and anything goes. Mortal Kombat 2 has just as good a chance of being released next as Injustice 3 does.

Here are the arguments that I would make for Mortal Kombat 2 being the next release over Injustice 3:

Mortal Kombat Sells More Than Injustice

Although MK1 received mixed fan reception, it still sold 8 million copies. We don’t have the exact numbers for Injustice 2’s lifetime sales, but we do know that it sold 1.5 million in its first 3 months. But it’s clear that if Injustice sold anywhere near Mortal Kombat’s numbers, WB wouldn’t shut up about it. If you’re Warner Bros., and you love money, you’re going to ask NRS to continue working on the franchise that pulls in the most money, A.K.A., Mortal Kombat.

Warner Bros. Wants to Prioritize Mortal Kombat

In mid-2025, it was revealed that Warner Bros. Games (WBG) wanted to put more emphasis on its 4 biggest franchises, 2 of which were Mortal Kombat and the DC Universe. Now, it might seem that because DC was named, it means that MK and Injustice are equally important.

However, I would like to point out that DC Universe is very broad and ambiguous. It could be a solo game for any of the hundred popular DC superheroes, it could mean an MMORPG, it could literally mean anything. Mortal Kombat means Mortal Kombat. The point could be made that Injustice 3 falls into the umbrella of the term “DC Universe,” and that would be correct. But if WBG wants continuous Mortal Kombat games, when exactly is NRS meant to work on Injustice 3? Of course, another studio could work on Injustice while NRS works on MK, but they might as well call that game something else.

These are only 2 examples of why Mortal Kombat 2 has a strong case against Injustice, but I think they’re pretty good. Now, let’s look at the opposite side.

Injustice 3

It’s been almost 10 years since Injustice 2, and it seems that the community is split on whether they want Injustice 3. Go on social media, and people will make jokes about how Marvel fans get all these cool new games, and DC fans have to be content with Injustice 3. However, there are some people who would love to see IJ3 (I got tired of writing Injustice 3, so I’m abbreviating it to IJ3).

And there appear to be a few signs pointing towards IJ3 being the next game.

So Many Rumors

Rumors are just rumors; they’re not to be taken as gospel. I would like to bring up, though, that I don’t really see a ton of rumors for a Mortal Kombat 2, but I do see a ton for IJ3. That doesn’t necessarily mean anything, but it’s worth mentioning. Last year, 2 separate fans who met some of the voice actors who worked on previous Injustice games claimed that 2 actors admitted that Injustice 3 was in development. This shouldn’t be taken as concrete evidence; just because Injustice 3 is in development doesn’t mean that it’s the next game.

The next rumor came just a few months ago. According to MP1st, a WBG artist put on their resume that they worked on Injustice 3. Again, this rumor could be true, but that doesn’t mean it’s guaranteed that IJ3 is next up. NRS could be focusing on Mortal Kombat, while having IJ3 simmering on the back burner; although the opposite can also be true. A lot of rumors are swirling about Injustice 3 being in development, and there aren’t many swirling towards MK2.

Paramount Buying Warner Bros.

Remember how I talked about WBG’s strategy of focusing on its main franchises? Well, that’s up in limbo now. Paramount is set to acquire Warner Bros, which means that previous strategies and mindsets are up in the air. Paramount could also see that it makes sense to focus on the franchises that will bring them the most money, but maybe they want to try an alternate strategy. They could instead let studios make the games that interest them the most. It seems unlikely but plausible. The point I’m trying to make is that Warner Bros. is going to be acquired, and a new owner is coming to town.

These are only 2 reasons why Injustice 3 seems more plausible than Mortal Kombat 2, but again, I think they’re good reasons.

Conclusion: Is Mortal Kombat 2 More Likely or Injustice 3?

In my opinion, I think Mortal Kombat 2 is the next game from NetherRealm Studios. From a financial standpoint, it just makes sense to keep milking the cash cow that is Mortal Kombat. However, I would love to see Injustice 3. It’s going to be 10 years since Injustice 2; we’re due for the next installment.

Either way, I’m a huge fan of both franchises, so whatever happens, I win regardless.

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