New Mortal Kombat 1 TV Spot Is A Throwback To A Retro Ad

Nostalgia sure does make for great cash grabs. And the new Mortal Kombat 1 ad is doing just that with how it’s framed.

The new ad spot from Warner Bros. Interactive has Dave Bautista (of WWE and Guardians of the Galaxy fame) whispering to people “Mortal Kombat” while also narrating about how it’s all “in our blood”. Cue shouting of Mortal Kombat and everyone rushing out and gathering outside the city blocks, screaming in unison.

If the ad looks familiar, that’s because it’s purposely mimicking the Mortal Monday ad back in 1993 for the original Mortal Kombat, to give major PR buzz for the console versions of the arcade hit.

The orchestra version of The Immortals’ Mortal Kombat in the new trail is a nice touch. To cap off this piece of marketing history remade for 2023, here’s a quote from Dave Bautista himself about his involvement with the trailer.

“I vividly remember the original Mortal Monday commercial, especially the iconic scream. That’s what started my journey as a fan of Mortal Kombat, which continues to this day 30 years later. I’m very thrilled and honored to be a part of the game’s legacy.”

For more on Mortal Kombat 1, check out our hands-on preview and move list for the upkoming title.