For NetherRealm Studios, the last few years have felt like a foggy multiverse rather than a clean tournament bracket. Warner Bros. has denied that the studio is for sale, but the rumor mill has kept spinning anyway. With Mortal Kombat 11 long finished and no official word on what comes next as of 2026, fans have been left trading guesses: a Marvel fighter, a safer return to Mortal Kombat 12, or something else entirely. Judging by NetherRealm’s decade-long rhythm, though, the next logical contender remains Injustice 3.
Why Injustice Still Feels Different
The Injustice games have always occupied an intriguing corner of the fighting game world. They are fairly faithful comic adaptations, especially of the Injustice story arc from DC Comics. After one very bad day, Superman decides the world needs a dictator rather than a hero, and plenty of characters die in the fallout. Despite being one of the most memorable DC game adaptations in recent memory, Injustice has often played second fiddle to Mortal Kombat in sales and fan reception. Still, players adore the story modes, and stepping into the spandex of so many iconic heroes and villains is simply too good to miss. Even if Injustice 3 is not NetherRealm's immediate next game, it should materialize eventually, and there are plenty of characters fans would love to see on its roster.
The Old Guard Has to Return
Some returning DC favorites should be locked in first.
-
Batman and Superman provide the core conflict of the series, and it is tradition for the final ideological showdown to come down to them.
-
Wonder Woman and the Justice League are sure to join as well.
-
Harley Quinn — let’s be real, no Injustice roster feels complete without her chaos, especially after her recent surge in popularity.
-
Bat-family members, Green Lanterns, and Martian Manhunter’s niece could stay through premium costumes, NetherRealm's version of Echo Fighters.
That approach would squeeze far more DC faces into the lineup without bloating the roster.
A Crisis-Sized Villain: The Anti-Monitor
The Injustice series has looked like it is building toward a giant interdimensional Crisis storyline for a while. No villain would usher in that kind of event better than the Anti-Monitor. A being of pure anti-matter, he seeks to destroy all positive matter in the multiverse. It took scores of heroes from many dimensions to bring him down, and because he is essentially a primordial force, that did not stick. The Anti-Monitor is the perfect cast-unifying threat to drop into the end of an Injustice trilogy.
The Batman Who Laughs as the Sub-Boss
A colossal fighting game boss deserves a smaller but no less dangerous sub-boss. The Batman Who Laughs is a parallel Bruce Wayne who fell to Joker Venom. After killing the other superheroes in his world, he was approached by cosmic threats to serve as a spearhead for multiversal domination. With an army of Joker Venom-ized Robins and several corrupt heroes, he has become a recurring threat to all existence. He is the kind of villain who makes Shao Kahn look like a civil servant, and his Judge Doom-like design has made him a fan favorite.
King Shark Is the Crowd-Pleaser
King Shark may be an odd pick, but he would go over well with fans. This shark man is a minor Aquaman villain with a simple backstory, though he is now more closely associated with the Suicide Squad. Over the past few years, he has appeared in nearly every major multimedia Suicide Squad project, and he was a breakout presence in the Harley Quinn animated series. Fans would eat up a playable King Shark, who could easily become a walking highlight reel.
Static Shock Deserves a Main-Roster Spot
More known among older fans is Static Shock, who anchored a well-liked DC animated show from 2000 to 2004. The Black teenager can control electromagnetism, often using it to fly with a makeshift hoverboard and manipulate metal around him. While he appeared in the mobile Injustice game, Static was never promoted to the main roster. Injustice 3 could give him the shot he needs to prove himself.
Booster Gold Brings the Levity
The DC universe may have a reputation for being more serious than Marvel, but it is not always uptight. A major source of comic relief is Booster Gold. The time-traveling hero is far more self-centered than the average crimefighter, and his schemes to profit from future knowledge always seem to backfire. Nobody remembers his many nicknames either, much to his chagrin. Booster also holds a place in DC history as the first significant new character introduced into continuity after Crisis on Infinite Earths. Pairing him with his usual partner Blue Beetle would be a delight.
Dr. Manhattan as the Wild Card
There is one more character who would be perfect for a new Injustice title: Dr. Manhattan. He has officially migrated into the DC Comics universe from Watchmen over the past few years. His arrival has been controversial, but no one can deny he would make a great pseudo-crossover character in the base roster. He would have a fair amount to say to the DC cast in NetherRealm's signature back-and-forth match intros, especially with The Batman Who Laughs thanks to their previous interaction. It is the kind of crossover that does not actually feel like one.
Injustice 3 has been rumored to be in development for years, and as of 2026 NetherRealm still has not shown its full hand. If the studio does return to the DC well, it will have no shortage of beloved heroes, villains, and wild cards to choose from. The only real question left is which side of the multiverse gets punched first.