Mortal Kombat 1 Modder Unlocks Playable Kameos, Sort Of

Mortal Kombat 1’s Kameo system features support characters who you can call in to perform special attacks in a limited fashion. Some of the Kameo characters are just that, and are not part of the roster of playable characters. But that hasn’t stopped one modder from working to make them playable.

That modder is ermaccer, who published an impressive proof of concept video showcasing early work done to make currently Kameo-exclusive characters Jax, Sonya, Sareena, and Stryker all playable.

Playing as Kameos (kinda) in MK1.
Vid: https://t.co/9K98Ka0uUF pic.twitter.com/P6LmMptDPV

— ermaccer (@ermaccer) November 16, 2023

The mod, when it’s finished, will let players swap character definitions (Kameo->Main and vice versa) but will, by ermaccer’s own admission, be limited because Kameo characters have to use a playable character’s moveset as they don’t have their own data. The playable Kameos are, essentially, reskins for existing playable characters (Jax as a skin for Reiko, Sonya as a skin for Lei Mei etc). This means Kameo characters use another character’s special moves and Fatalities. However, Kameo properties such as sounds, clothing, and facial animations are all working.

Mortal Kombat 1’s Kameo system has had a mixed reception, with some enjoying how they add flair and complexity to combos, others wishing there was a ‘no Kameo’ mode for a more traditional Mortal Kombat experience. There was some disappointment within the community when it emerged Kameos were popular and veteran characters from the franchise, such as Sonya Blade and Kano. Perhaps NetherRealm plans to make Kameo characters fully playable officially at some point in the future. For now, ermaccer’s mod may be the closest we get to playable Sonya and Kano in Mortal Kombat 1.

There’s a lot happening in the world of Mortal Kombat 1. IGN has reported on players starting to discover hidden Brutalities, including one for DLC character Omni-Man. In other Mortal Kombat 1 news, publisher Warner Bros. Games confirmed to IGN the price and release date for its Seasonal Fatality Bundle, which will feature unique Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Winter Fatalities. Warner Bros. has come under fire for its aggressive monetisation of Mortal Kombat 1, which includes the sale of Fatalities for real-world money.

Image credit: ermaccer / YouTube

Wesley is the UK News Editor for IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.