Mortal Kombat 9 might be difficult to find through conventional storefronts these days, but that hasn’t stopped the fighting game’s community from finding new ways to keep it alive. A new fan-developed PC project called MK9 by Lauta is bringing Mortal Kombat: Komplete Edition’s Xbox 360 version to Windows, complete with modern online functionality, rollback netcode, and even Kratos, the God of War character originally exclusive to PlayStation 3.
Developed by Argentine programmer Lauta, the project uses static recompilation to run the Xbox 360 version of Mortal Kombat: Komplete Edition natively on PC rather than relying on a traditional emulator. The latest version, 1.1.0, released on November 13, introduces several multiplayer improvements that could make this an especially interesting alternative for fans who still regularly return to the 2011 fighting game.
Among the biggest additions is support for online matches involving up to four players, with two participants playing from each computer. Unlike traditional tag-team matches, each participant can control their own fighter, allowing players to work together as a team against their opponents. Three-player matches are also supported, with two players sharing one computer and another joining from a second machine.
These matches use rollback netcode, a particularly welcome feature for a fighting game where responsive controls and precise timing can make all the difference. The update also expands support for the game’s existing online modes, including the Challenge of Luck, while introducing synchronization improvements to ensure participants see the same modifiers and results during matches.
The multiplayer package extends beyond simply finding an opponent, too. MK9 by Lauta includes quick matchmaking, public and private rooms, spectator support, chat, player profiles, statistics, and replay recording. Players can create private rooms with invitation codes, making it easier to organize matches with friends rather than relying entirely on public matchmaking.
Another particularly interesting feature is the inclusion of Kratos. Originally introduced as a PlayStation 3-exclusive guest character in Mortal Kombat (2011), the God of War protagonist never appeared in the original Xbox 360 or Windows releases. This project brings him into the Xbox 360-based version through a community-developed adaptation, giving PC players another way to experience one of the more memorable guest appearances in the franchise.
There are also several technical improvements intended to make the game more accessible across different PC configurations. The project supports resolutions up to 4K, DirectX 12 and Vulkan rendering, customizable controls, and graphical settings ranging from very low to ultra. It also includes dynamic resolution scaling and other performance options intended to help maintain the game’s 60 FPS target on less powerful hardware.
It is worth emphasizing that this is not a replacement for the original 2013 Windows release of Mortal Kombat: Komplete Edition. Instead, MK9 by Lauta is a separate community project built around the Xbox 360 version, offering its own technical improvements and online infrastructure.
Getting started does, however, require a legitimate copy of Mortal Kombat: Komplete Edition for Xbox 360. The project does not distribute the game’s commercial files, and users must provide their own European-version ISO or extracted game directory. The published Windows requirements include a 64-bit installation of Windows 10 or Windows 11, 4 GB of RAM, approximately 8 GB of available storage, and a graphics card supporting DirectX 12 Shader Model 6 or Vulkan 1.2.
MK9 by Lauta is available through its GitHub repository, where interested players can find the latest release and installation instructions. The project is unofficial and is not affiliated with Warner Bros. Games or NetherRealm Studios, but it represents another interesting community effort to preserve and improve an older fighting game.
With rollback multiplayer, additional team-based online matches, and a previously PlayStation-exclusive character now available, Mortal Kombat 9 is receiving some features that make revisiting the game considerably more appealing. Whether the project can continue growing its player base remains to be seen, but it is an interesting development for fans who would like to see the 2011 installment receive more attention.