Early Life and Career:
Brandon Leitnaker was born in the early 1970s. He grew up in the Chicago area where he developed a passion for video games. He began his career in the industry in the early 1990s as a tester for Midway Games, a now-defunct video game company.
Midway Games:
Leitnaker quickly rose through the ranks at Midway Games, eventually becoming a lead designer and producer. During his time at Midway, he worked on a number of successful games, including _Mortal Kombat 4_, _Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance_ and _Mortal Kombat: Deception_.
NetherRealm Studios:
In 2010, Leitnaker co-founded NetherRealm Studios with fellow Midway Games alumni Ed Boon. The studio is best known for developing the _Mortal Kombat_ and _Injustice_ fighting game franchises. Leitnaker served as the creative director on the critically acclaimed _Mortal Kombat (2011)_ and _Injustice: Gods Among Us_.
Recent Projects:
Leitnaker continues to play a key role in the development of NetherRealm's games. He served as the creative director on _Mortal Kombat 11_ and _Injustice 2_, which were both released to critical and commercial success in 2019.
Leitnaker is highly regarded in the video game industry for his work on the _Mortal Kombat_ and _Injustice_ franchises. He is also known as a mentor and leader who has helped to develop the next generation of video game designers and developers.