Monetization has been a huge topic in gaming for some time, with some games charging what some would consider absorbent rates for the “premium” or “elite” versions of the game. A newer trend, however, is pay-gating early access to titles, the most notable recent example being Diablo 4, which provides access to servers 4 days early for those that opted to pick up the Ultimate or Digital Deluxe versions.
In a move to replicate this money-making success, the creators of Mortal Kombat, NetherRealm Studios and Warner Bros., are providing “early access” to gamers that end up dropping $109.99 on The Mortal Kombat 1 Premium Edition and to the real ballers who can afford the special Kollector’s Edition for $249.99, according to the website’s FAQ section.
Yep, you heard that right. You can now play the game four days earlier than everyone else; you just need to drop a little over 100 bucks before the game has even been reviewed or shown. No big deal, right?
Is Pay-Gating Early Access Really a Problem?
While the drawback of not having a fighting game for four days probably isn’t as bad as in an ARPG like Diablo 4, where time literally equates to power much of the time, it may still leave a pretty sour taste for gamers working on a budget.
There are plenty of gamers who aren’t professionals but want to stay competitive on the ranked ladder. As Mortal Kombat as a franchise becomes more popular in the competitive scene, pay-gating the game for four days gives influencers and people that can afford the premium editions a pretty significant edge.
That boost in experience may see quick diminishing returns, but it still exists, and the concept of “unfairness” is something that most gamers really care about.
On the flip side of things, for the creators of the game — it makes a lot of sense. For years, gaming companies have been trying to increase the number of preorders for their titles by offering in-game incentives, cosmetics, season passes, and more. However — what they’ve found is, at the end of the day, the desire to, you know, play the actual game outweighs whatever crap they can throw at gamers.
That being said, if you do opt to get the Premium or Kollector’s Editions, it’s not just early access. Premium players will get The Kombat Pack, in-game currency, and some skins. For the Kollector’s Edition, players will get a 16.5-inch Liu Kang sculpture (a true Kollectable item) and a special Liu Kang skin. To be fair, the total cost of these things may add up to be worth it, but we wouldn’t be surprised if most are mainly compelled by early access.
Everyone Can Play the Beta, As Long As You Preorder
If you don’t mind preordering titles to get an early taste of what the full release might be like, then you’ll be able to do so regardless of which version of the game you get. According to the same FAQ:
Players who preorder the game on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S will receive access to the Mortal Kombat 1 Beta, which will be available in August 2023.
While we’re not completely sure how many features, characters, or levels will be included in the beta version, it may lighten the blow to those that want to preorder the game but don’t want to doll out the $110. And, while we’re not sure if this was just an oversight, the response curiously leaves out a PC option for those that play on their computers — leading us to believe that it may not be available to those that play fighting games on their desktop.
Interestingly, a competitor to MK, Street Fighter 6, is holding an open beta for anyone who makes a Capcom account — and you don’t need to preorder the game. It’ll be interesting to see how both games perform and which marketing strategy works for the upcoming fighting titles.
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