Dan Forden, Iconic 'Toasty!' Voice and Mortal Kombat Composer, Departs Nether...

Dan Forden, a veteran sound designer and composer whose audio work has been integral to the Mortal Kombat series since its inception, has announced his departure from NetherRealm Studios. Forden's career spanned nearly four decades, beginning at Williams Electronics and Midway Games in the late 1980s and continuing through the studio's evolution into the Warner Bros. Games-owned NetherRealm. He is celebrated not only for composing the franchise's distinctive, genre-blending soundtracks but also for being the face and voice of the legendary "Toasty!" Easter egg, a beloved piece of gaming culture that originated as an inside joke between developers. Forden announced his departure on Instagram, stating, "Wednesday was my last day at Netherrealm," and expressed immense pride in the "fun stuff" they created over the years. His work defined the auditory landscape of Mortal Kombat, from the atmospheric, ethnic-influenced tracks of the early arcade games to the hard-hitting industrial and orchestral scores of recent titles.

Forden's influence extends far beyond a single soundbite. As a key member of the original four-person team that created the first Mortal Kombat, he was responsible for the entire audio package, including music, sound effects, and dialogue. His collaboration with co-creator Ed Boon began on earlier titles like Super High Impact Football, where the "Toasty!" taunt was born. Forden explained that he would tell Boon "I predict toasty" during matches, which Boon later suggested incorporating into Mortal Kombat II. When a player landed a powerful uppercut, a small image of Forden would slide into the corner of the screen accompanied by his falsetto "Toasty!" cry, creating one of gaming's most enduring memes. Throughout his tenure, which saw Midway evolve into NetherRealm Studios, Forden's role grew to Audio Director, overseeing the sound for every Mortal Kombat and Injustice game. In his farewell message, Forden thanked the fans for their passionate support over his 37-year career, closing with a final, fitting nod: "Live long and… Toasty!"

• The Origin of "Toasty!": The iconic phrase originated from an inside joke between Dan Forden and Mortal Kombat co-creator Ed Boon while they worked on the arcade game Super High Impact Football. Forden would taunt Boon by saying, "I predict toast," which eventually morphed into "I predict toasty." Boon found it hilarious and suggested putting it in Mortal Kombat II as an Easter egg, where a picture of Forden would appear after a strong uppercut, cementing the phrase in video game history.
• A Pillar of Mortal Kombat's Sound: Forden was the composer and sound designer for the first four arcade versions of Mortal Kombat, shaping its unique audio identity from the ground up. His style is noted for its fusion of synthetic sounds with organic, ethnic drumming and complex melodies, creating a "gloomy ethnic soundtrack" that became synonymous with the series. This blend of mythical and industrial sounds helped the franchise stand out in crowded arcades. He continued to lead the audio direction through the studio's transition from Midway to NetherRealm, working on every installment.
• Evolution of an Easter Egg: The "Toasty!" pop-up became a fan-favorite feature that evolved over time. In Mortal Kombat 3, variations were introduced, such as "Frosty!" when using Sub-Zero's freeze move and "Crispy!" for lava-based stage fatalities. In Mortal Kombat 4, the first 3D entry, the line was updated to "Toasty! 3D!". The Easter egg has appeared in most games since, including modern titles like Mortal Kombat 11, and has been referenced in other games like Peggle and Revolution X.
• From Williams to Midway to NetherRealm: Forden began his career at Williams Electronics in 1989, which owned Midway, working on audio for pinball and arcade games like Arch Rivals. He was part of the small team at Midway that developed the original Mortal Kombat. Midway Games was later acquired by Warner Bros. after filing for bankruptcy in 2009, and its Chicago studio was rebranded as NetherRealm Studios in 2010, with Forden continuing his role as a key audio lead.
• Key Stakeholders and Legacy: Dan Forden, co-creator Ed Boon, and artist John Vogel were among the last members of the original Mortal Kombat development team still at NetherRealm Studios. With Forden's departure, only Boon and Vogel remain. Forden's legacy is twofold: he is immortalized as the "Toasty Guy," a beloved meme in gaming culture, but he was also the principal architect of the sound that has defined one of the most successful fighting game franchises for over 30 years.
• Broader Contributions to Gaming Audio: While synonymous with Mortal Kombat, Forden's work is credited on over 60 games. His projects include the Injustice series, NFL Blitz, and even contributions to the arcade hardware for Killer Instinct. He graduated from the Oberlin Conservatory of Music's TIMARA (Technology in Music and Related Arts) program, bringing a formal education in electronic and computer music to the early days of arcade development.
• Timeline of a Career: Forden joined Williams/Midway in 1989. He was part of the original Mortal Kombat team in 1992. The "Toasty!" Easter egg debuted in Mortal Kombat II in 1993. He remained with the studio through its acquisition by Warner Bros. and rebranding as NetherRealm Studios in 2010. His final credited project was as Audio Director on Mortal Kombat 1. He announced his departure on October 2, 2025, after a 37-year career.