In a trailer released on Maxim’s Russian Youtube channel, Liu Kang has been officially confirmed as a fighter in Mortal Kombat X. There has been a lot of speculation about the Shaolin Monk’s return, with leaked screenshots and rumours hinting at his inclusion but with this international trailer, he has finally been confirmed as a kombatant in the latest installment of Mortal Kombat.

Liu Kang looks a lot older in Mortal Kombat X and significantly more evil, with his glowing eyes and pale skin suggesting that he has become one of Quan Chi’s revenants, after he was killed at the end of Mortal Kombat 9. By the looks of it, he and Kung Lao are now fighting on the side of Shinnok and the Netherrealm, harbouring hatred towards Raiden’s actions 25 years ago. For the third monk, Kung Jin, he sides with Raiden and the other Earthrealm fighters in their fight against Shinnok.

Also, shown in this trailer, was a brief cameo from the drunken master Bo Rai Cho, who seems to be conversing with Raiden as he tries to convert the two monks back to the side of good. Bo Rai Cho previously trained Kung Lao and Liu Kang, due to the fact he could not fight for Earthrealm in a Mortal Kombat tournament because he was an Outworlder, so it makes sense that Raiden would seek his aid when trying to bring the fighters back onto his side. He will probably remain a cameo, as his drunken fighting style and puke puddle technique seems a little too crude for this installment of Mortal Kombat.

Check out the trailer below and expect even more news coming your way soon, as we are only 3 weeks from launch.