‘Toasty!’ Creator Dan Forden Leaves NetherRealm Studios After 30 Years

Sound designer and composer Dan Forden, best known as the man behind the iconic “Toasty!” Easter egg in Mortal Kombat, has announced his departure from NetherRealm Studios after more than three decades with the team.

“Wednesday was my last day at Netherrealm. We made a lot of fun stuff over the years. I’m really proud of what we accomplished as well as how much fun we had making that stuff,” Forden wrote on social media, sharing a photo from a studio restroom featuring a sticker of his face.

Forden became a Mortal Kombat legend after voicing the “Toasty!” line that plays during an uppercut in Mortal Kombat 2. According to him, the phrase started as a simple inside joke, but series co-creator Ed Boon decided to include it in the game. The Easter egg has since appeared in multiple entries, including Mortal Kombat 1.

Mortal Kombat 1 launched in 2023. According to insiders, NetherRealm Studios is now rumored to be working on Injustice 3, the next installment in its superhero fighting series.