It's probably little surprise to you to learn that NetherRealm plans to release Skarlet, the stab-happy new female ninja who takes Mortal Kombat character design to the next logical step of evolution by tossing around gobs of blood like Rip Taylor tosses confetti, on June 21st. After all, she's been known about for a while, and it's been a couple of weeks since we got new MK DLC. Finally, a new kombatant shall appear!
However, that's not really the news. The news, courtesy of IGN, is that more characters have been confirmed to follow. Kenshi, the blind ninja that everyone was pretty sure would be the next to arrive after Skarlet, will, in fact, be the next to arrive after Skarlet.
More interestingly, Rain, the purple, Prince-inspired ninja who has been kicking around since Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3 will follow Kenshi. Ed Boon had been teasing Rain for months on Twitter, and now it seems he and the team plan to make good on all that teasing. Oh Ed, you teasing teaser, you.
Even more interesting than any of that is the news that a fourth kombatant will follow Rain, though who that will be is currently a mystery. Anyone want to start bandying guesses as to who it'll be? Shinnok? Meat? Literally anyone else? Please?
For those wondering how all these additional characters will impact elements like online play and compatibility, NetherRealm has a plan. With each DLC character release, the studio will release a new "compatibility pack," which allows players with the DLC to hook up online against those who don't, and vice versa. These packs are free, and will also come with some new character skins. The first one, which will drop alongside Skarlet, includes new UMK 3-inspired skins for both Cyrax and Sektor. Again, you get these through the compatibility pack, so they're free, regardless as to whether you buy Skarlet or not.
I know Jeff managed to get his hands-on a playable version of Skarlet at E3, but he ran off to go interview Ed Boon before I could ask him how she handled. Don't blame him, though. It's important we maintain our "Minimum of three Ed Boon interviews per year" quota around here. I'm sure if you ask him real nicely, he'll tell you if she was any good or not.