We know Omni-Man has only been available in Mortal Kombat 1 for around a month, but time waits for no one (not even a Viltrumite) and NetherRealm Studios is already showing off the next new MK1 fighter through another action-packed gameplay trailer. While Quan Chi is an exciting addition to the roster, the real talking point of this latest footage is the upcoming MK1 Khameleon kameo fighter. With moves featuring combos from Mileena, Kitana, and Jade (yes, Jade!), we can’t help but feel as though this is the latest in a long line of teasers foreshadowing the currently-missing character.
NetherRealm Studios’ introduction of guest fighters like Omni-Man and Peacemaker through the Mortal Kombat 1 Kombat Pack is far from a bad thing, but there’s a long list of canon characters we want to see (just like you) in Mortal Kombat 1 and – for a long time now – Jade has been at the top of that list. Sure, her absence from the roster isn’t going to stop MK1 being one of the best fighting games available at the moment – and one of several new PS5 games and new Xbox games worth checking out as we head into the holidays – but it’s certainly something we want to see rectified in the future.
Jade’s unique use of a Japanese long staff (a Bo staff) and her infusion of magic with her acrobatic attacks make her a joy to play as in Mortal Kombat 11 and we think she would fit in perfectly with the current Mortal Kombat 1 roster; this is a roster which, with the exclusion of characters like Sonya Blade and Jax, focuses much more on exploring the ‘magical’ side of the Mortal Kombat series.
The latest Quan Chi gameplay trailer, which also offers us our first look at Khamelon in action after a series of very brief appearances in the background of several scenes during the Mortal Kombat 1 story, really does only prove that fact further.
As you can see for yourself in this gameplay trailer that confirms the upcoming Mortal Kombat 1 Quan Chi release date and reveals a January 2024 launch for Khameleon herself, she’s shown utilizing Kitana’s bladed fans (using her blue color scheme), Mileena’s Sai daggers (using her pink color scheme), and Jade’s Bo staff (using her green color scheme). This would make Jade the only character featured not currently available, which is a little odd when Khameleon could draw on characters like Frost, Sub-Zero, Reptile, Smoke, or Scorpion for iconic moves.
Specifically, in addition to the series of familiar staff attacks that feature throughout, at the 00:45 mark, you can also see Khameleon utilize Jade’s throwable triblade – which you may recognize from her ‘Razor-Rang’ combo in MK11.
Now, we know that this isn’t something that explicitly confirms Jade is coming to Mortal Kombat 1 as a playable character, but there are several references to her in the game already (some of which you can see below) and it’s clear NetherRealm Studios has something of a plan for her in Liu Kang’s new timeline – narratively speaking, at least. And, while discussing MK1 at CCXP 2023, Mortal Kombat series co-creator Ed Boon is confirming NetherRealm Studios’ plans to release a story expansion for Mortal Kombat 1 similar to the Aftermatch DLC MK11 received.
It certainly wouldn’t be outrageous to think Jade would feature there, especially given how much important Liu Kang affords her when speaking about her to Kitana. It sounds like she has quite the part to play in shaping the future of both Edenia and Outworld as a whole.
Will Jade be one of the best Mortal Kombat 1 characters when she arrives though? It’s hard to say, but we certainly think she will be a popular addition to the roster. Her ability to strike rapidly in close ranges and also strike hard at mid-range with her Bo staff make her a complicated character to counter. When you factor in her boomerang-like throwable triblade into everything, it’s easy to misread her combos and get caught out. In the right hands, she’s lethal, and with some of the best Mortal Kombat 1 kameo fighters besides her (if she does come to this fighting game), we can imagine she’ll be quite effective.
If, though, you just want to know more about all the confirmed characters coming to MK1 in the next few months, you can find out more about the Mortal Kombat 1 Homelander release date, the Mortal Kombat 1 Peacemaker release date, the Mortal Kombat 1 Ermac release date, and the Mortal Kombat 1 Takeda release date right here. With any luck, this even split between canon characters and guest fighters is set to continue in the future – despite the fact that Mortal Kombat 1 leaks tease MK1 Terminator DLC and an appearance from Conan the Barbarian – and Jade will (eventually) join the roster. If NetherRealm Studios can add Mileena to Mortal Kombat 11, then anything is possible – right?