DC Announces Surprise Fighting Game, and It's Not Injustice 3

DC has confirmed the existence of a new fighting game centered on its superheroes and supervillains. The announced roster groups expected figures from the DC universe, though this is not a direct sequel to the Injustice series developed by NetherRealm Studios. Nine years after Injustice 2, the license is starting fresh on different footing, with positioning that raises as many questions as it answers.

Injustice 2 as an Impossible Standard to Ignore

Released in 2017, Injustice 2 by NetherRealm set a bar difficult to surpass for any DC-licensed fighting game. Its equipment-based progression system, cinematic storytelling, and technical depth in online play earned it rare longevity in the genre. Since then, NetherRealm moved on to Mortal Kombat 11 in 2019 and Mortal Kombat 1 in 2023, leaving the DC universe without an official console sequel.

This new title doesn't fill that void the same way. It exists on a platform or in a format nobody anticipated, which immediately shifts the framework for comparison. It's not a direct competitor to Mortal Kombat 1 or Street Fighter 6: it's a distinct proposition, with its own set of advantages and risks.

A DC Roster Without NetherRealm's Safety Net

Injustice's strength lay largely in NetherRealm's mastery of fighting mechanics—a studio that spent over three decades refining the genre, from Mortal Kombat II in 1993 through recent installments. Handing the DC universe to another team is a bet on a studio's creative potential when it lacks proven expertise in this specific terrain, or at least isn't recognized as a fighting game authority.

The announced roster looks solid on paper—the major DC figures are there—but an iconic character lineup doesn't guarantee a balanced and lasting fighting game. MultiVersus, launched by Player First Games in 2022, learned this the hard way: despite an enticing Warner Bros. roster and a promising beta, the game struggled with player retention after its official 2024 launch before being gradually scaled back.

The Unexpected Platform Changes Everything

The announcement places this game in territory described as surprising. Without confirmed details on platforms or monetization model, two scenarios emerge: either a mobile or free-to-play title targeting a broader audience than traditional versus fighters, or an exclusive or multiplatform release in a less visible segment.

In the first case, the challenge becomes balancing mechanical depth against accessibility. In the second, it's player visibility and critical mass that become questionable. Fighting games live or die by their competitive community: a DC title without tournament presence—even modest—remains a niche product overshadowed by its predecessors.

The DC universe remains one of the richest IP pools for a fighting game: character archetypes span the entire stylistic spectrum, from pure hand-to-hand fighters like Batman to ranged combatants like Green Lantern, plus complex hybrid profiles. NetherRealm fully exploited this potential, and it would be unfortunate for a new game to squander it in a limited format.

What's being announced deserves judgment on its own merits, not solely against Injustice 2. But DC and Warner Bros. Games must face this reality: by choosing to sidestep the formula that worked, they risk delivering a title demanding players will view as second choice. The announcement exists, the roster exists—what remains is proving the 2026 DC fighting game actually has something meaningful to offer.