The original Injustice: Gods Among Us was something of a surprise. Mortal Kombat developers NetherRealm Studios had worked with DC Comics' characters before, but their inclusion in an actual Mortal Kombat game had somewhat stifled the experience.

However, as soon as DC's greatest heroes got their own game, it was so good that it was almost surprising something like it hadn't happened sooner.

That was back in 2013, and until recently, NetherRealm has kept quiet on the possibility of a sequel. Given the success of the original game, many had hoped for a proper sequel, but the studio seemed dedicated to work on Mortal Kombat X over everything else.

Then, as is pre-E3 tradition, a pair of photos revealing some early GameStop marketing materials made their way online. They seemed too good to be fake, and the fact that multiple images were posted seemed to confirm that the game was on the way.

Now, instead of waiting until next week to announce a game that everyone already knows about, NetherRealm Studios has finally confirmed that Injustice 2 is in development. Along with a press release (via ComingSoon), the game's debut trailer has been revealed — along with the game's tentative release window.

It might not have much to do with the story of the game, but most fans would agree that the Injustice 2 debut trailer was fantastic. Injustice: Gods Among Us did a fantastic job of showcasing the brutal strength of its heroes, and it looks like NetherRealm studios is bringing that particular aspect of gameplay back for the sequel.

So far, not much is known about Injustice 2, save that it's being worked on. The trailer confirms that the game is slated for a 2017 release date, and interestingly enough, the ability to "personalize" Injustice 2's playable characters ... but otherwise, fans still have a lot left to learn about the game.

Given the timing, there's a good chance that gamers will see more of the game when E3 2016 kicks off next week.

What's interesting is that, instead of using the alternate dimensions from the original games as a way to reset the series' continuity, Injustice 2 is actually a direct follow-up to its predecessor:

"Injustice 2 continues the epic cinematic story introduced in Injustice: Gods Among Us as Batman and his allies work towards putting the pieces of society back together while struggling against those who want to restore Superman's regime. In the midst of the chaos, a new threat appears that will put Earth's existence at risk."

That might not sound like much, but anyone who played through the first Injustice knows that quite a few major players bit the dust under Superman's tyrannical reign. Whether or not these heroes are coming back has yet to be seen ... but it's not as if DC Comics doesn't have enough characters to work with otherwise.

Speaking of new characters, the trailer only confirms that Supergirl (in one of her many forms) will be making her debut. However, the press release goes on to confirm a few extra playable characters:

"Players can play from the biggest DC roster ever offered in a fighting game, from classic fan favorites such as Batman, Superman, Supergirl and Aquaman, to astonishing new villains like Atrocitus and Gorilla Grodd."

From what fans have seen so far, it looks like Injustice 2 will be the follow-up that everyone's been waiting for. With any luck, gamers won't have to wait much longer to see the game in action: E3 2016 is set to kick off on June 14.