Scorpion Exits the Mortal Kombat Franchise
▼ Summary
– Dan Forden, longtime Mortal Kombat audio director, has left NetherRealm Studios after over 30 years working on the franchise.
– Forden’s last day at the WB-owned studio was October 2, as he announced in an Instagram post.
– He is best known for his “Toasty!” Easter egg, where he appeared on-screen during fights starting with Mortal Kombat II.
– Forden worked on every mainline Mortal Kombat game from the 1992 original through 2023’s Mortal Kombat 1.
– In his departure message, he expressed pride in the team’s work and gratitude to fans for their support over his 37-year career.
The longtime Mortal Kombat audio director Dan Forden, a veteran developer with over three decades of involvement in the fighting game series, has officially departed from NetherRealm Studios. Known affectionately among fans as “Toasty Dan,” Forden confirmed his exit in an Instagram post on October 2, marking the end of an era for one of gaming’s most recognizable voices.
Forden’s journey with Mortal Kombat began at Midway Chicago, the original developer of the franchise, which later evolved into NetherRealm Studios under WB ownership. His contributions span every major installment, starting with the very first Mortal Kombat in 1992 and continuing through the most recent release, Mortal Kombat 1 in 2023. His distinctive high-pitched exclamation “Toasty!” became an iconic Easter egg, first appearing in Mortal Kombat II and enduring across nearly every sequel and several spin-off titles.
In his farewell message, Forden reflected on his time with the studio, stating, “Wednesday was my last day at NetherRealm. We made a lot of fun stuff over the years. I’m really proud of what we accomplished as well as how much fun we had making that stuff.” He praised the talented team at NetherRealm and expressed confidence in their future projects, encouraging fans to anticipate more great work from the studio in the coming years.
Alongside his announcement, Forden shared a photo from inside the studio, a bathroom mirror adorned with a small sticker depicting his famous “Toasty!” cameo from MKII. He noted how much he appreciated these thoughtful, personal touches left around the workplace by colleagues. Acknowledging the community that supported his work, Forden added, “I wouldn’t have lasted 37 years in the industry if fans weren’t out there playing the games we made. Thanks to all of you for supporting what we’ve done. Live long and…Toasty!”
(Source: kotaku)
