Only a few days have passed since NetherRealm Studios released the new Deception skin for Mileena in Mortal Kombat 1, and already some die-hard fans have voiced their disapproval of the update. Many fans of the franchise are tearing the Mortal Kombat 1 outfit to pieces. The cosmetic is based on the character's appearance in the 2004 game Mortal Kombat: Deception, a follow-up to Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance from 2002.

The 12th main game in the series, which is set for release in 2023, is both a sequel to 2019's Mortal Kombat 11 and a second reboot following the franchise's 2011 resuscitation. The plot takes place in Liu Kang's new chronology after the events of the Aftermath expansion, where the Fire God opposes Shang Tsung's coalition and collects fighters for the newest tournament of the same name. In October 2024, a new update was released for Mortal Kombat 1, which included a new points system in the Invasions mode and fixed a number of UI and graphic bugs on PC and Switch.

Mileena's Deception skin features knee-high boots, flared sleeves, and a mask covering her lower face, all in the classic pink and black color scheme of the character. Getting the skin, though, comes with a catch: a paywall that requires 500 Dragon Krystals to unlock the cosmetic. Unfortunately, some fans of Mortal Kombat believe that the 2004 version is still better than the new skin. Even though the lighter-colored fabric is the primary difference, one Twitter user wrote, "Stop modifying the OG skins/outfits... Give us the real deal." Not only are Mileena's razor-sharp teeth and vicious combos from Mortal Kombat 1 unforgettable, but some fans don't think the skins do the character credit.

The Deception Of Mortal Kombat 1 Mileena Skin Gets Critiques And 500-Paywall Crystal

This is not the first time the antagonist's makeup has drawn criticism. The street-wear aesthetic of Mileena's Mortal Kombat 1 Earthrealm skin variant was deemed excessively contemporary, as it did not align with the demeanor of an Edenian princess. Fortunately, a horde of people silently hoping for the legendary clothing to be added leaped to defend Mileena's Deception skin, celebrating its long-awaited debut. Social media postings expressing gratitude for the cosmetics were screenshotted by fans, who soon outnumbered the critics.

The true letdown, in the opinion of supporters, is September's expansion. Many people think that the Khaos Reigns storyline in Mortal Kombat 1 is unimpressive, with a weak, open-ended climax and a lack of consistency being the key lessons learned. Ed Boon, the head of NetherRealm, had previously stated that the company will continue to support Mortal Kombat 1 content even as it intensifies work on its upcoming project. Fans of the franchise, however, expect more compelling narrative in subsequent installments.