The release of Dead or Alive 6: Last Round has triggered a significant backlash from the player community, resulting in a 23% approval rating on Steam. According to reports, the controversy stems from the publisher’s decision to force players to repurchase previously owned DLC characters, coupled with a lack of substantial technical improvements compared to the 2019 original.
Why are players dissatisfied with the “Last Round” update?
The primary point of contention, as noted by users on Steam, is the restrictive DLC transfer policy. Despite the game being marketed as an enhanced version, Team Ninja confirmed that certain guest characters—specifically Mai Shiranui and Kula Diamond—do not carry over from the 2019 version. Players who previously purchased these characters must buy them again. Furthermore, the cost for these characters has seen a price increase, rising from $8 to $11 per character.
Beyond the pricing structure, the technical state of the game has drawn criticism. While the developer promised performance optimizations, community feedback highlights a lack of modern standard features. Specifically, players have pointed to the absence of cross-platform play and the lack of implementation for Rollback Netcode, a feature widely expected in contemporary fighting games. Additionally, users reported that the game continues to display outdated 2015-era Steam controller icons in the menu, suggesting little effort was put into updating the user interface.
The release of Dead or Alive 6: Last Round coincided with the delisting of the 2019 version of Dead or Alive 6, effectively forcing new players to adopt the updated, paid model rather than the original release.
How does the new version compare to the original?
Koei Tecmo positions Last Round as an upgrade, priced at 1190 yen, which includes the base game, five DLC characters, and five new costumes. However, when contrasted with the 2019 release, the functional differences remain minimal. While the developers added a photo mode, many players have argued that this addition does not justify the “enhanced” branding or the requirement to repurchase content.
The comparison below highlights the friction points between the two releases:
| Feature | Status in Last Round |
|---|---|
| DLC Carryover | Limited; guest characters require repurchase |
| Rollback Netcode | Not included |
| Price | 1190 yen (Base version) |
What is the future of the franchise’s update model?
Koei Tecmo has indicated that additional DLC content is planned for the future, though the company has not yet addressed the specific complaints regarding the broken mod compatibility or the lack of modern networking features. The current sentiment, reflected by the “Mostly Negative” rating on Steam, suggests that players are increasingly sensitive to how “definitive” or “enhanced” editions handle legacy content.
If you are a new player, the “Core Fighters” free-to-play version offers access to four characters. Be aware that this version does not include the story mode, which remains locked behind the full version purchase.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Can I play the story mode in the free version? No, the “Core Fighters” free-to-play version does not include the story mode.
- Are all characters included in the 1190 yen version? No, this version includes five specific DLC characters and five new costumes, but it does not include the entire legacy character roster.
- Why were my previous DLC characters removed? According to Team Ninja, the guest characters Mai Shiranui and Kula Diamond are not part of the transferrable content for the new version.
Have you encountered issues with DLC transfers in fighting games? Share your experiences in the comments below or subscribe to our newsletter for the latest updates on industry news and game performance reports.
