Shang Tsung is always a thorn in Liu Kang's side, so it's hardly surprising that he's set to take a prominent role in Mortal Kombat 1's story. However, fans are divided on whether or not he should be the main bad guy again, with some feeling that a new villain should be allowed to shine.
Others, however, hope to see the writers do something new with the sorcerer, introducing a new angle to his villainy. They say this could be tied into Liu Kang's attempts to create the perfect timeline, with Shang Tsung taking over with one of his own. Some of these fans say it could even be tied into his Mortal Kombat 11 ending, which sees him traverse multiple timelines in search of new souls to collect.
"How would you feel if Shang Tsung was actually the main bad guy in MK1 and there were no surprise reveals?" asks Reddit user the_killer_storm. This comes as we get another Mortal Kombat 1 trailer suggesting that Shang Tsung is indeed the main baddie, once again getting in Liu Kang's way.
"I'd be fine with it," says Tenebrate. "Shang Tsung's generally a good final villain, so then it would all come down to how they build into that reveal in the story."
Others agree, and even share ideas on how this could be done. "Twist: Shang Tsung comes from the alternate ending MK11 Aftermath timeline and it's a Timekeeper vs Timekeeper final showdown," says GrimmTrixX.
Not everyone is behind Shang Tsung taking up the main antagonist role yet again, especially when there are other characters to fill the void.
"I'm really hoping Onaga comes back honestly. I want more 3D-era stuff," replies Conclave111.
"I would honestly be a bit disappointed," agrees Turbulent-Stretch-66. "Not because I don't like the character, but it would kill a lot of the hype around who will be the big bad guy. He kind of had his time in the sun for now."
It isn't long until we find out for ourselves now, as Mortal Kombat 1 is set to launch on September 19. Storywise, NetherRealm is keeping much of the game under wraps, with pre-launch trailers instead focussing on the differences between this timeline and the last two. For example, while it isn't completely clear how Edenia and the royal family will tie into the main narrative, we know that the lore has been mixed up a whole lot. The largest departure has to be having Mileena as heir to the throne, afflicted with a deadly disease that leaves her with horrific Tarkatan fangs.
Regardless of who our final boss will be, Mortal Kombat 1 will be available on PS5, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch, and PC.