Mortal Kombat Creator Breaks Silence on 30-Year Street Fighter Rivalry

Mortal Kombat co-creator Ed Boon reflects on the franchise’s legacy, its Hollywood future, and the long-running rivalry with Street Fighter ahead of new releases.

Precious Eseaye • Profiles • 1 month ago • 2 minute read •

Key Points

• Mortal Kombat co-creator Ed Boon confirmed plans for another Mortal Kombat game and teased future projects in other media forms.

• Boon expressed a strong desire to include Street Fighter characters, as well as DC and Marvel characters, in future Mortal Kombat games.

• Ed Boon dismissed recent 'smack talk' from Street Fighter as part of a three-decade-long friendly rivalry between the two franchises.

Mortal Kombat Creator Breaks Silence on 30-Year Street Fighter Rivalry

The creator of Mortal Kombat, Ed Boon, has opened up about the franchise’s decades-long relationship with its biggest rival, Street Fighter. His comments come as both franchises prepare new projects across film and gaming.

Boon reflected on how Mortal Kombat has grown from a 1992 arcade hit into a global entertainment brand spanning games and films. He pointed to the franchise’s signature fatalities as a defining factor in its lasting cultural impact.

He also addressed the long-running fan debate around crossover characters, saying he would love to see a Street Fighter fighter appear in Mortal Kombat. He described the idea as a natural extension of the series’ tradition of guest appearances.

The rivalry between the two franchises resurfaced recently during a Video Game Awards moment tied to the upcoming Street Fighter film. Boon dismissed the tension as playful, calling it part of a decades-long fan-driven competition.

He stressed that there are no hard feelings between both communities and even expressed hope that both upcoming films perform well. According to him, success on both sides could boost interest in video game adaptations overall.

Looking ahead, Boon confirmed that NetherRealm Studios is actively working on the next Mortal Kombat title. He also hinted at broader expansion into other forms of media storytelling beyond games.