Recent findings in merchandise suggest that Ermac was initially intended to be part of the original roster in Mortal Kombat 1, rather than being added later as downloadable content. Originally designed as a red palette swap of iconic ninjas Scorpion and Sub-Zero, Ermac has been a significant figure in the Mortal Kombat universe since Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3. Players of Mortal Kombat 1 will soon have the opportunity to command this formidable undead warrior. Ermac is scheduled to join as the latest DLC character for MK 1 on April 16 for Early Access participants and on April 23 for all others.
The choice to introduce Ermac as a post-launch DLC character in Mortal Kombat 1, requiring fans to make a separate purchase, has left many puzzled. He appeared in the base game's storyline as an adversary fought by players multiple times. Back in September, a modder discovered a method to enable players to use Ermac in Mortal Kombat 1 beforehand, employing the existing character model and a temporary move set comprising attacks from Noob Saibot of Mortal Kombat 11 and Shang Tsung, the pre-order character from Mortal Kombat 1.
Recent revelations indicate that Ermac might have been removed from the original Mortal Kombat 1 roster in favor of becoming post-launch DLC, as per a finding by Twitter user TheMKSource, highlighted by TheGamer. They shared an image of the vinyl soundtrack for Mortal Kombat 1, available for purchase on the Enjoy The Ride Records website. The inner cover of this soundtrack displays the game's character selection screen, featuring both Ermac and Shang Tsung in the base roster lineup, while the rest of the Kombat Pack 1 DLC fighters are absent.
Speculation Ignited by Mortal Kombat 1 Vinyl Cover
This discovery has fueled various speculations, suggesting that Ermac might have originally been planned for the core Mortal Kombat 1 roster but was later designated as DLC. Observers note that Ermac is depicted without his face mask on the cover image, a nod to the controversy surrounding his unmasked appearance during his initial unveiling in the first wave of Mortal Kombat 1 DLC, alongside Quan Chi, Omni-Man, Peacemaker, Takahashi Takeda, and Homelander.
Based on Ermac's portrayal on the Mortal Kombat 1 vinyl cover, his status as a DLC addition for MK 1 could imply content being withheld for DLC sales, although this remains unconfirmed. It is plausible that this is purely coincidental, and fans should consider this possibility. However, the idea of Ermac being intended as a fundamental Mortal Kombat 1 character aligns with his significance and involvement in the game's narrative.