The voice behind one of the Mortal Kombat franchise’s most famous lines of dialogue has left NetherRealm Studios, the developer that has been bringing players games in the iconic fighting game series since the shutdown of its predecessor, Midway Games, in 2010. Dan Forden has been providing sound design and audio direction services for the entire span of the Mortal Kombat franchise, but he is probably most recognizable to fans for his “Toasty!” commentary during matches.
The classic line saw its origin as an inside joke among the staff and has been present as an Easter egg in multiple Mortal Kombat games since its introduction in 1993’s Mortal Kombat 2. In its most classic state, a still image of Forden’s face will occasionally pop up in the lower right-hand corner of the screen, exclaiming an elongated “Toasty!” in an operatic falsetto, after the player delivers an uppercut. Subsequent appearances have modified the in-game meme slightly, such as Forden’s exclamation of “Toasty 3D” in Mortal Kombat 4, or in 2011’s Mortal Kombat, in which he appears wearing a T-shirt adorned with an image of a slice of toast.
The Voice Behind 'Toasty!' Leaves Mortal Kombat Studio
Forden first joined Midway in 1989 and had been employed either there or at NetherRealm ever since, until his departure on October 1. He shared the news that he had left NetherRealm via a post on his Instagram account, which includes a recent selfie in a bathroom mirror at the studio that features a sticker with his much younger likeness in the corner, delivering his classic video game catchphrase. In his farewell post, Forden thanked fans of Mortal Kombat and other NetherRealm games, noting his career would not have lasted nearly as long without people playing his games. He also had fond words for his former development team members, praising their talents and encouraging players to “look for more great things to emerge over the next several years.”
The former audio director appears to be leaving under his own terms, and his departure does not seem to be related to restructuring efforts at Warner Bros. Games that were announced in June. As he explained in the comment section, “I figured I’d been around long enough.” While he didn’t specifically state that he was retiring from audio direction or the video game industry in its entirety after 37 years, he stated that he is planning on using the newfound free time to pursue his own interests.
It’s unclear whether Forden’s likeness or his classic one-liner will be included in any future Mortal Kombat games following his departure. The digital release of the Mortal Kombat Legacy Kollection is scheduled for October 30, with the physical release planned for December 12.