School's out forever

Koei Tecmo releases the final DLC for Dead or Alive 6 today, bringing an end to a full year of expensive and repetitive add-ons for this latest entry in the fighting franchise. And, in a fitting conclusion, the final bundle isn't even all-new D?LC.

Today's update adds both the "High Society" and "School Uniform" packs to the DLC catalogue, both of which were previously available in Dead or Alive 5: Last Round. The two packs consist of frilly dresses and schoolgirl costumes for the DoA women?'s roster. As ??newcomers, NiCO and Tamaki are the only characters to receive original outfits.

It's an inevitable conclusion to DoA 6's freshman year. The past 12 months has seen Koei Tecmo release over $400 worth of DLC for the fighting sequel, comprised of four $80+ season passes, multiple packs that weren't even included as part of said season passes, and several characters and costumes which - like today's offering - were simply re-releases from previous games. This is not to speak of the "Hair Color" controversy.

As a old-school Dead or Alive fan, I'm glad to be putting this DLC news to rest. I wasn't feeling DoA 6 at launch, but the last year really soured my interest on a revisit. Hopefully at some point in the future the franchise can return, perhaps with a sharper attitude toward both the game and, more importantly, its fanbase. Until that day, Dead or Alive remains (in my opinion, at least)?? just the engine that pulls? the DLC train.

DLC "[Rivival] High Society Costumes" and "[Revival] School Uniforms" are now available for purchase!
✱These costumes are NOT part of Season Pass 4✱ #DOA6 //t.co/OWVVNPfEBk pic.twitter.com/SznFwEcG3p

— Official DEAD OR ALIVE Fighting Game (@DOATEC_OFFICIAL) April 14, 2020

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DLC train reaches final destination

Koei Tecmo has announced that an upcoming update for its 3D fighter Dead or Alive 6 wil??l be its last, bringing an end to a year of patches and expensive DLC practices.

The final update - bringing DoA 6 to Version 1.22 - will include two sets of DLC costumes: The "Revival" High Society costumes and "Revival" school uniforms, along with a run of bug fixes and balance tweaks. After the patch is implemented, further DLC support will end for DoA 6, although obviously the servers, r?ankings, and onlin?e store will remain available.

I found Dead or Alive 6 a disappointment. Following the excellent Dead or Alive 5: Last Round - and taking into account develo??per talk of having a whole new ?perspective on the franchise, focusing more on The Fight and less on the cheese - it seemed like Dead or Alive 6 was goi??ng to be a rebirth of sorts, prepping the long-running series for its leap into? a new generation.

Instead, we got the series' blandest entry in some time. Barely changed from its predecessor from either an aesthetic or gameplay standpoint. It was just "more Dead or Alive 5", some seven years after that title's initial release. In just one year, over $400 worth of DLC has been made available to purchase for DoA 6, some of it the same DLC from DoA 5. This focus came to a head (literally) with the recent "hair colour change" controversy.

If DoA returns for the next gen, here's hoping it comes screaming into a new era. Switch up the roster, redesign the characters, choose a whole new aesthetic tone or visual style. Take chances. Dead or Alive was a great series for years. Its fast, read-heavy punch-ups are intense, engaging and, at times, breathtaking. Make us remember what brought DoA to the dance, light a fire under the competitive scene again, and perhaps, just once, leave the shopping ma????ll priorities at home.

Dead or Alive 6 is available now on PS4, PC, and Xbox One.

For all our fighters #DOA6 #DEADORALIVE6 pic.twitter.com/QZglaqNXit

— Official DEAD OR ALIVE Fighting Game (@DOATEC_OFFICIAL) March 31, 2020

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Give it the brush off

Koei Tecmo was the subject of merciless ridicule late last month, when the publisher revealed a new "paid hair colour alteration" mechanic for its fighting-game-cum-shopping mall Dead or Alive 6. In the wake of said controversy, Koei Tecm??o has announced an incoming patch that wil??l revise the way the customisation system works.

As of Version 1.21a - which launches on March 31 - players who wish to purchase a new colour for their favourite character's bouffant will now permanently unlock all 16 colours for that particular style. E.g. if a player purchase??s colour change DLC for Marie Rose's "Long" style, then they will permanently receive all 16 colours for that style, to be changed back and forth at will. In addition, all Premium Tick??ets that have been spent on hair colour to date will be refunded, and all hair colours returned to their default mode across the board.

This is obviously much better than the original plan but, when all is said and done, Dead or Alive 6 is still asking players to spend real money to change a character's hair colour. And even if you now get "all 16 colours permanently" it's still on a style-by-style/character-by-character basis. It may only be a dollar or two a pop, but somehow that pithy price makes it feel even more egregious and miserly.

There is no paid way of doing this correctly. If KT wishes to implement a hair colour change option, then the only non-laughable choice is to allow people to change all characters' hair colours, whenever they want, for free. Hair colour is ?perhaps the singl??e most rudimentary customisation option in a video game. Just do it gratis, or not at all.

Dead or Alive 6 is available now on PS4, PC, and Xbox One.

Update for our fighters. #DOA6 #DEADORALIVE6 pic.twitter.com/gSd3Mo4bFH

— Official DEAD OR ALIVE Fighting Game (@DOATEC_OFFICIAL) March 26, 2020

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Bash at the Beach

While Koei Tecmo remains under fire from Dead or Alive fans over its hair-dyeing shenanigans, it hasn't stopped the publisher from dropping new info about DoA 6's upcoming DLC. The latest update, courtesy of Famitsu, announces that Venus Vacation's Tamaki will be available for the DoA 6 roster from tomorrow, March 10.

The young swimsuit model and fashion designer made her debut in Dead or Alive Xtreme Venus Vacation back in 2018, with her DoA 6 inclusion, being Tamaki's first foray into the fight itself. Tamaki is an A??ikido practitioner, and as such will come armed with an array of powerful strikes, as well as masterful use of counters and throws, utilising the opponent's momentum against themselves.

Fans of Tamaki's Venus Vacation appearance will be pleased to hear that she's bringing most of her wardrobe from that tit??le along for the ride. A video from Famitsu, which you can check out below, shows up some of Tamaki's ?looks, while also showcasing some of her basic combos.

Dead or Alive 6 is available now on PS4, PC, and Xbox One.

Dead or Alive 6 D??LC ch??aracter Tamaki launches March 10 [Gematsu / Famitsu]

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Dye Hard

[Update: The official Dead or Alive Twitter has posted a statement regar??ding the?? maligned hair colour change system, which reads as follows:

"Dear fans, we hear and acknowledge your disappointment behind our roll out of the new hair color feature for DoA6. We greatly appreciate your feedback, and are working towards a solution that helps to mitigate this issue ??and will share our plans in the coming days.

We apologize for our misstep, and are working hard to resolve this situation. We thank you in advance for your patience and hope you continue to enjoy DoA6."

One would think a suitable solution would be "Don't charge people real money to change a video game character's hair colour". But we'll ??see what Koei Tecmo has in store for its community soon.]

Koei Tecmo's Dead or Alive 6 continues to come up with new and egregious ways to treat its dedicated fanbase as walking cash registers. As its reputation as a quality, underdog fighter seemingly falls further away with each new announcement, DoA 6 is no??w charging players real money in order to change their favo??urite character's hair colour.

As of Version 1.20, the PS4-exclusive feature lets players spend Premium Tickets, (only purchasable with real dollarydoos), to change a character's bouffant to one of 16 available colours. The double-kicker comes from the fact that this transaction must be made every time you give your character a dye-job, even if you're changing them back to a colour that you've previously purchased. For full disclosure, each colour change only costs around a single dollar, but that somehow makes the whole affair feel more miserly.

Also, for some unknown reason, the hair colour data is not saved server-side, like other in-game purchases. Thus if you delete your save data, you lose your current custom hair colour. DoA site Free Step Dodge has received c?onfirmation from Team NINJA that this is not a bug and that the hair dye system is working "as designed".

Dead or Alive 6 continues to push incessant monetisation onto its audience. In January, DoA 6 received its fourth $80+ season pass in just 12? ??months, for a grand total of around $340 in season passes alone. This, of course, does not include the price of the retail edition of the game itself, or any DLC that is not included in the season pass, for example the $20 "Maids" costume pack that was released on the same day. It should also be noted that some elements of the DoA 6 DLC, (such as characters Rachel and KoF's Mai Shiranui), were also paid DLC for the previous release, Dead or Alive 5.

"Dead or Alive as Store Front" isn't new. It's well-known that DoA 5 racked up well over a thousand dollars in DLC by the end of its life-cycle, (a number DoA 6 has quickly approached in just its freshman year), But the way the franchise seems to find newer ??ways to make post-launch cash leaves you wondering where the line is - if there even is a line.

I've enjoyed Dead or Alive as a fighter since the heady days of DoA 2 on the Dreamcast. I really dig its high-speed action, deep throw/counter mechanics, and read-heavy "Triangle" system. But, in my opinion, the mediocrity of Dead or Alive 6, coupled with a full year of brazen, even evolving monetisation schemes strips back all of the franchise's hard-earned positives. And while I certainly don't judge anyone for how they choose to spend their own money, I personally can't see past DoA's clear "shopping mall" priorities anymore. Given the response from many fans to this latest news, I'm not alone in my exhaustion.

Dead or Alive 6 update allows play??ers to dye chara??cters' hair using Premium Tickets [EventHubs]

Premium Tickets, which allow you to purchase DLC costumes separately on PS4 are available now!
After the v1.20 update, you can change the hair color from 16 colors with one Premium Ticket. *PS4 only
*The Premium Tickets can be purchased in game PS store through "WARDROBE". #DOA6 pic.twitter.com/oE4WfUnndT

— Official DEAD OR ALIVE Fighting Game (@DOATEC_OFFICIAL) February 25, 2020

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Money for nothing and the chicks (aren't) for free

Dead or Alive 6 continues to push towards its dubious goal of becoming the most expensive fighting game of all time, as today sees the launch of a fourth season pass - this one costing $89.99 - and bringing with it 50 more costumes and other incoming con??tent for the so-so title.

This is just the latest in a run of season passes to hit Team Ninja's flagship fighter since its release back in March 2019. Since launch, over $340 in passes have been released for Dead or Alive 6, not including the game's physical edition asking price or any DLC that falls outside of the season pass parameters. That's the best part of $400 in less than 12 months.

It should also be noted that this fourth pass does not include all of the upcoming DLC. A "(Revival) Maid" set, featuring housemaid outfits for the DoA 6 women's roster, also launches today at a separate price of $19.99. Before you ask, yes, they're the same maid outfits that were previously available in Dead or Alive 5. So that's over $10??0 worth of DLC - not even al?l-new DLC - launching in one day.

On a more positive note, season four's wardrobe will include a selection of costumes designed by some DoA devotees. The "Design Contest 2019 Set" will feature several outfits for fighters Mila, Bass, Kasumi, and Honoka as designed by the winners of a competition held last year by Team Ninja. Now that I can dig. Similar to the time SNK's King of Fighters created a brand new character following its own fan contest.

At the risk of sounding like a broken record... I'm not your dad. You've earned your money and can spend it on whatever you want. I'm not judging anyone for that. I just personally think it's sad to experience this transition that has seen Dead or Alive - which was a great fighter in its own right - become little more than the? engine that pul?ls the DLC train. A thinly-veiled shopping cart shaped like a once-standout fighting franchise.

Dead or Alive 6 is available now on PS4, PC and Xbox One.

Dead or Alive 6 season pass four costs $89.99 [Siliconera]

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Ninja Gaiden star not-so-surprise guest

Koei Tecmo has announced the next DLC character for the latest entry in fighting franchise Dead or Alive 6, and its fiend-hunter Rachel, star of the popular Ninja Gaiden series. No release date was revealed, but the l??eather-bound ass-kicker is expected to arrive befor??e the year is out.

Rachel's return represents the latest in a series of characters - many of whom were base roster members or paid DLC in Dead or Alive 5's revisions - making their return as DLC in Dead or Alive 6. Other characters guilty of this include Nyotengu (was paid DLC in DoA 5, now a pre-order bonus in DoA 6), and KoF's Mai Shiranui, (was paid DLC in DoA 5, and is now paid DLC again in DoA 6).

Dead or Alive 6, a game mostly unchanged from its 2012 predecessor, continues to set a new standard of repetition with its character and costume DLC. That's without making mention of a third $80 season pass, announced within just 10 months of the game's initial launch. DoA gonna DoA, I guess.

This week sees the release of a new skin set, featuring gym workout gear for the entire female roster, (barring the KoF characters). Available from November 26, these costumes are produced as part of a collaboration with the succinctly-titled anime How Heavy Are The Dumbbells You Lift?

A small selection of free costumes will also be made available tomorrow, celebrating two million downloads of Core Fighters, DoA6's free-to-play variant.

Dead or Alive 6 is available now on PS4, PC and Xbox One.

Dead or Alive 6 b??rings back Rachel and a new co??llab [Siliconera]

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The Price is Fight

Koei Tecmo has announced a third season pass for its 3D fighting game Dead or Alive 6, which launched in March this year. For those keeping score, that's three $80 DLC passes in eight months, on top of the title's purchase price (if you aren't picki?ng up the Free-to=Play edition.)

The first costume pack will feature Halloween getups for every member of the game's roster, with two more costume packs and a mystery character to come along down the line. Purchasers who pick up the season pass early will bag themselves retro Dead or Alive 2 outfits for rivals Kasumi and Ayan??e.

I'm not your dad, son. And I don't judge anyone for what they choose to do with their hard-earned cash. But these constant requests for the best part of 100 bucks, just months apart, and for a fairly mediocre fighting title makes it an even bitter pill for me to swallow.

Dead or Alive 6 is available now on PS4, PC and Xbox One.

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Enter the Ninja

Speaking at Tokyo Game Show this week, Koei Tecmo has announced that a new warrior will be joining the roster of 3D fighter Dead or Alive 6. Kunoichi Momiji is expect?ed to land in-game as pa?id DLC as soon as September 19.

Momiji is the apprentice of DoA and Ninja Gaiden poster boy Ryu Hayabusa, and made her video game debut in 2008 Nintendo DS title Ninja Gaiden: Dragon Sword. Momiji is no stranger to the DoA Tournament, however, having featured in Dead or Alive 5 Ultimate. Momiji's return to the ring is neatly timed to the 15 year anniversary of the Ninja Gaiden reboot.

What's a DoA character without a plethora of costumes? Fortunately, Momiji comes bundled with five outfits in keeping with the previous pirate, wedding, summer, and beach cost??ume packs. Also arriving this week is the new "Morphing Ninja" set, outfits that turn gold once a fighter lands a taunt or their Break Blow. For full confusion, check out the catalogue at the end of the trailer below.

Dead or Alive 6 is available now on PS4, PC and Xbox One.

Dead or Alive 6 DLC character Momiji announced [Gematsu]

Fighters, Momiji joins the roster of #DEADORALIVE6 with new moves and new possibilities. Check out all the available game modes with her and to celebrate Ninja Gaiden's 15th Anniversary, make sure you grab your favorite transforming Ninja Costume for your fighter September 19th! pic.twitter.com/BFjeNTQ1kH

— Official DEAD OR ALIVE Fighting Game (@DOATEC_OFFICIAL) September 14, 2019

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Koei Tecmo will announce more next month

Koei Tecmo's Dead or Alive 6 has been home to two ridiculously overpriced season passes that contain a bunch of nonsense most players probably don't want. While it was possible to pick and choose what extra content you'd get on PC and Xbox One, PS4 players weren't so lucky. For one reason or another, you either had to go all-in or get nothing on Sony's platform. Turns out this wasn't an intentional decision as DOA6's publisher has announ??ced it is working on a fix for the situation.

In a Tweet yesterday, Koei Tecmo stated, "Currently Xbox One and Steam fighters can purchase DLC individually. We are working on a new system that will allow PlayStation 4 fighters to do the same." The main reason for this is that the US PSN store handled individual purchases differently from the Asian market. In Asia, PS4 players wer??e actually able to select which DLC they wanted. For the US, this wasn't possible.

I don't know how much I believe that, but at least Dead or Alive 6's crazy DLC plans can be mostly ignored goi??ng forward. Now everyo?ne will be able to pick which sexy swimsuit they want instead of grabbing them all.

Dead or Alive 6 Will Soon Get Individual?? DLC Purchases For The PS4? Version [Siliconera]

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I don't wanna miss a thing!!!

One of the more absurd season passes in recent memory was the first one launched for Dead or Alive 6 earlier this year. Going for $93 and containing a bunch of useless n?onsense alongside two characters, it was the first time I've seen a DLC pass cost more than the base game. While Koei Tecmo isn't talking price just yet, a second season pass has been announced and it contains seemingly less content than the first.

Landing on Tuesday for all platforms, purchases of this second DLC drop will net you one new character, five costumes for said character, bonus costumes for Marie Rose and Honoka, two additional costume sets, some "Vacation to Paradise" background music, and the "Seaside Eden" arena. That's really not a lot of stuff, but I wouldn??'t be surprised to see? it going for $90 again.

If you'd prefer to just stick with the free "Core Fighters" version of DOA6, then get ready to boot it up soon. Both Marie Rose and Honoka will be free between July 23 and July 29. I'm not sure that's the best incentive to try the game, but free characters are free characters. It certainly beats trying to pick them out of the Steam store page list of $670 worth of DLC, at any rate.

DOATEC(DOA6)OFFICIAL [Twitter]

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Ice Loli

A new trailer dropped by Koei Tecmo has revealed two popular gals from SNK's King of Fighters franchise are set to join the roster of Team Ninja's Dead or Alive 6. The guest st?ars are fan-waving kunoichi Mai Shi?ranui and mischievous master of ice Kula Diamond.

This obviously isn't Mai's first journey into the world of DoA, as the Fatal Fury poster girl was also a paid DLC character in DoA 5. But given that both games are almost entirely the same anyway, this decision seems par for the course. Kula, however, is an all-new guest star, and will be bringing her cooler-than-cool fighting style to the DoA tournament for the first time.

Arriving with Mai and Kula will be a wardrobe of alternate outfits, including a nurse's uniform, housemaid getup, sea-faring pirate gear, a sexy bunny costume and also a wedding dress, despite Kula being like, 14 or some shit. Mai and Kula will arrive in-game June 18 as part of DoA 6's initial season pass.

Dead or Alive 6 is available now on PS4, PC and Xbox One.

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Shirtless Ryu *DROOL*

Koei Tecmo has unveiled a range of sexy costumes for Dead or Alive 6 and no one is being left out. Not content to cater specifically to the male gaze, all of the guys ??on the roster will be getting stripped down to flex their ridiculous muscles and get all sweaty for you. I never thought I'd see the day where we'd get shirtless Ryu Hayabusa, but it has finally happened. What a stud.

Coming in as the "Deluxe Costumes" set, buyers will get 25 costumes with one for almost every character in the jiggly fighter. Originally a part of the "Deluxe" edition of the game, the set is now available as a full bundle on PC, PS4, and Xbox One for ?$34.99. You can also grab ?individual items on Xbox One for $1.99 each.

Dead or Alive 6 Gets A Batch Of 25 DLC Deluxe Costumes [Siliconera]

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Slim figure for long-term franchise fighter

Publisher Koei Tecmo has released their latest financial report revealing that, among many other numbers, that their flagship fighter Dead or Alive 6 sold approximately 350,000 copies in its first month of re??lease.

Now, of course, that's a six-figure digit, and nothing to be sniffed at, but it's likely less than the publisher was expecting. Given that Dead or Alive 5 launched with around 600,000 sales, (eventually rounding out at some 1.5 million following the release of Last Round), this latest entry in the 3D fighter has?? some ways to go ??in order to catch up.

Dead or Alive 6 hit the PC and console platforms last month to mixed reviews. While it still fights a good fight, it was criticised for its expensive DLC plans, missing features and overall lack of ambition and progress over previous entries in the series. Dead or Alive 6 has also not made the cut f??or the main stage at EVO 2019, which is no doubt disappointing for the game's competitive community.

Elsewhere in the report, it was announced that Warriors Orochi 4 currently stands at around 700,000 copies, which is over 300,000 copies more than the previous financial report. In the interim, the game has launched worldwide and on PC, so clearly releasing Warriors games in the ?west has a very? positive impact on sales, having boosted the figure by over 100%

Dead or Alive 6 is available now on PS4, PC and Xbox One. Warriors Orochi 4 is available? now on PS4, PC, Xbox ?One and Nintendo Switch.

Dead or Alive 6 shipments top 350,000 [Gematsu]

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Precious booty

Team Ninja has dropped a new patch on fight fest Dead or Alive 6. Update 1.04, which is available now ?on all platforms, adds a selection of l??ate-coming features missing from launch, as well as a fresh batch of free and paid DLC items. All players who download the update and play before May 13 will automatically be gifted 100,000 player points.

First up, leaderboards are now live in-game, allowin??g players to see where they rank among the finest fighters the game has to offer. Previously, the only way to see your rank was to engage in an online matc?h, where you would be shown where your standing during the first round intro.

Speaking of match intros, more have been added for Ayane, Tina, Rig and Lisa, while new winposes have been added for Zack, Nyotengu, Honoka and Mila. I'm still blown backwards by this modern era of fighters where - as is the case here and in Mortal Kombat 11 - character winposes are being treated as some form of commodity.

Finally, there is a $20 "Pirates of the 7 Seas Vol. 1" DLC package, which ? includes seafaring gear for Ayane, Bass, Christie, Diego, Hayate, Hitomi, Honoka, La Mariposa, Mila, Nyote??ngu, Rig, Tina, and Zack. You can check out a trailer for the new wardrobe below.

Dead or Alive 6 is available now on PS4, PC and Xbox One.

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Playing with your friends online now a thing

It's been long coming, but Koei Tecmo and Team Ninja have announced that online lobbies will definitely be added to spin-kicking sequel Dead or Alive 6 th??is week, having been unavailable at launch and delayed from the original March update.

As of Update 1.03, which launches on all platforms April 11, players will be able to invite buddies to join them in multiplayer lobbies, as well as joining the queue for classic evenings of Winner Stays On. So no more synchronising up your searches ??and just hoping that you get paired together. The update will also include a selection of minor bug fixes.

Dead or Alive 6 is available now on PS4, PC and Xbox One.

Lobby Match update(1.03b) has been confirmed for April 11th for all platforms. Thank you for your patience and understanding.
*Time will differ according to platform and region.#DOA6 #PS4 #Xone #Steam

— DOATEC(DOA6)OFFICIAL (@DOATEC_OFFICIAL) April 9, 2019

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Match made in heaven?

The Dead or Alive series is no slouch when it comes to DLC. Dead or Alive 5 infamously had over $1000 dollars worth of DLC available by its twilight years, and with the release of the first $90 Season Pass, it looks like Dead or Alive 6 will be following in i??ts predecessor's footsteps.

In fact, we're already on the second volume of wedding costumes, now available to purchase in-game. As revealed in a new trailer from Koei Tecmo, which can check out below, "Happy Wedding Vol. 2" features tuxes and gowns for Mila, Christie, Honoka, Ayane, Brad, Bayman, Eliot and others, 13?? outfits in all.

Happy Wedding Vol. 2 is available as part of Season Pass 1 which is now available for purchase. Koei Tecmo recently noted that online lobbies had been delayed but sh?ould be arriving later on this month.

Dead or Alive 6 is available now on PS4, PC and Xbox One

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Dead.

When Dead or Alive 6 launched at the start of the month, it did so witho?ut a crucial element for competitive online players, lobbies. As such, playing or sparring with a friend online is currently a matter of you both searching for a match simultaneousl?y and hoping that you happen to get linked up.

Koei Tecmo announced that lobbies would be added to DOA 6 this month, already a risky delay given the importance? of online out of the gate for any fighting game. Unfortunately?, it appears that the lobbies now are delayed further still, and are scheduled to arrive in April.

If you can detect a tone of cynicism in me, it's more just a deep sigh. DOA 6 is hardly a S-tier product as it is. DOA 6 is an "above average" title already roundly chastised for its $90+ season pass, and now players have had to wait two months so they can play with online buddies? This isn't even the first time this has happened. When DOA 5 came to PC, lobb??ies were also late and, in the ??end, never actually showed up at all.

I'm sure Dead or Alive 6 will receive its lobby system as planned. But given fan frustration so far, Mortal Kombat 11 launching next month, and organisers shunning the title for a main stage slot at its debutante EVO Championship, it's undeniably been a shaky start for the long-running series' sixt?h entry.

Dead or Alive 6 is available now on PS4, PC and Xbox One.

The update (Ver.1.03a) for 3/29 includes DLC add-ons, game balance adjustments & bug fixes.
Team NINJA is working on online lobbies for all platforms & still requires polish;
lobbies (Ver.1.03b) are now scheduled for release in April. Your patience is greatly appreciated. #DOA6 pic.twitter.com/AtAenXQJiA

— DOATEC(DOA6)OFFICIAL (@DOATEC_OFFICIAL) March 26, 2019

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Kasumi, Hitomi, Diego, and Bass make up the 'Core Fighters'

We knew Team Ninja had plans for a free lite version of Dead or Alive 6, but still, two weeks after launch? They aren't waiting around! Dead or Alive 6: Core Fighters is now available on PC, PS4, and Xbox One, and if?? you think you'll be satisfied with just a sam?pler, it's worth scoping out.

The free-to-play Core Fighters limits you to competing as ??Kasumi, Hitomi, Diego, and Bass, and you aren't getting the story mode in its entirety. But other than those caveats, there's a lot to like. You will have access to Training, Arcade, Versus, Time Attack, Quest, and yes, online ranked battles.

It's the sort of thing that can tide over less ardent DoA fans while they wait for the complete edition.

Graciously, today's update has also ironed out some of the time-wasting quirks present in Dead or Alive 6's costume unlock system. You?? can see all of the balance changes in the Ver. 1.02 patch notes.

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Fill out your wardrobe quicker

Costumes are important in Dead or Alive 6, real im??portant. So important, that already the latest entry in Koei Tecmo's fighting series has been patched to facilitate the player's ability to unlock a funky fresh wardrobe.

In DoA 6, co?stumes are unlocked in "parts" via grinding the game's Arcade, Training and other modes, once you have enough parts for a certain character's outfit, then that outfit is unlocked. Unfortunately, it seems to be taking players forever to get these garbs together, not helped by the fact that Team Ninja scaled back the initial drop rate before release. Fortunately, this has been reversed, and now players should be unlocking costume parts at 100 times the speed that they were on launch day.

Not only that, but the upcoming mid-March patch will also make it so that the parts you unlock are actually for the character you're playing as. Currently, you could be playing as, say, Kasumi for a whole day, but only succeed in unlocking costum?e parts for other characters. Jeez. The new patch will fortunately call time on that concept.

March's update will also add online lobbies, allowing you to hook up with friends for multiplayer fisticuffs, something which you currently cannot do outside of finding them through sheer luck. Dead or Alive 6 is available now on PS4, PC and Xbox One.

#DOA6 launch campaign has been enhanced:
・Costume pattern parts earned will be increased x100 (max).
・In addition to Ranked matches, this campaign will also include Arcade Mode, Time Attack mode, and Survival mode.

— DOATEC(DOA6)OFFICIAL (@DOATEC_OFFICIAL) March 4, 2019

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'I can't believe it's not DoA 5!'

I first became aware of Dead or Alive thanks to the ill-fated Sega Saturn Magazine, which once sported a cover image of pro-wrestler Tina, while huge text declared "FOXY BATTLING BABEFEST!" From day one, DoA had found its hook, something to set it apart from competition like Sega's Virtua Fighter and Namco's Tekken, the latte?r of which still rules the 3??D fighting genre today.

Decades have passed since then. We're currently in an experimental era for fighting games, with everyone trying new ideas and concepts. Whether it's Mortal Kombat's cinematic storytelling, Street Fighter's obsession with the eSports scene, King of Fighters' venture into 2.5D, Arc System Works' anime crossover chaos or, bafflingly, Tekken bringing in guest stars from The Walking Dead.

Perhaps realising the need for change, Team Ninja announced last year th?ey'd be taking a new tack with their own franc?hise. It's time for Dead or Alive to be taken seriously as a fighter, they said. Enough of the cheesecake bouncing boobs, panty shots, and doe-eyed lolis. This would be a new Dead or Alive - for a new world of core values - marketed proudly with the slogan ??"Fierce Fighting Entertainment."

Not really. As Yogi Berra once said: "I?t's d??eja vu all over again."

Dead or Alive 6 (PC, PS4 [reviewed], Xbox One)
Developer: Team Ninja
Publisher: Koei Tecmo
Released: March 1, 2019
MSRP: $59.99

For those not-versed in Dead or Alive, it's a 3D fighting game which places emphasis on speed and prediction. Still one of the fastest punch-ups on the market, DoA rewards split-second timing and the ability to capitalise on reading your opponent. The latter comes in the form of DoA's "Triangle System" which uses "Holds" (essentially counters) to reverse enemy attacks, turning the fight in your favour. This forces good players to constantly switch up their combos, mixing high, low, and mid-attacks - along with throws - to preve?nt being read. It's a great system, making for satisfying psychological combat.

DoA 6's "Fierce Fighting Entertainment" remains solid. Brawls are quick, exciting affairs, rewarding players for their character knowledge and smart adaptation. As is the case for many modern fighters, DoA 6 introduces a new One-Button-Super mechanic where, once the Break meter is filled, mashing a designated button performs an auto-combo, leading to a pretty underwhelming final blow. Accompanying this is also a "catch-all" version of Holds, where players can spend meter to perform a counter that will reverse all forms of incoming strike. These new mechanics will be useful for newer players but, like Tekken 7 and Soulcalibur VI's similar "simplified" specials, can?? lead to ??a paranoid online playstyle, occasionally breaking fight flow.

The new graphics engine steps up the flesh tones, hair, and facial details, as well as the sweat, dust, and dirt effects, of which Team Ninja are rightfully proud. While it's fair to say that DoA has improved its visual appearance, this also comes at the behest of performance, with the PS4 edition featuring occasional slowdown whenever the camera swings around to showcase throws or supers. It's very noticeable on certain stages, and particularly during Survival?? mode. It goes without saying that framerate drops in a fighting game are at the top of the no-no li?st.

In terms of content, DoA 6 is overwhelmingly by-the-numbers. Save for two new stars - nerd-girl NiCO and hot-head Diego - the roster is the same (now missing Rachel and the Virtua Fighter stars). Our heroes are all rocking mostly unchanged outfits, movesets, and taunts. A bunch of the unlockable costumes available here also featured in DoA 5. When it comes to stages, it doesn't take too long for brows to furrow in familiarity. There's a downtown gym, a stream in a forest, a cobble-stoned temple, a "cyber" room with an electric floor, a wrestling arena with an electrified ring. These have all been designed from scratch, but are essentially remakes from DoA 5. As the ultimate punch-line, there's even a museum arena specifically designed to be a compendium of previous stages.

This leads to Dead or Alive 6's biggest and most notable problem, one that permeates the entire experience: There's no convincing evidence that any real progression has been made from Dead or Alive 5: Last Round, a now four-year-old expansion of a game that originally launched in 2012. Sure, the graphics have had a revamp, but otherwise it's the same bland, cheese-metal soundtrack, the same roster - with barely-changed movesets and costumes - the same mechanics, stages, even unlockables. There are exceptions - such as the excellent sunken galleon stage - but practically everything in DoA 6 is instantly, overly, familiar.

By the end of my first couple of hours with the game, my excitement had dissipated. I realised that I was merely going through the same motions that I have been for years with DoA 5. Why shouldn't I? There's nothing new here to really sink into. It's just... more Dead or Alive.

Fortunately, alongside the returning Arcade, Time Attack, Survival, and Training modes come two new distractions. Combo Trials let you get to grips with each character, while DoA Quest offers a series of nearly 100 fights with multiple objectives. The best addition in DoA 6, DoA Quest gives players a basic costume-unlock grind, while teaching the intricacies of side-stepping, holds, counters, and throws. Unfortunately, Tag Mode is entirely absent. As much as DoA 6 adds, it removes.

Rounding out single player is another dreadful Story Mode, which is once again comprised of a hodge-podge of clunky 20-second cutscenes, interspersed with single-round fights. The story and chronology of this narrative is all over the place, and whilst it isn't quite as intolerable as Street Fighter V's effort, DoA's story mode is drab and lifeless.

While I was unable to try the online portion of the final release, I'm sure fans have put time into the recent demo, which should give you an idea of how DoA 6 performs online. The second demo, which ran just last week, showed huge improvements in stability over the first, and hopefully this will be improved further for release day. At present, only Ranked Play is available, lobbies will be added at a later date. That's not the only thing being added down the line, however, as day one also sees the start of a heavy character and costume DLC plan, headed up with an initial, disgusting, ninety dollar season pass.

Dead or Alive 6, just like its earlier entries, fights a good fight, that's not in question here. But adding a one-button combo system and rubbing more soil into character's faces does not a sequel make. Look at Street Fighter IV to Street Fighter V, or Mortal Kombat Armageddon to Mortal Kombat IX. These are sequels. These titles feature aesthetic changes, roster shake-ups, and entirely new gameplay mechanics. These games experiment with character designs, stages, and new audio/visual styles. They take risks. Not everything hits, of course, but progress is attempted, and thus these ??brands are kept fresh and exciting, changin??g not only with the times, but with the tech, the audience, and the current fighting game market.

In comparison, Dead or Alive 6 is Dead or Alive 5 with softer skin tones and a couple of extra modes. As a sequel, it's almost a photocopy of its seven-year-old predecessor. Though few will be disappointed by DoA's trademark gameplay (save for the framerate hiccups), I'm in no doubt that even the most hardcore of fans will find everything far too familiar. At the risk of taking comparisons a step beyond, Dead or Alive is in danger of becoming the fighting game equivalent of EA's annual sports releases: Last year's game, but with minor improvements and a boosted pri???ce tag.

While it still makes for a fun fighting experience, Dead or Alive 6 shows that the brand has unquestionably run out of ideas. With little to showcase in th?e way of fresh concepts, gameplay surprises, or brand creativity, this long-running series chooses to coast by on being "more of the same", whilst hoping to be the engine that pulls the DLC train. During this competitive era of fighting game reinvention, that just isn't going to cut it for your 60 bucks.

_{[This review is based on a retail buil??d of the game provided by the publisher.]}

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Roll the dice to play with a friend

Koei Tecmo has noted that online lobbies, originally planned to arrive as part of a Day One patch, will not be coming to to new fighter Dead or Alive 6 until later in March.

Currently, Ranked Mode is the only way to fight other players online in the new ninja slapfest. So, if you wish to play against a friend, you have to both search online ranked mode simultaneously and simply hope that you get matched up for battle. 2019. This was a problem that also befell the PC port of Dead or Alive 5: Last Round, which initially launched without multiplayer whatsoever, and then never received any lobbies.

That shouldn't be the case here, and hopefully players will be able to get together with their buddies for all-night fight sessions before too long. I hope so for Koei Tecmos sake. This  may seem like a minor delay - and it is - but in the super-competitive?? fighting game market, it can go some way toward killing a title's momentum out of the gate.

Dead or Alive 6 is available now on PS4, PC and Xbox One.

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Can they top Last Round's shopping list?

By the time Koei Tecmo were done adding DLC to Dead or Alive 5, it had just under £1000 of paid additional content. That's not a typo, and possibly a record. Today sees the launch of sequel Dead or Alive 6, and while we don't know if Koei are planning to shatter previous efforts, they have at least laid out a road map for the game's Season Pass 1, which costs around $93 USD/ £74 GBP and only covers the content listed below.

Day One sees the addition of a pre-order character, the mischievous minx Nyotengu, alongside new costumes for herself and new girl NiCO. Also available are two separate packs of wedding themed outfits for the guys 'n' gals, so you can have your favourite kunoichi snapping necks on her way down the aisle. The DoA 6 Deluxe Edition also inc??ludes Kasumi? clone Phase 4 (The Deluxe Edition does not include Season Pass 1).

April and May will both see their own costume packs, featuring new gear for the entire roster, while June brings two new characters, both of whom will be guest stars from SNK's The King of Fighters XIV. We know one of them is the iconic Mai Shiranui, but we are yet to discover the identity of the other. Both of these characters will be receiving alternate outfits.

That's the general layout for DLC for DoA 6 for the next four months. Denoting the first season pass with a "1" pretty much guarantees it's going to be business as usual with this latest bout. It should also be noted that a disclaimer suggests possibilities that DLC "not included in the list above may be released during the same period, but it will not be covered by this Season Pass 1."

Dead or Alive 6 launches today on PS4, PC and Xbox One.

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Does it flip or flop?

I've been playing the Dead or Alive 6 Deluxe Demo for the past?? few days and I've got to say, I'm quite surprised. The first beta didn't install any confidence in me and made me question what was going on with the once-proud fighter. It was riddled with connectivity issues and the game felt like it moved at a glacial pace. This was hardly the fast and furious fighter I played in my youth, not to mention it really didn't feel like a big budget title that could be taken seriously.

Now, though, I see the spark that once existed in the series. Matches move at sometimes lightning speeds and the online bouts are fairly smooth. While lag does still exist in some fights, the majority of connections are rock solid and the only thing stopping you from winning is your own lack of skill. The game retains most of the combos that were featured in previous games (Hayabusa's "Izuna Drop" makes for a great finisher) and it generally feels like a classic DOA title.

The only real complaint I've had is with the demo, itself. Why was story mode even featured when it was just going to be two less-than-a-minute-long cutscenes and a single round fight? That doesn't tell me anything about how story mode will play out unless Koei Tecmo is trying to tell me it will suck. St?ill, I can take a crappy story mode when traditional fighting game options (Arcade, Training, Combo Challenges, Offline Versus) are present and accounted for. It also doesn't hurt that the game generally feels nice.

So, how are you all finding it? What thoughts do you have about the next generation of Dead or Alive? I want to know what the community thinks and if anyone has experienced some game crippling lag. I thought this demo was a far cry from the previous one, so I'm a bit more excited for when the game releases this Friday. Dtoid's resident fighting expert, Chris Moyse, will give us his?? verdict soon, so be sure to look out for that.

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Get it?

Dead or Alive 6's Deluxe Demo is now available on PS4 and Xbox One. Featuring the entire cast and a smattering of game modes, this will give players a good look at the final game before it launches next week. You'll need to be an Xbox Live?? or PlayStation Plus subscriber, but you'll be a?ble to partake of ranked matches, get a look a quick look at the story mode for the fighter.

The demo will only be live until February 24, so make sure to get your practice in. I'm eager to see if anything has been changed f??rom the previous bet??a, which I thought was rather sluggish and riddled with online issues. I don't think I'll ever get over the transitions to 30 FPS supers from smooth, 60 FPS action.

Dead or Alive 6's Deluxe D??emo With 24 Characters Launches Today, Here's A New Trailer [Siliconera]

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EVO Director said stream 'does not reflect the core values of Evo'

EVO Japan is currently being held in the Fukuoka Kokusai Center in Fuku??oka, Japan and all of the big names in fighting games are there. Capcom, Koei Tecmo, SNK, and more are currently holding tournaments and demoing upcoming games and DLC to the public to build hype for the future of their brands. Not even a full day into the festivities, the event hit a snag in the streaming schedule.

During a segment promoting the upcoming Dead or Alive 6, the material of the stream veered into what EVO officials considered to be inappropriate co??ntent. Following a string of offenses, the stream was pulled from Twitch and a statement was issued apologizing for the snafu. The tweet has since been deleted but was archived by VG 24/7 for view below.

The first offense came when a few of the female presenters on stage began talking about various aspects of DOA6 and were spanking each other while jumping around. Everyone was in on the act, which was clearly trying to play up the raunchy side of this series. After that, Koei Tecmo employees were demoing the new free camera option in DOA6. Hulk Hogan wannabe Bass Armstrong had performed a pile driver o??n Nyotengu and the camera was paused at an angle that looked rather sexual. The stream was abruptly pulled during this bit.

While EVO Director Joey Cuellar had initially made that tweet, no other official comment has been given on the mat??ter. The rest of EVO Japan is still underway, so we'll probably not hear anything else until after the tournaments have wrapped up.

Evo Japan stream pulled offline as Dead or Alive 6 promo veers into content branded inappropriate [VG 24/7]

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Mai and another veteran teased for DLC

Koei Tecmo will be holding a second beta/demo for Dead or Alive 6 next weekend. Running from February 22nd until the 24th, this new demo will be present on PS4 and Xbox One. Players will be able to test out the entire cast of the latest DOA as well as sample all of the available cosmetic options from the final game. The demo will be exclusive to PS Plus and Xbox Live Gold members, which is curious since this demo includes more?? than an online mode.

Unlike the previous demo, this new one will contain Ranked and Player matches, Free Training, a Tutorial, Command Training, Combo Challenges and a short introduction to the Story Mode. It sounds like a much more jam-packed offering than last month's beta. If that wasn't enough, Koei Tecmo also revealed some of the DLC coming to Dead or Alive 6 shortly after launch.

Mai Shiranui from Fatal Fury and The King of Fighters will be the first character included in DOA6's "Season Pass 1." This makes a lot of sense since she was playable in Dead or Alive 5: Last Round. Another KOF veteran will be the second character, though Koei Tecmo is only teasing who that may be for the moment. Players can purchase the first season pass on March 1 and it will include 62 new costumes with special mention given to NiCO and Nyotengu. All of?? the content from this pass will be release?d from March until June 2019.

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Being dead is overrated

Team Ninja has released a new trailer giving us our first look at Dead or Alive 6's most recently announced fighter in action. Back from the dead and ready to rumble (again) is veteran DoA boss character and all-round bad dude Raidou.

As you can see in the video below, Raidou has had some upgrades since we last saw him, seemingly augmenting his body with mechanical and metallic add-ons. A master of open-handed fighting techniques, Raidou? pounds away at poor old Hayate, with even an onlooker getting in on the action.

With Dead or Alive 6 just around the corner, it seems that the roster is complete, unless the developer still has some surprises in store for us. Surprise, surprise, it's absolutely everyone we expected, alongside newcomers Diego and NiCO. Dead or Alive 6 launches on PS4, PC and Xbox One on March 1.

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Free Fight

Speaking in an interview with Siliconera, the Producer of Koei Tecmo's upcoming Dead or Alive 6, Yohei Shimbori, noted that the fast-paced fighter will be rec?eiving a stripped-down, free-to-play edition, but not until sometime after release.

This is no doubt in keeping with predecessor Dead or Alive 5, which was available as a full-priced purchase or in the "Core Fighters" edition. The latter only featured four characters, with?? the rest of the roster available for purchase separately. Occasionally, an extra character would be rotated in and out of the roster for limited-time event??s.

Shimbori also referenced a recent posting on the Xbox Live store for Dead or Alive 6: Core Fighters, which he says was a mistake. "We do have plans to make a f??ree-to-play version." Shimbori said. "But we haven’t announced when it will be available. We can promise it will? be out post-launch of the full game."

Dead or Alive 6 launches on PS4, PC and Xbox One March 1.

DoA 6 Director on helping players imp??rove and a Free-to-Play version [Siliconera]

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'We can rebuild him...'

One of the fighting genre's more forgettable boss characters, Raidou, will be stepping back into the ring in Dead or Alive 6 as a playable character. Long thought dead, ??Raidou is in fact ready to bust heads once again, having gone through some sort of bizarre, well, "upgrade."

As you can see in the gallery below, Raidou's body was recovered and put through some sort of cybernetic process, leaving him with Terminator eyes and strange metallic skin. Amusingly, he still has a moustache. Though he has his own powerful kun??g-fu skills, Raidou follows the pattern of '90s fighting game bosses by having the ability to mimic any other character in the game, a trope from the era.

Also revealed by Koei Tecmo is a new stage, set in Chinatown during a festival, which is filled with paper lanterns and slightly more painful-looking neon signs. Finally, a selection of modes was announced for the upcoming fighter. Alongside a new Story mode and standard VS. play, DoA fans can expect a comprehensive Training mode, a Quest mode that aims to teach fund?amentals through challenges, alongside the expected T??ime Attack, Survival and character customisation features.

Dead or Alive 6 launches on PS4, PC and Xbox One on March 1.

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