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While NetherRealm Studios’ Mortal Kombat 1 won’t be available to play for most gamers until September 19, 2023, super fans who purchased the Kollector’s Edition or Premium Edition of the game have been given access to an early download three days ahead of release.
Players who have opted to download the Switch version of the game early immediately took notice of the graphical downgrade the game has on Nintendo’s Hardware. One particular video made by YouTuber ElAbalista comparing the various versions of the game has been making the rounds on social media platforms such as Twitter and Discord.
Character models have a significantly lower quality in the Nintendo Switch version of the game with a lower polygon count and worse shading resulting in a quality reminiscent of various mobile game ports NetherRealm Studios has done in the past such as their Google Play port of Injustice: God’s Among Us.
The graphical downgrade of the Nintendo Switch version doesn’t end there. Various stage details such as characters standing in the background have been reduced in number, presumably as a compromise for the game to run smoothly on the Switch’s hardware.
In addition to this, various lighting, textures, and particular effects have been reduced. Players can expect much fewer sparks from Scorpion’s fire or shards of ice from Sub Zero’s attacks if they’ve opted to purchase the Switch version.
While the Switch version of Mortal Kombat 1 is graphically inferior to its settings on various other platforms, the gameplay itself is unaffected by these issues. While docked the game can still run at a smooth 60fps, allowing for the smooth inputs expected from a competitive fighting game.
While gamers can understand the sacrifices that need to be made for a next-gen game such as this to run on the Nintendo Switch, it still has resulted in anger and laughter on social media from fans and is expected to become a talking point about the game for weeks to come.
Mortal Kombat 1 releases for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series S|X, and PC via Steam on September 19, 2023. The game is currently avaiable for preorder on all platforms those who have purchased the Premium Edition are given an early access download now.
