The sound designer for the Mortal Kombat series and creator of the "Toasty!" Easter egg has left NetherRealm Studios
Dan Forden, who managed the sound for all the main games in the Mortal Kombat series, is no longer working at NetherRealm Studios. He announced his departure on social media.
Mortal Kombat II
Forden did not reveal why he left the studio. He also did not share any plans for the future, so it is unknown whether he will continue working on games at another company or leave the industry behind.
Forden has been working on the Mortal Kombat series since the days of Midway Games. He was one of the original game's team members and is especially remembered for the "Toasty!" easter egg in Mortal Kombat II—after a successful uppercut or Scorpion's fatality, Forden's face would appear in the lower right corner of the screen, accompanied by the iconic shout.
Forden joined NetherRealm Studios following the bankruptcy of Midway Games; in 2009, Warner Bros. acquired most of the assets from the bankrupt studio and soon rebranded the Midway Games Chicago division as NetherRealm Studios. During his time there, in addition to Mortal Kombat, Forden contributed to Injustice: Gods Among Us, Injustice 2, and WWE Immortals.