Developer NetherRealm has released a new trailer for Mortal Kombat X that explains the game's Faction Wars mode and other new features.

Faction Wars is an online, persistent metagame that every player with an internet connection will participate in. Each player will choose one out of five factions: White Lotus, Brotherhood of Shadow, Black Dragon, Special Forces, or Lin Kuei. Everything you do in the game, in single player or multiplayer modes, will contribute points to your faction. At the end of each week, the faction with the most point wins, and will earn special rewards.

The trailer also gives a quick look at the game's new dynamic towers, a series of challenges that will change on the hour, daily, or every few days.

We still don't know much about Mortal Kombat X's story mode, but if you liked what NetherRealm did with it in Mortal Kombat 9, it sounds like it won't disappoint. NetherRealm creative director Ed Boon said that the game's story will span 25 years, and director of art Steve Beran described it as a "blockbuster movie within the game itself."

GameSpot's Erick Tay and Peter Brown got to play these new Mortal Kombat X modes earlier this week. Check out the video below for their take.

Mortal Kombat X will be released this April for PS4, Xbox One, PS3, Xbox 360, and PC.