Fans aren’t happy with the Mortal Kombat 1 launch trailer for Nintendo Switch, and I don’t blame them. At around the 1:53 mark in the video, a Steam achievement is clearly visible in the bottom right corner. It’s not unusual for trailers to feature footage from the PC version of their game, however, it’s a bit disingenuous in this case. There technically is a “Footage Not Final” message but I think there’s a difference between not final, and simply footage from a different version altogether.
It’s no secret that the Switch version of Mortal Kombat 1 appears to have some issues. Players on Switch have voiced their disappointment with the version, citing performance issues and very dated visuals. This is a situation where the PC version and the Switch version are essentially lightyears apart. In that sense, it’s a bit misleading to be showing off a version of the game that won’t look anything like the version you would be purchasing. Which, while we’re on the subject, I can’t believe the Switch version is $70 as well.
Good game, bad Switch port
On PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S, Mortal Kombat 1 is reviewing very well so far, with between an 86-88 average. However, it appears the Switch version is just an absolute mess, and appears it simply shouldn’t have even been attempted on the now-dated hardware. According to IGN, the Switch version has “numerous bugs plaguing both graphics and gameplay” and is “all-around aggravating to play”.
Creative Director at NetherRealm Studios Ed Boon recently told BBC that the Switch version will “absolutely be getting an update” that will “address a number of the concerns” that players seem to be unhappy about with the port.
Look, I get it. There are some people out there who want to play Mortal Kombat on their Switch, so they should be given an option. But charging the same price as the far superior PS5 and Xbox Series X|S editions just feels wrong. And if it’s a much different version in terms of performance and visuals, show that version.
Mortal Kombat 1 is available now on PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch.
