Bold rivalry, big stage, and a playful jab that fans won’t forget. The Game Awards 2025 delivered more than a sizzling Street Fighter movie trailer; it brought the long-running Street Fighter vs. Mortal Kombat feud into the spotlight with a twist. On stage, Street Fighter’s cast—Jason Momoa as Blanka, Cody Rhodes as Guile, and Roman Reigns as Akuma—made a memorable entrance to hype next year’s film. Then comedian Andrew Schulz, who plays Dan Hibiki in the Street Fighter movie, cheekily aimed a volley at Mortal Kombat 2, stealing the show for a moment that only true fans would savor.
Schulz started with a crowd-pleasing tease: he praised both games, then hinted at a grand, global cast gathering for Mortal Kombat 2. The payoff: he admitted the truth behind the hype—“They didn’t come. They don’t care about you. They only care about money. We care about money AND you. Street Fighter FOREVER!” The joke was designed to stir anticipation and, intentionally or not, sparked a verbal skirmish between the two fan communities.
Reaction from the Mortal Kombat camp was swift. Todd Garner, producer of Mortal Kombat 2, weighed in with a pointed tweet: “I don’t climb over others to get ahead.” He later softened his stance with a more measured message, expressing hope that both movies become huge successes. The exchange underscored a storied rivalry that traces back to the 1990s and schoolyard debates, where fans often found themselves torn between two beloved fighting franchises.
Next year brings a curious symmetry: Mortal Kombat 2 is slated for release on May 8, followed by Street Fighter on October 16. It’s a cinematic mini-arc that mirrors an old-school console feud in real time, offering fans a double feature of iconic fighting worlds within the same calendar year. Some fans have even floated the idea of a Mortal Kombat vs. Street Fighter crossover game to settle the debate once and for all. NetherRealm’s Ed Boon has long expressed such a dream, though negotiations with Capcom stalled in the past. With both franchises now pursuing movie adaptations, the door to a potential crossover might be wider than ever.
As for Schulz’s quip, it remains a joke—one that isn’t meant to be taken as a prophecy. He plays Dan Hibiki in the new film, a role likely to be spoofed and playfully punished on screen, which may satisfy the crowd more than it fuels real hostility. Expect plenty of playful banter to continue as next year’s releases approach.
Photo credit: Frank Micelotta/The Game Awards via Getty Images.
Wesley Yin-Poole is the IGN Director of News. Reach him on X at @wyp100 or email wesley_yinpoole@ign.com. Alternatives available at wyp100@proton.me.
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