A heated rivalry between two iconic video game franchises has been reignited, and it's all thanks to a playful joke at The Game Awards 2025.
The event, which unveiled the highly anticipated Street Fighter movie trailer, also saw the entire cast make a surprise appearance. Stars like Jason Momoa, Cody Rhodes, and Roman Reigns took the stage, hyping up the upcoming film adaptation. But it was comedian Andrew Schulz, playing Dan Hibiki, who stole the show with a joke that sparked a fiery response.
"We're not the only game that appreciates your patronage," Schulz began, setting the stage for a playful dig. "There's another game out there, they also flew from around the world to be here because they appreciate you. So give it up for the whole cast of Mortal Kombat 2!" the audience roared with anticipation, expecting the rival cast to make a grand entrance. But Schulz had a twist in store. "I'm just kidding. They didn't come. They don't care about you. They only care about money. We care about money AND you. Street Fighter FOREVER!" Schulz's joke landed with a bang, sparking a war of words between fans of the two franchises.
"They just started a war," declared fighting game streamer unCAGEDgamez. The reaction from fans was intense, with comments like "No one from this Street Fighter cast outdoing Scorpion and Sub-Zero" and "Hadoukens fired!" flying across social media.
Todd Garner, producer of the Mortal Kombat 2 movie, responded with a tweet that seemed to take the joke personally: "I don't climb over others to get ahead." But later, in a more diplomatic tone, he added, "I hope they both are huge."
This rivalry between Street Fighter and Mortal Kombat is nothing new. It's a battle that's been raging since the '90s, with fans forced to choose sides. But next year, something special is happening. Both franchises are releasing movies within months of each other, with Mortal Kombat 2 hitting theaters first on May 8, followed by Street Fighter on October 16.
The only true way to settle this rivalry once and for all? A Mortal Kombat vs Street Fighter game, of course! Ed Boon, the development chief at NetherRealm, has long dreamed of such a crossover, but negotiations with Capcom fell through. With both games getting their big-screen adaptations, could this be the perfect time for a rematch?
As for Schulz's joke, it's clear he's playing a joke character in the movie, so his playful ribbing is all in good fun. Todd Garner might even find it hilarious when he sees the movie, especially knowing Schulz's character is destined for a hilarious beating.
So, who will reign supreme in this battle of the franchises? Only time will tell, but one thing's for sure: the rivalry between Street Fighter and Mortal Kombat is as fierce as ever, and fans can't wait to see how it plays out on the big screen.
