NetherRealm Studios has announced that while Mortal Kombat 11 contains no “pay-to-win” aspects, players will be able to purchase cosmetic items with real money.
On this week’s “Kombat Kast” (a regular Mortal Kombat 11 livestream from NetherRealm showing off characters for Mortal Kombat 11), producer Shaun Himmerick announced an in-game currency called “time crystals,” purchased with real money, that lets you directly purchase skins, pieces of gear, intro and victory animations, easy fatalities (a consumable that simplify the inputs for fatalities), and other cosmetic items.
You won’t be able to buy anything that alters your characters actual combat prowess or moves, however, such as custom moves or augments (which are the stat modifiers you plug into gear), as well as the consumable power-ups you can use in the Towers of Time mode. NetherRealm has stated in the past they’re open to adding additional moves post-launch as DLC, though if they were implemented, they’d likely be free.
You can, however, earn everything in the game without paying for it. “Nothing in the game requires time crystals,” Himmerick said. “You can play the whole game, unlock all the stuff there, without every dealing with time crystals. If you want, you can get time crystals and shortcut your way to different things.” He also stated that time crystals would drop throughout normal play.
The company did confirm there would be no loot boxes in Mortal Kombat 11, however, so you won’t be rolling the dice on getting the skin, piece of gear, or fatality you want.
For more on Kombat 11, check out our recent feature breaking down how many of Mortal Kombat 11’s classic characters evolved for the sequel. And with Mortal Kombat 11 being this month’s cover story, make sure to check out all of our features on the game this month by clicking on the hub below.
Source: Game Informer Mortal Kombat 11 Has A Way To Buy Cosmetic Items With Real Money