For many years, the video game industry has operated on a sort of cycle. The beginning of any given year is slim with new releases, a handful of significant titles release in spring, major projects are announced in the summer, and the biggest games of the year release in the fall. The last few years have altered this formula thanks to rocky developments and delays, with The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom's May release being the most prominent example. For the rest of 2023, however, Starfield, Marvel's Spider-Man 2, and Mortal Kombat 1 have ensured a very full fall for gamers.
This fall was already looking to be a strong one for gamers, but September has emerged as a month to really look forward to. Starfield will have its long-awaited release after a handful of delays, Marvel's Spider-Man 2 is rumored to release around that time, and Mortal Kombat 1 will usher in a new direction for the franchise after the success of Mortal Kombat 11. It's entirely likely that other big games will release this September as well, making it a highly competitive time for developers and publishers and a wonderful time for gamers who enjoy a wide range of genres.
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When it comes to major releases in a singular month, Starfield and Mortal Kombat 1 give gamers a wealth of choices. Marvel's Spider-Man 2 could potentially land at the same time, which would offer countless hours of exploration and varied combat in three different experiences. Starfield's procedurally-generated planets are perhaps the most attention-grabbing, as they ensure one player's experience is rarely the same as any others. When it comes to third-person superhero action, though, few have done it better in recent years than Marvel Spider-Man 2's Insomniac Games.
Mortal Kombat 1 is sure to be a completely different beast from Starfield and Marvel's Spider-Man 2, but nonetheless a delight for fans of the gory franchise. After a few weeks of teasing from series co-creator Ed Boon, Mortal Kombat 1 has finally been revealed courtesy of a cinematic trailer.
Mortal Kombat 1 will be continuing the story laid out in Mortal Kombat 11 Aftermath, as Fire God Liu Kang cultivates a new timeline for the MK universe. It already looks to be a major change in direction for the series, and it'll likely dominate gaming conversations when it releases in the middle of September.
With these three major releases all likely to come in September, it'll be tricky for other games to find a good slot in the month. It's not uncommon for big games to eclipse relatively smaller ones when releasing close to them, both in terms of financial success and general popularity.
Elden Ring infamously did this to Horizon Forbidden West last year, taking the sequel's spotlight when it was released just a week later. There's also precedent for games delaying their release to avoid conflicting with another major title, and it wouldn't be too surprising if there turned out to be an influx of games releasing in October 2023.
With Mortal Kombat 1's reveal, September 2023 is sure to be a month to remember for lots of gamers. Marvel's Spider-Man 2 doesn't have an official release date just yet, but rumors and leaks from Venom voice actor Tony Todd have suggested it could come sooner than later. After years of anticipation, Starfield is also sure to turn a lot of heads as it looks to be a big step in a new direction for developer Bethesda. If all of these games hit their projected release dates, it's going to be a very busy fall for gamers around the world.
Mortal Kombat 1 releases September 19 for PC, PS5, Switch, and Xbox Series X/S.
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