Mortal Kombat WaveNet patch arrives

The Legacy Kollection adds a long lost WaveNet patch for UMK3 alongside other Mortal Kombat classics.

Legacy Kollection revives WaveNet patch for Mortal Kombat UMK3

Digital Eclipse has confirmed the Mortal Kombat Legacy Kollection will include Mortal Kombat Mythologies Sub-Zero and Special Forces, along with a new reveal: the WaveNet version of Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3. This patch era build, once limited to a handful of arcades in 1996–1997, has been long considered lost. The ROM reportedly survived at NetherRealm Studios, enabling the project to bring this rare variant to modern platforms. The collection targets PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, Switch 2 and PC, with a leak suggesting an October release window.

WaveNet introduced online play and patch updates to arcade games, but its use required expensive T1 connections, keeping it out of reach for most players. The UMK3 patch is notable for making Noob Saibot playable for the first time in this era and for balance tweaks that reportedly nerfed certain moves. Documentation remains sparse, so collectors and historians will be watching for any hidden features or Easter eggs that might have survived the era.

The discovery of a preserved WaveNet ROM underscores a broader shift in how fans and collectors value preservation. It moves legacy titles from mere nostalgia to tangible, playable history on current hardware. At the same time, the project raises questions about budgeting and timing, as developers juggle certification timelines with fan expectations for rapid access. The release could also set a precedent for how rare patches are treated in future collections, balancing archival fidelity with practical distribution.

Highlights

The next step is seeing how the patch lands with a broad audience on today’s systems.