After several teases on social media from Mortal Kombat creator Ed Boon, new gameplay has finally been revealed showing returning antagonist Shang Tsung in Mortal Kombat 11. As the first character for the upcoming Kombat Pack, the soul-stealing sorcerer will be available early for current owners of the DLC on June 18 on PC, PS4, and Xbox One. In addition to the new character, Kombat Pack owners will also get early access to Klassic Skins for Scorpion, Noob-Saibot, and Sub-Zero.
As the original antagonist for the Mortal Kombat series, before quickly being brushed aside in favor of big-bads Shao Khan and Shinnok, the sorcerer has gone through many changes throughout the series. However, his combat style has always focused on his abilities to steal men's souls and use their talents against them. In addition to copying his opponent's appearances and skills, the warlock also harnesses the souls of returning ninjas Rain, Smoke, and Ermac--who are interestingly enough found dead in MK11's Krypt. During the battle, he's able to call upon their abilities in mid-combo, allowing him to use Smoke's teleports, Ermac's telekinesis, and Rain's...water-based skills. His fatality, however, features his most gruesome callback, with the MKII mid-boss Kintaro making an unexpected and violent return.
For those who've already played Mortal Kombat 11, you'll know that Shang Tsung is presently in the game as a guide for MK11's Krypt. In the Krypt, you're able to explore his island fortress and uncover its secrets, with him taunting you for any untimely deaths that occur during your journey. Now that he's playable, the soul-stealing warlock looks right at home in Mortal Kombat 11's gruesome battles. For fans of the original live-action film, you'll notice that Shang Tsung is performed by Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa--the same actor from the movie.
The new trailer was all about Shang Tsung. However, it also teased what was to come. Towards the end, three other characters were briefly referenced--which included returning characters Nightwolf and Sindel, both of whom made their first appearances in Mortal Kombat 3. However, the last character to get a shoutout was Image Comics' Spawn--who is the first guest character to make it to MK11. This news will likely be no surprise to those who have been keeping up with certain leaks from the last month, which hinted at the return of these characters, along with Sheeva from MK3 and Ash Williams from the Evil Dead.
In total, the Kombat Pack--which is priced at $39.99--gives you access to six new characters and 19 additional skins for the roster. Just like the current characters, each new fighter will have their own suite of gear and skins to unlock. In 2015, Mortal Kombat X's roster expanded significantly with the influx of DLC fighters, so it'll be interesting to see how much MK11 will change over the course of its post-launch period. Curiously, though, mentions of the Switch version weren't present in the trailer. So it may seem likely that the Switch will receive its own release of the characters from the Kombat Pack at a later time.
For more on Mortal Kombat 11, along with details on when you can expect to learn more about the other characters, be sure to check back with GameSpot.