Mortal Kombat creator Ed Boon reveals his vision for Scorpion and Sub-Zero in Super Smash Bros crossover fighting
Ed Boon’s Vision for Mortal Kombat in Smash
Mortal Kombat co-creator Ed Boon has publicly expressed his enthusiasm for including two iconic fighters from his legendary franchise in Nintendo’s next Super Smash Bros installment.
During a recent interview with Axios, the veteran game designer confirmed he would enthusiastically approve Scorpion’s inclusion without hesitation. When questioned about potentially adding a second character, Boon identified Sub-Zero as the natural choice, emphasizing how both fighters would bring distinctive visual appeal and unique combat mechanics to Nintendo’s platform-exclusive fighting series.
“The spear pull mechanic would translate beautifully to Smash’s gameplay dynamics,” Boon explained, referencing Scorpion’s signature weapon that has defined his combat style across three decades of Mortal Kombat titles. This grappling technique could introduce new strategic depth to edge-guarding and recovery situations, potentially creating innovative combo opportunities that would differentiate these characters from existing roster members.
Interestingly, Boon revealed that Nintendo has never initiated discussions about incorporating Mortal Kombat representatives into their crossover fighting phenomenon. This absence of communication highlights the complex licensing negotiations and content rating considerations that influence character selection decisions for the family-friendly focused platform.
Super Smash Bros Ultimate’s Crossover Legacy
Super Smash Bros Ultimate established itself as the definitive crossover fighting experience by assembling an unprecedented collection of gaming icons from diverse universes. The monumental roster includes classic Nintendo mascots like Mario alongside surprising inclusions such as Kingdom Hearts’ Sora, Minecraft’s Steve, Capcom’s Megaman, Metal Gear’s Solid Snake, and Final Fantasy’s Sephiroth.
The series has previously integrated multiple representatives from traditional fighting game franchises, featuring Street Fighter’s Ryu and Ken, Fatal Fury’s Terry Bogard, and Tekken’s Kazuya Mishima. Each of these characters brought their signature fighting styles and special moves while adapting to Smash’s unique percentage-based combat system. Despite this extensive representation from competing fighting game series, Mortal Kombat remains conspicuously absent from the lineup.
This omission becomes particularly notable when considering Mortal Kombat’s status as one of the foundational pillars of the fighting game genre. The franchise has maintained consistent relevance through multiple console generations while pioneering narrative-driven fighting game experiences and evolving its gameplay mechanics to remain competitive within the esports landscape.
Developer Community Interest in Smash
Ed Boon represents just one voice in a growing chorus of developers expressing interest in contributing characters to Nintendo’s flagship fighting series. Earlier this year, the Overwatch 2 development team publicly shared their desire to see one of their heroes join the Smash roster, though they didn’t specify which character would receive the invitation.
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Perhaps most surprisingly, Xbox leadership has repeatedly expressed interest in seeing Master Chief from the Halo franchise make an appearance in Smash Bros, despite the character serving as mascot for a competing console platform. This cross-platform collaboration willingness demonstrates how Super Smash Bros has transcended traditional platform rivalries to become a celebration of gaming history that developers across the industry want to participate in.
The collective interest from these development studios creates an extensive candidate pool for Nintendo to consider whenever they decide to develop the next installment in the Smash series. This saturation of potential additions means character selection committees will face difficult decisions about which franchises deserve representation in gaming’s ultimate crossover event.
Future Possibilities and Community Impact
Despite persistent speculation and developer interest, Nintendo has not announced development of a new Super Smash Bros title. The gaming community has largely expressed preference for an expanded special edition of Smash Ultimate rather than a completely new game that would likely reset the roster to a smaller selection of fighters.
From a technical perspective, integrating Mortal Kombat characters would present unique challenges for Nintendo’s development teams. The franchise’s signature fatality mechanics and realistic violence would require significant adaptation to fit Smash’s less graphic combat presentation. However, NetherRealm Studios has demonstrated flexibility with their IP through various crossovers, including the more stylized violence in Injustice games.
Competitively, Scorpion and Sub-Zero could introduce groundbreaking gameplay elements to the Smash meta. Scorpion’s teleport and spear could create unprecedented mobility and zoning options, while Sub-Zero’s ice clones and freezing attacks might establish new defensive strategies. Their inclusion would likely inspire creative combo videos and tournament highlights that could revitalize community interest in the series.
The continued expressions of interest from prominent developers like Ed Boon indicate that the conversation around character inclusion will remain active until Nintendo provides clarity about the future direction of their flagship fighting franchise.
No reproduction without permission：SeeYouSoon Game Club » Mortal Kombat creator requests Smash Bros add Scorpion & Sub-Zero in next game Mortal Kombat creator Ed Boon reveals his vision for Scorpion and Sub-Zero in Super Smash Bros crossover fighting