Digital Eclipse Shares the Story Behind Mortal Kombat: Legacy Kollection

Digital Eclipse has established itself as a prominent developer of retro game collections, featuring extensive bonus content that sheds light on the games' development. The company recently unveiled its latest project, Mortal Kombat: Legacy Kollection, at Sony's State of Play presentation in June. According to Stephen Frost, head of production at Digital Eclipse, the idea of creating a Mortal Kombat collection had been in the works for a long time. Frost worked on the Street Fighter 30th Anniversary Collection in 2018 and recalls discussing which fighting franchise to tackle next. He considered options like Killer Instinct or Primal Rage, but Mortal Kombat was always the obvious choice after Street Fighter. However, negotiations with Warner Bros., the franchise owner, stalled at the time. The breakthrough came with the release of Atari 50: The Anniversary Collection in 2022, which showcased an innovative interactive documentary approach. This sparked renewed interest in the Mortal Kombat project, and the deal was finally signed late last year. The Mortal Kombat: Legacy Kollection aims to provide the most comprehensive history of the game possible, including arcade, handheld, and console versions of the first four games in the series, as well as online play. The collection also features technologically compromised handheld ports, which may not be perfect but hold nostalgic value for some fans. Digital Eclipse has promised more content to come, but the company is being coy about the details. Frost explains that this is partly due to the need to keep some aspects under wraps, as Mortal Kombat has always been about secrets. The Mortal Kombat collection is part of a growing trend of re-releases and remasters in the gaming industry. Frost believes that this trend is driven by the realization that there is money to be made from decades-old back catalogues. He also notes that the process of digging through companies' archives often sparks conversations about preservation. Digital Eclipse has brought in fans who run Mortal Kombat fan websites to help with the Legacy Kollection. This approach has become increasingly common in the industry, with companies like Aspyr hiring fans who have created their own unofficial remasters of games. Frost emphasizes the importance of acknowledging fans' deep knowledge and involving them in the development process. He also highlights the benefits of hiring ex-journalists, who bring a wealth of knowledge and contacts to the company. Digital Eclipse's interactive documentaries have covered a wide range of franchises, from high-profile titles like Tetris and Mortal Kombat to lesser-known games like Karateka and the works of Jeff Minter. Frost explains that the company's approach is all about balance, pursuing both intimate, lower-scale experiences and bigger, more ambitious IPs. When asked about their dream projects, Frost mentions a collection dedicated to lesser-known mascot characters from the 16-bit era and a Sega Saturn-based fighting game collection. Amrich, on the other hand, expresses his love for car combat games and would like to contribute to a revival or remake of the 1997 game Interstate '76. Digital Eclipse's future plans include a mix of smaller, intimate titles and bigger, more ambitious projects. The company's growing reputation has led to more companies knocking on its door, and Frost is excited about the opportunities that lie ahead.