A newly-releasedMortal Kombat 1character bio suggests that Shao Khan could be coming back in a new role.Mortal Kombat 1has already confirmed a host of classic characters from throughout the long-running fighting game series, all of which have been given new origins and dynamics thanks toLiu Kang rebooting theMKtimelineat the end ofMortal Kombat 11’s Aftermath DLC. In the build-up toMortal Kombat 1’s impending fall release, NetherRealm has been slowly pulling back the curtain on these new versions of the warriors that fans have come to know and love through gameplay trailers and online character bios.The most recent round ofMortal Kombat 1character confirmations came during this week’s Kombat Kast livestream, which revealedtwo new primaryMK 1roster membersand a handful of supporting Kameo fighters. The first of these was Smoke, a loyal member of the Lin Kuei that will fight alongside Scorpion and Sub-Zero as they are recruited by Liu Kang to battle the forces that threaten Earthrelam. The second was Rain, a villainous sorcerer who opposes them with his water-based magic.RELATED:Mortal Kombat 1 Spoilers May Already Be OutShortly after yesterday’sMortal Kombat 1trailer was released, the official character bios for Smoke and Rain were shared on Discord, as revealed by Twitter user RealmKast. Rain’s bio is the one that has sparked the most discussion, as it makes a slight mention of his master: a “General Shao” that took notice of Rain’s magical prowess and helped him ascend to the rank of Outworld’s High Mage.
General Shao is almost certainly meant to be Shao Khan, the brutal tyrant of Outworld who was first introduced inMortal Kombat 2. He has appeared as a recurring antagonist inseveral subsequentMortal Kombatgames, with a past version of himself emerging inMortal Kombat 11following his death inMortal Kombat 9. In the oldMKtimeline, Shao Khan is the adoptive father of Kitana and Mileena, who are both set to return inMortal Kombat 1as the twin heirs of Outworld. Furthermore, his former lover Sindel is also mentioned in Rain’s character bio as “Empress Sindel.”
It appears that Shao Khan will return once again inMortal Kombat 1, albeit as a mere general in Outworld’s army rather than its ruler. Given thatotherMK 1character bioshave suggested that the game’s cast could eventually take on similar roles to their old counterparts, perhaps General Shao will ascend to his former rank inMortal Kombat 1’s rebooted timeline - though only time will tell if this comes to pass.
Mortal Kombat 1will be released on July 19, 2025, for Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S.
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