Mortal Kombat 1 is coming out later this year, but a closed beta and early access period will offer ways to get in on the action early.
Basically every multiplayer game offers some kind of beta these days, whether it’s a primarily single-player game with multiplayer elements like Elden Ring or a dedicated multiplayer game like Pokemon TCG Live. On top of that, early access is practically standard at this point for AAA games that have some sort of special edition release.
NetherRealm Studios is set to give fans the option to do both. Here’s how to get into Mortal Kombat 1’s beta and early access period.
How to get into Mortal Kombat 1 closed beta
Mortal Kombat 1 will have a closed beta period that is available for those who pre-order the game on PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X/S.
Beta access is being offered for those who pre-order the game both physically and digitally. Players who purchase the digital version of the game should have access automatically given through the consoles’ digital stores. Physical retailers will likely receive keys for those who pre-order the game and will distribute them as they become available.
Unfortunately, the Mortal Kombat 1 beta will not be available to players across all the platforms the game is set to launch on. PC and Nintendo Switch players will have to wait for the early access period to start in order to cut the proverbial line, per the official website.
When is the Mortal Kombat 1 beta?
The Mortal Kombat 1 beta is set to start in August. No specific start date has been confirmed.
Alongside this, it is unknown how much of the game will be available. Betas like the cross-platform multiplayer test for Guilty Gear Strive made all characters available to all participating players, while others like Super Street Fighter 2 HD Remix had just two characters available. Details will likely be confirmed ahead of its start.
How to get early access to Mortal Kombat 1
Mortal Kombat 1 will offer early access to all those who purchase the Premium Edition or Kollectors Edition of the game. While the standard version goes on sale on September 19, early access will let players boot up their copy on September 14.
Sports games like the Madden and WWE 2K series have long offered early access as a sweetener to upsell players on which version of the game they purchased. Other AAA titles are doing the same, including the next installment of Mortal Kombat.
For those who purchase digitally, the game will be unlocked earlier than it is for those who purchase the premium versions. The physical versions of the Premium and Kollectors Editions will be made available for sale starting on September 14.
