What engine does Mortal Kombat 1 use?

What engine does Mortal Kombat 1 use?
Nico Vergara Updated on by

Video Gamer is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Prices subject to change. Learn more

What engine does Mortal Kombat 1 use? With NetherRealm Studios’ latest gory creation boasting the best graphics in the series to date, you may be wondering what software the developers utilized to get each spillage of blood and guts as realistic as ever.

Naturally, with these advanced visuals now integrated into the game, you can expect all of the Mortal Kombat 1 characters and Mortal Kombat 1 fatalities to look their best once you jump in. So, if you want to know the source of these violently beautiful graphics, we’ve got you covered.

What engine was Mortal Kombat 1 made on?

The engine that NetherRealm Studios used to make Mortal Kombat 1 is none other than Unreal Engine 4. Historically, most of the recent MK installments have frequently used Unreal Engine software, as MK8 all the way to MK11 were all developed with UE3. And, since development on this latest fighting game installment began in 2021, UE4 was the most up-to-date option the developers could use, as UE5 hadn’t been released then.

Naturally, Mortal Kombat 1’s usage of Unreal Engine 4 explains its exclusivity to current-gen consoles since this entry isn’t available on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. But even though the game isn’t being released on past-gen systems, it is surprisingly functional on the notably less powerful Nintendo Switch. It is worth noting that MK11 was similarly launched on the handheld platform. With this in mind, you can likely expect it to be released with the same graphical quality to prevent any performance issues.

That covers all you need to know about the Mortal Kombat 1 engine. For more on the game, check out our guides on how to do a fatality in MK1, how to do a brutality in MK1, and the Mortal Kombat 1 voice actors as well.