By: Filip Galekovic
19 September 2023
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Mortal Kombat 1 - as a game - is absolutely phenomenal. That much, we can vouch for! The thing about video games, though, is that they're more than just the content which they offer. On PC, in particular, time and again we've seen amazing games brought to bear with shoddy optimization and poor technical solutions. Fighting games specifically can suffer from performance issues due to their rapid-fire gameplay and a need for instant reaction times. So, what is the Mortal Kombat 1 PC performance like?
As we've just entered an all-new era ofMortal Kombat, there's no need for us to illustrate just how important it was for Netherrealm to do things right this time. Right off the bat, then, it's worth keeping in mind that the PC port ofMK1 was outsourced to a third-party studio. With this knowledge in mind, let us go over all the key beats for the PC version ofMK1! And don't forget, if you end up liking what you read, then be sure to grab your copy via 2Game for an awesome discountand free bonus games!
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READ MORE: 2Game's Ultimate MK1 Day One Deal
Mortal Kombat 1 PC Performance
I'll jump straight to the good news. The Mortal Kombat 1 PC performance on day one is a success!
Gettinggood performance, fast load times, and satisfying gameplay is easier inMortal Kombat 1without any launch patches on PC than ever before. As long as you've got at least a reasonably powerful PC - as outlined in the official system requirements, for example - you're going to get arock-solid 60 FPS combat gameplaywithout fuss. You can stack up a heavy shader compilation process as soon as you turn the game on, meaning you won't be getting microstutters, and the wealth of graphics settings on show means you can tailor your visual experience however you wish.
This is a particular triumph considering that historically, Netherrealm has prioritised consoles for its productions, and the last couple of Mortal Kombat games on PC have had performance issues, at least initially. I mean, Netherrealm did successfully patch up most of Mortal Kombat 9, X, and 11's PC problems in due time. However, day one was a challenging time for PC MK fans every time.
It's great news, then, that MK1 beats each of these games in regard to its day one PC experience!
Jump into Mortal Kombat 1 on PC with 2Game!
Still not perfect, though...
There are two problems that early access PC players have been reporting so far:
- post-compilation shader stutter
- 30 FPS cutscenes
From what we've seen so far, restartingMK1 a few times and allowing the game to fully compile shaders several times overwill clear up shader stutter for good. It seems that the game ends up missing some shaders on its first go, but as it's a problem that's easily resolved, it's really not a big deal.
The fact thatMortal Kombat 1 still features 30 FPS locks during cutscenes is, perhaps, a bigger issue. This is, obviously, Netherrealm's design choice as it's stayed constant and consistent over the past couple of games. While having 30 FPS cutscenes isn't a big deal in and of itself, note that this includes Fatalities and other scripted combat moves, too, which can feel a tad jarring.
A good baseline for future patches
Overall, then,Mortal Kombat 1 does have a rock-solid technical profile on PC on day one. Some nibbles and problems certainly exist, but we're sure they'll get cleared up over the next couple of patches or so. In our experience, and from what we've seen from the PC community,Mortal Kombat 1 is a superior release day product than any of its modern predecessors. At the same time, it's positively loaded with content and looks and plays the bestMK has ever played. A very big value proposition, for sure!
If you're joining early access or, perhaps, intend to start playing later today, on September 19, there are some things we highly recommend you do to get the best possible experience right away:
- update your GPU drivers
- run shader compilation at least twice
We'll keep track of the port's progress and post-launch patches, of course, so do stay tuned for what's to come! We also expect a more comprehensive performance overview as more members of the community get to experience the game, so there'll be more valuable information out there to share in the first place.
Mortal Kombat Performance on PC
In summary, then, we're looking at a reasonably solid PC port that will perform well on a wide variety of hardware. Given the importance of low latency and a stable frame rate in a game like this, though, we don't generally recommend playing it on truly low-spec machines such as the Steam Deck, as you're bound to encounter stutters and sub-par FPS from the get-go.
Lots to Love!
Generally, Mortal Kombat 1 delivers a quality PC port that is superior to virtually anything the franchise has delivered to PC beforehand. Granted, there's work to be done here still, but PC gamers are bound to have a solid experience even as it currently stands. That, as some will recall, is more than could be said about some of Netherrealm's prior offerings!
Considering the complexity of modern games and the difficulties that devs have in optimizing and fixing them up for PC, we're quite thrilled with what we've seen ofMortal Kombat 1. We seen no reason why it wouldn't stand shoulder-to-shoulder withStreet Fighter 6, if we're being honest. In fact, for solo players,MK1 has lots more to offer, such as its awesome Invasions mode!
As long as you can deal with a small hiccup here and there,MK1 on PC delivers precisely what you need for a great gaming experience.
