NetherRealm's Iconic 'Toasty!' Voice Actor Departs

Few franchises deliver as many legendary catchphrases as NetherRealm’s fighting series, Mortal Kombat. This week, however, fans learned that the voice behind one of its most iconic lines—the cheerful “Toasty!”—is departing the studio.

Audio director Dan Forden had been with Midway and later NetherRealm Studios since 1989, leaving his mark most memorably on Mortal Kombat. It’s his falsetto “Toasty!” that players hear after landing a satisfying uppercut. First appearing in Mortal Kombat II in 1993, the phrase quickly became one of gaming’s most recognizable quips.

Forden recently announced his departure from NetherRealm, posting a heartfelt message on social media in which he expressed pride in what the team has achieved.

“Wednesday was my final day at NetherRealm. Over the years, we created a lot of fun content, and I’m incredibly proud of our work—and the fun we had making it,” Forden shared on Instagram. “The studio is full of brilliant, talented people—expect more great things from them in the coming years. I especially love subtle tributes like this little ‘Toasty’ homage on the bathroom mirror.”

“I wouldn’t have lasted 37 years in this industry without the fans playing our games. Thank you all for your support over the years. Live long and… stay Toasty!”

When asked in the comments why he decided to leave now, Forden replied: “I felt I’ve been around long enough. It’s time to focus on my own interests.”

Forden’s exit arrives during a period of uncertainty for Warner Bros.-owned NetherRealm. In May, the studio confirmed—following the release of Mortal Kombat 1’s Definitive Edition—that no further DLC characters or story expansions would be released for the game.

In August, development lead Ed Boon revealed that Mortal Kombat 1 had sold over 6.2 million copies. By comparison, its predecessor Mortal Kombat 11 became the best-selling title in the franchise, surpassing Mortal Kombat X’s 11 million sales shortly after launch. By 2022, Mortal Kombat 11 had sold more than 15 million copies worldwide. Clearly, Mortal Kombat 1’s sales have lagged behind earlier entries.

NetherRealm announced it has shifted its “focus to the next project to make it as outstanding as possible,” though it hasn’t revealed what that project is. Many speculate it could be Injustice 3, continuing NetherRealm’s DC Comics fighting series.

Elsewhere in the Mortal Kombat universe, Digital Eclipse’s Mortal Kombat: Legacy Kollection, published by Atari, launches at the end of October. Meanwhile, the film sequel Mortal Kombat IIhas been postponed from October 24, 2025, to May 15, 2026. Warner Bros. and New Line Cinema reportedly believe the summer release will boost box office performance, given the strong fan reaction to the trailer. The movie stars Karl Urban, Adeline Rudolph, Jessica McNamee, Josh Lawson, Ludi Lin, Mehcad Brooks, Tati Gabrielle, Lewis Tan, and others.