A common frustration among gaming enthusiasts is when a highly anticipated physical edition leaves out essential content—here's where it gets controversial. For fans of the Mortal Kombat: Legacy Kollection on the Nintendo Switch, recent news might dampen their excitement. If you've purchased the physical versions for your Switch or Switch 2 model last week, there's an important detail you need to be aware of that could impact your gaming experience.
Since hitting store shelves, players quickly discovered that Mortal Kombat 4—a classic title in the series—is notably missing from the physical game card of the Legacy Kollection for the Switch. This omission has sparked questions and some dissatisfaction within the community. Digital Eclipse, the developer responsible for the collection, has publicly confirmed through multiple social media responses that this was due to release timing challenges. They explained that the version of the game intended for physical distribution was prepared and sent for manufacturing well in advance of the launch, and at that time, Mortal Kombat 4 was not yet ready for inclusion. As a workaround, the developers have announced that the missing content, specifically MK4, will be made available as downloadable content (DLC), requiring players to connect their consoles to the internet to download the game.
In their official statement, Digital Eclipse clarified: "MK4 did not make it onto the Switch cartridge in time for the physical release. The build for the Switch had to be finalized much earlier than the release date, and unfortunately, Mortal Kombat 4 was still in development. However, all other platforms, such as PlayStation 5, include MK4 directly on their discs."
Further adding to this, Atari's official website—which sells the physical version of the Legacy Kollection—has recently been updated. They now recommend that Switch owners connect their consoles to the Nintendo eShop to download post-release patches that add the missing Mortal Kombat 4, along with performance improvements and other content. Interestingly, our sources have seen a physical Switch 2 cartridge of the collection that ships with version 1.0.1 pre-installed, which still requires users to perform a day-one update to unlock MK4 and the full experience.
It’s also important to note that Digital Eclipse has confirmed this omission only affects Nintendo's versions of the game. The physical copies on PlayStation 5, in particular, contain every title within the collection on the disc itself, offering a complete out-of-the-box experience. The developer further mentions that if Nintendo decides to reprint the Switch cartridge in the future, that version is expected to include Mortal Kombat 4 from the start.
And this is the part most people miss: There’s a discussion to be had about whether release timing constraints should limit the content provided on physical media, or if DLC is a fair workaround. Do you believe digital updates are an acceptable way to complete physical releases, or should all content be fully included on the cartridge? Share your thoughts and let us know whether you agree with the approach or if you think it sets a problematic precedent. As developments unfold regarding the physical release of the Legacy Kollection, we promise to keep you updated.
