Is Dead or Alive 7 Officially Confirmed and What Are the Release Details?
Dead or Alive 7 Confirmation and Release Details
- On November 18, 2020, the team confirmed via their Twitter page that they would be working on Dead or Alive 7.
- The game was officially announced at the 2021 E3 event.
- Dead or Alive 7 is a fighting video game developed by Team Ninja and published by Koei Tecmo, serving as the seventh main installment in the Dead or Alive series, following Dead or Alive 6. It will be available for Arcade, Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X.
- As for the release date, it is currently TBA.
However, there have been challenges. A new Dead or Alive game was being developed by a small team, but it was ultimately cancelled after key member Yohei Shinbori retired. Although rumors regarding the cancellation of Dead or Alive 7 circulated, it was confirmed that such leaks are fake.
Additionally, since 2019, no new games in the fighting game series have been launched. While Koei Tecmo hinted at a potential reboot of the franchise at G-Star 2022, these rumors were disconfirmed by Team Ninja’s creative director, Tom Lee. Presently, Team Ninja has only expressed a desire to continue the series, with no active game in development, as far as we know.
What Features Can Players Expect from Dead or Alive 7?
Team Ninja may be hinting at another entry in the Dead or Alive series. This comes since we last saw Dead or Alive 6 back in 2019. They stated, “The year 2025 will mark the 30th anniversary of Team Ninja’s founding, and we would like to announce and release titles that are appropriate for the year.“
Generally, 30-year anniversaries are a call back to the past. They highlight the most popular and successful things along the way, and Dead or Alive would definitely check that box for Team Ninja.
Fighting games are generally operating in a very good space these days. Most of the AAA titles are selling in the multiple millions.
The Dead or Alive fighting game franchise has seen sales in the millions previously. It is possible that Team Ninja could see a return to form, especially with other 3D fighting games like Tekken 7 selling 10 million copies.
Dead or Alive 7 is going to reboot the franchise. It will focus on a retelling of the first three games in the franchise. However, we do not know if it is going to be a soft or hard reboot. This means we have no idea if Team Ninja wants to change the storyline of the series completely or if they will stick to the old one and just focus on adapting it for the latest hardware.
Team Ninja has confirmed that the seventh installation in the Dead or Alive franchise will be coming out on May 6th, 2024. It will be available for Microsoft Windows, Playstation 5, and Xbox Series X.
They are ready for the next evolution of the series and are hoping for new features, updated mechanics, and jaw-dropping visuals.
However, it is worth noting that one of the most anticipated releases, Dead or Alive 7, has allegedly been canceled. DOA fans have not been able to digest this news.
How Will Dead or Alive 7 Revitalize a Classic Fighting Franchise?
The Dead or Alive franchise has been a staple in the fighting game community for years. It is celebrated for its fast-paced gameplay, stunning graphics, and iconic characters. As such, Dead or Alive fans were on edge, eagerly anticipating the next installment in the beloved 3D fighting game saga. They were ready for the next evolution of the series, hoping for new features, updated mechanics, and jaw-dropping visuals.
However, to the fans’ disappointment, it was confirmed in 2022 that the game was canceled. Hiroaki Morita, a Team Ninja veteran, revealed on Twitter that the development of Dead or Alive 7 had started after the release of Dead or Alive 6. Unfortunately, the project was canceled after being in development for about two years.
Moreover, the release schedule for the main Dead or Alive installments has also been notable, with significant gaps between some releases. For example, while the first few installments were released successively—Dead or Alive (1996), Dead or Alive 2 (1999), Dead or Alive 3 (2001), and Dead or Alive 4 (2005)—there was a seven-year gap before Dead or Alive 5 in 2012, and another seven years before Dead or Alive 6 in 2019.
In response to rumors, Team Ninja has indicated that it’s planning to reboot the Dead or Alive and Ninja Gaiden franchises. However, they have stated that we probably won’t see a revival anytime soon. Speaking to VGC, Team Ninja’s creative director Tom Lee said that, despite showing both franchises at a conference, the studio has nothing to announce regarding new entries.
Lee noted, “These celebrated titles are synonymous with our studio history and reputation. It goes without saying that, when speaking about the development of our past and future projects, both of these important titles cannot be left without mention. However, there are no details or information to share on either of these franchises at this present time.”
Despite the lack of current developments, Team Ninja acknowledged the enthusiasm for the return of these beloved titles. They assured fans, “We will be sure to provide a proper update, if and when that day arrives.”
Lastly, given how much renewed interest Koei Tecmo is showing in the AAA game market, the release of a new mainline Dead or Alive game seems more likely than ever. A recent statement from an acclaimed developer indicated that Team Ninja announced the return of Ninja Gaiden and the Dead or Alive fighting game series, hinting at reboots.
While potential announcements are on the horizon, fans are left wondering: will we get an announcement for Dead or Alive 7 (or a reboot of the series) in 2024? Or is it time to accept that our beloved series is dead?
