Midway hawking Mortal Kombat rights

By Dan Pearson Published 2 March, 2009

Bankruptcy blow could be a fatality.

Troubled publisher Midway is thought to have put the rights to the Mortal Kombat series up for sale in a last-ditch effort to save the company.

The sale is part of a three-part plan to keep afloat in the face of bankruptcy, studio closures and cancelled games. "Corporate Restructuring and Bankruptcy Blog" netDockets reports that agreeing a sale is part of an incentivised scheme which would involve senior management staff receiving large bonuses. Step one was the off-loading of Vin Diesel vehicle The Wheelman, while steps two and three involve agreeing and closing the Mortal Kombat deal.

The report has apparently angered many regular Midway staff, as there are claims the money being used for the bonuses had been earmarked for paying off lower-level employees. Kotaku is reporting that the money comes from a fund which Midway originally intended to use to compensate sacked staff members for unused holiday time.

Apart from Unreal, we're not sure what Midway will have left on the books should the beat-'em-up series head out of the door. It's not too likely a full financial recovery will occur off the back of sales of Blitz: The League II .

Let's hope that the franchise finds a good home. Street Fighter Vs. Mortal Kombat anyone?

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Comments (21) Latest comment 3 years ago

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  • DFawkes #1 3 years ago

    Capcom have to buy it. Think of the opportunities there.

  • Razorus #2 3 years ago

    Mortal Kombat is dead. Get over it.
    Midway released a few good games over the years but they weren't consistent. I'm sure the programmers will find employment elsewhere with other developers but Midway themselves is overdue for retirement.

  • jade2001 #3 3 years ago

    MK isn't dead at all. MK Vs DC sold really well and another developer will be able to come up with fresh ideas on how to evolve the game.

  • asphaltcowboy #4 3 years ago

    Nearly $4m for bonuses instead of going to unpaid staff? Good work! :/

  • ObiChrisKenobi #5 3 years ago

    They've been going bust for the last 3 years.

  • Machetazo #6 3 years ago

    Thrown in the towel: Achievement unlocked!
    MK going in a more traditional direction (or altogether far-flung - as long as it remains a beat em up), under new management is not something you'll find me arguing with. Is Ed Boon likely to be part of any deal, too?

  • Sunyavadin #7 3 years ago

    It died for me with 3.

  • Quint2020 #8 3 years ago

    MK vs DC was a damn good game imo, I'd love it if Capcom picked up the franchise, MK vs. Capcom on the SF IV engine has to be done.

    It really does seem like a last ditch effort by Midway I mean what do they have left other than Mortal Kombat??

  • Santino #9 3 years ago

    i hope somebody buys it and buries it in the depths of a massive pile of steaming shite where it belongs

  • Machetazo #10 3 years ago

    Sunyavadin, I can understand that opinion, but I don't entirely agree with it. MK4 was an attempt at 3d that was so clunky and horrible. The game suffered for their sole aspiration. I really enjoyed Deadly Alliance, however. I thought that there was a lot done right, there, in terms of the fighting game and they were able to include new characters without losing structure. Downhill from that, though. They recycled, and kept adding more and more unnecessary baggage to the formula, until it had all but keeled over. I don't remember Armageddon too well, except that I mostly got it for legacy play, more than anything else.

  • chessboxer #11 3 years ago

    I remember everyone was going mental for Mortal Monday years ago. The game then came out and I went back to playing SF2 because it was a superior game. I wouldn't be surprised if SFIV has already outsold MK vs DC.

  • insincere_dave #12 3 years ago

    About time. Goodbye you worthless piece of shit, Midway.

  • Britesparc Verified Creative, ITV #13 3 years ago

    MK vs DC sold alright, didn't it? If so, I'd have thought Warner Bros would snap up the licence so they could crank out a franchise.

  • Kyle #14 3 years ago

    MK is all that company has going for them. If Midway sell MK then they're as good as dead anyway.

    Damned if they do, damned if they don't...

    @Crofto
    The MK mythos certainly has a lot of potential, I think, but I'd imagine at this point that it's become a little contrived and confusing. Perhaps if the series goes to another publisher/developer a series reboot might be in order?
    Edited by 1 at 02/03/09 @ 15:29

  • Freek #15 3 years ago

    Selling off the one IP that's making you money? Might save you today, but it just means you go bankrupt next year.

  • schnide #16 3 years ago

    Perhaps if Midway hadn't been putting out shit games for as long as I can remember, then maybe they wouldn't be going under. I can't help but see a direct correlation between bankruptcy and the publishers of such gems as Area 51.

  • niteninja #17 3 years ago

    namco should buy it mortal kombat on the tekken or soul calibur engine sounds great dont it?
    Give the franchise to a developer who has talent and see what they can do.
    Edited by 1 at 02/03/09 @ 18:30

  • the_mtfr #18 3 years ago

    Bitches in suits!!!!

  • Eraysor #19 3 years ago

    I really wish the Unreal license would get as far away from Midway as possible.

  • Machetazo #20 3 years ago

    @freek: You never know, they could always pull a Majesco? Urgh...Sorry, for that thought.

  • AusFreelancer #21 3 years ago

    Welcome to NBA JAAAAAAM!!!