The actor is featured in the game as a special alternate skin for the character Johnny Cage, which can be unlocked by players who purchase the Premium Edition.
Below you can watch the trailer, which was released shortly after the first clip featuring Jean-Claude Van Damme during an interview with series co-creator Ed Boon on First We Feast’s Hot Ones.
Boone mentioned that the Van Damme DLC was “30 years in the making,” explaining, “When we made the very first game, our goal was to make an arcade game with Van Damme.
We really wanted to see the name “Van Damme” on screen. At the time, I think the popular films were Bloodsport and Universal Soldier.
We contacted his representatives and said, “We want to make a game with Jean-Claude Van Damme,” and I don’t know if he said no or if it just didn’t get to him or what.
“But these were two guys in their twenties who wanted to make a video game, and I can understand why Jean-Claude Van Damme would say, ‘No, that’s not for us.’
“So we tried several times, talking to his team again and again. This time we were lucky and we were actually able to get him. We even have his voice and he will be playing the role of Johnny Cage. It’s a full circle and a dream come true, which has become a reality.”
It was also announced earlier this week that Megan Fox will appear in Mortal Kombat 1 as the face and voice of the character Nitara.
Mortal Kombat 1 is scheduled to release on September 19, 2023 for PS5, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch and PC via Steam and Epic Games Store.