NetherRealm Studios has officially revealed Smoke’s updated backstory in Mortal Kombat 1. The reveal comes a week after confirming that he and Rain would be part of the main roster.
Smoke has been in the Mortal Kombat franchise since MKII. He was absent from Mortal Kombat X and Mortal Kombat 11. The upcoming game marks the first time he’s been playable in over a decade.
Smoke’s New Backstory in Mortal Kombat 1
In an official tweet, NetherRealm posted the key art of Smoke and his official backstory. His past is detailed as follows:
“As a boy, Smoke lived to hunt with his family. Their final hunt, however, ended in tragedy. Having accidentally trespassed onto Lin Kuei lands, they were attacked. Smoke was orphaned. Ashamed by his warriors’ actions, the Lin Kuei’s Grandmaster adopted Smoke. He raised him alongside his sons, Sub-Zero and Scorpion. Eventually, Smoke chose to make the Lin Kuei’s mission his own. But as he lacked his brothers’ innate supernatural abilities, he set out to master practical magic. Having done so, he now joins them in Earthrealm’s defense.”
Smoke’s origin in Mortal Kombat 1 contrasts some of his previous appearances. Initially, he was a secret character that served as part of the ninja archetype alongside Scorpion, Sub Zero, Reptile, and more. In Mortal Kombat 3, however, he was a cyborg in the same category as Sektor and Cyrax, other iconic characters in the series. In the 2011 Mortal Kombat reboot, he was returned to his human form and teleporting ways.
Since then, he’s been absent from the franchise, appearing only in cameos or through other characters like Triborg in Mortal Kombat X. Mortal Kombat 1 will feature Smoke in all of his classic glory, teleporting at will and utilizing both a knife and smoke bombs.
Additionally, famed actor Yuri Lowenthal confirmed in a tweet that he would be the voice of Smoke in Mortal Kombat 1. Smoke’s new connection to Sub Zero and Scorpion, Lowenthal lending his voice to the character, and a new playstyle have made Smoke one of the most compelling characters in Mortal Kombat 1.
Release Information
Mortal Kombat 1 will release on September 19, 2023. At launch, it will be available for the PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, PC, and Nintendo Switch. Players can purchase a wide variety of different editions for different perks, as well as pre-order to get access to the character Shang Tsung. Stay tuned for further news from NetherRealm Studios about the many newcomers and gameplay mechanics that Mortal Kombat 1 will employ.
