Two of the most divisive Mortal Kombat spin-offs, Mortal Kombat Mythologies: Sub-Zero and Mortal Kombat: Special Forces, have been confirmed as part of the upcoming Mortal Kombat Legacy Kollection. This addition expands the scope of the collection beyond the core fighting games, making it the most comprehensive anthology of the series to date.
Mortal Kombat Mythologies: Sub-Zero, originally released in 1997 for PlayStation and Nintendo 64, marked the franchise’s first step outside of the fighting genre. Players controlled Bi-Han, the elder Sub-Zero, on a quest to recover Shinnok’s amulet in a story that set up the events of Mortal Kombat 4. While praised at the time for its live-action cutscenes and ambition, the game faced criticism for its difficult controls and punishing design. Retrospective views have often labeled it as one of the weaker entries in the series.
Mortal Kombat: Special Forces, released in 2000 for the PlayStation, followed Jax on a mission against Kano and his gang. The troubled production saw key series creator John Tobias leave Midway, leading to major cuts in scope, including the removal of Sonya Blade as a playable character. Upon release, the game was heavily criticized for its repetitive gameplay and is frequently cited among the worst Mortal Kombat titles.
The Legacy Kollection, developed by Digital Eclipse and published by Atari, is slated to launch digitally on September 29, 2025, according to a leak from the Xbox app. A physical release will follow on December 12. The package compiles Mortal Kombat’s early history from 1992 through 2003, complete with enhanced online play via rollback netcode, quality-of-life upgrades, and an interactive documentary that highlights the franchise’s cultural impact. Exclusive interviews, archival footage, and concept art are also included, making the collection both a retrospective celebration and a playable archive of fighting game history.
By incorporating Mythologies: Sub-Zero and Special Forces, the Legacy Kollection acknowledges even the most contentious chapters of Mortal Kombat’s past, ensuring fans can revisit every step in the series’ evolution.
