Mortal Kombat 9, a game removed from digital stores for over five years, is gathering more fans on Steam than the Mortal Kombat: Legacy Kollection, released just a few months ago. This curious situation, revealed by recent data from the SteamDB platform, shows an interesting paradox at the beginning of 2026: while the modern collection of classics struggles to maintain an audience, an old title with no official sales keeps its flame alive thanks to the community.
The numbers don’t lie and tell a story of preference and nostalgia. While the Legacy Kollection recorded around 42 concurrent players this Monday, January 12th, Mortal Kombat 9 (or MK9) counted 61. This difference, although seemingly small, is significant when we consider the context. The collection, which hit the market in October of last year, suffered a 95% drop in players since its launch, a result that is surprising for such a beloved franchise.
The explanation for this phenomenon lies in two main paths. On one hand, the Legacy Kollection was met with criticism at launch, especially for problems in the multiplayer mode and lack of basic features, which discouraged many players from the start. On the other hand, Mortal Kombat 9 carries the historical weight of having revitalized the series in 2011, being a beloved title that marked a generation, even with its access now limited to those who already owned the game before its disappearance from digital shelves.
The Licensing Problem and the Future of Classics
But why, after all, was MK9 removed from Steam? The answer lies in one name: Freddy Krueger. The iconic horror character was a special guest fighter in the game, initiating an era of collaborations that became a trademark of the franchise. However, the license to use the character reverted to its original owners, and the agreement was likely not renewed. Due to this contractual issue, Warner Bros. Games had to withdraw the game from circulation, a common fate for titles that rely on third-party intellectual properties.
This situation raises an important question for Brazilian fans: what to expect from the future? The lukewarm reception of the Legacy Kollection may, in a way, hinder the arrival of other classic titles, such as Shaolin Monks and Armageddon, which remain trapped on old hardware. Still, the passion shown by players for MK9 proves that interest in these games exists and is vibrant. Thus, the lesson for publishers may be clear: the quality of the delivery and respect for the fans are as crucial as nostalgia itself.
