I've always had time for Mortal Kombat, but after seeing Mortal Kombat 1 in person at Big Geoff's Summer Game Fest, I was properly convinced by the latest gorefest. It looks bloody fun, and new features like the Cameo Fighter definitely pique my interest. And the good news: an online stress test is coming soon. The bad news: it won't be offered to PC players.

The online stress test will begin on Friday, June 23 and conclude the following Monday. The intent of this test is to stress the online service in preparation for the launch of Mortal Kombat 1 on September 19," NetherRealm said in its FAQ. The test will only take place on the Xbox Series X/S and PS5; PC and Switch players will not be eligible.

If you own one of these consoles, you will need to register to participate, but this does not guarantee access. If you really want to be one of the first to play "Mortal Kombat 1," unfortunately, the most reliable way is to make a reservation.

The preorder beta is scheduled for August, but again, PC players will not be able to participate; only Xbox Series X/S and PS5 players can get in early. It's a shame that we won't be able to check out the PC version of the game early, at least on the competitive scene, as several fighting games have been in the limelight.

I'm a traitor, but will probably buy it on PS5 anyway. I want to be on the couch when I'm punching thorns out, and I don't want to stream from my PC to the Nvidia Shield because of the risk of input lag. It's not very noticeable in most games, but can be a problem in fighting games where accuracy and timing are critical.

If you insist on playing on a PC, you will have to wait until September 19. However, that's only three months away, so hopefully I can keep the blood pumping until then. Good luck.