Why Isn‘t Ermac in Mortal Kombat 11? An In-Depth Analysis

Ermac, the iconic fusion of souls fighter, is one of the most glaring omissions from Mortal Kombat 11‘s base roster and Kombat Packs. As a series mainstay since his debut in Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3, Ermac‘s absence came as a major disappointment for many longtime fans. But why exactly was this telekinetic powerhouse left out of Netherealm Studio‘s latest entry?

A Recurring Presence Suddenly Vanishes

Ermac has been a mainstay in Mortal Kombat games ever since his canon debut in Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3. While he started as a rumor from a glitch in the first Mortal Kombat, developers decided to create him into an official character due to his popularity. He has then appeared as a playable fighter in every main Mortal Kombat game since, with the exception of the original Mortal Kombat 3.

Ermac‘s Appearances in Mainline Mortal Kombat Games

As this table shows, Ermac has been playable in every main MK game since UMK3 besides the original MK3 and now MK11 – making his omission extremely notable after years as a series regular.

Why Was Ermac Excluded? Examining the Potential Factors

So why exactly did developers Netherealm Studios and publisher Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment decide to exclude Ermac? There are a few likely contributing factors:

Emphasis on Newer Characters

Mortal Kombat 11 placed a heavy emphasis on showcasing and developing newer characters from Mortal Kombat X such as Cassie Cage and Kotal Kahn. Series co-creator Ed Boon stated they wanted to focus on new characters and give them more storyline prominence. As a result, some classic characters had to be cut to make room in the roster and narrative.

Development and Balancing Challenges

Ermac‘s soul-powered moveset provides a lot of complexity to balance. The team had to prioritize characters that would integrate smoothly into MK11‘s more grounded combat and custom variation system. With a limited development timeline, Ermac‘s complexity could have been difficult to refine and adapt.

Lacking Clear Story Purpose

While MK11‘s story revisits past timelines, Ermac did not have an obvious place or fitting role compared to other returning characters. His presence would have needed specific justification tied into the narratives centering on characters like Liu Kang and Kung Lao.

Legal and Actor Availability Issues

There are also potential legal rights issues with Ermac‘s voice actor and modeling designs that could have complicated his inclusion if renegotiations were not possible under project budget and timeline limitations.

What Does This Mean for Ermac‘s Future?

Based on these development and narrative factors, Ermac unfortunately drew the short straw when finalizing Mortal Kombat 11‘s launch roster. His complexity to balance, demands on resources, and need for storyline justification created an unfortunate perfect storm working against his inclusion.

However, this does not necessarily mean Ermac will be gone forever. As a recognizable fan-favorite, he could potentially return as DLC or at least make cameo appearances in future franchise installments. Only time will tell if the fusion of souls will fight again or remain relegated to a forgotten memory of MK‘s past. For Ermac devotees, the hope remains that Creative Director Ed Boon and Netherealm Studios could revive this telekinetic terror down the road.