Dead or Alive 6 Is Making a Comeback

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Koei Tecmo has announced an updated version of Dead or Alive 6 called Dead or Alive 6: Last Round, and given a glimpse into what’s next for the fighting game series. This is the first major update to the game since the release of Dead or Alive 6: Core Fighters in 2019, which was a free-to-play version. The announcement was made at Sony’s February 2026 State of Play event.

The Dead or Alive fighting game series, created by the renowned Tomonobu Itagaki and developed by Koei Tecmo’s Team Ninja, first appeared in arcades in 1996. It was later released on the Sega Saturn and drew inspiration from Sega’s Virtua Fighter. However, Dead or Alive distinguished itself with its innovative gameplay and striking character designs. Notably, the series featured a reimagined version of Ryu Hayabusa from Ninja Gaiden, a character who would later become central to Team Ninja’s successful revival of the Ninja Gaiden franchise.

Koei Tecmo Announces Dead or Alive 6: Last Round and Teases the Future of the Franchise

Koei Tecmo has announced an updated version of Dead or Alive 6, called Dead or Alive 6: Last Round, to commemorate the franchise’s 30th anniversary. Revealed at the February 2026 State of Play, this definitive edition features better graphics, a more robust photo mode, and includes all five previously released DLC characters in the main game. Producer Yosuke Hayashi also mentioned that more characters and outfits are planned for the future, alongside a free-to-play option available when the game launches on June 25, 2026.

During the announcement of Dead or Alive 6: Last Round, a short teaser hinted at the next game in the series. The video shows Ryu Hayabusa fighting a mysterious woman, likely Kasumi, a popular ninja character from the Dead or Alive games. However, her face is hidden and her outfit is new. Details about the game, which would be the seventh main installment in the series, are still limited and the official title hasn’t been revealed yet.

Fans and industry experts have noticed that the Dead or Alive series hasn’t been very active lately. There’s been talk, even from Tekken 8‘s director Katsuhiro Harada, about a possible crossover between Tekken and Dead or Alive (often shortened to DOA). While it might be a while before we hear concrete news about the next Dead or Alive game – the recent footage seems like a very early preview – these hints are giving fans more optimism than they’ve felt in years. In the meantime, Dead or Alive 6: Last Round, releasing in summer 2026, should offer plenty to enjoy. The developers are planning new content for this updated version of DOA 6, which could be used to test ideas for the next game, or even introduce characters and features that will be important for the future of the series.

Those who enjoy the Dead or Alive games will be happy to hear that the Ninja Gaiden series is also making a comeback. The recently released Ninja Gaiden 4 has received good reviews, and a remastered version of Ninja Gaiden 2, called Ninja Gaiden 2 Black (which includes updates from Ninja Gaiden 2 Sigma), came out in January 2025. With both game series gaining popularity, fans have plenty to anticipate from Team Ninja in the years ahead.

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2026-02-14 00:37