Dead or Alive has made an unlikely comeback

With a huge amount of new releases, 2026 promises to be a big year for the Fighting Games Community, but there’s also a big shocking announcement. In what can only be described as a miracle, Dead or Alive is back, proving that the franchise is more alive than dead.

This comes as a bit of a shock, considering that the series was considered dead following its sixth entry, however the latest PlayStation State of Play show revealed that Dead or Alive 6 is coming to PS5 as the Last Cycle Edition, and that Team Ninja is also planning a new entry in the series to celebrate its 30th anniversary.

With that said, let’s cover why this comeback is so shocking and what it means for the future of fighting games.

The announcement of Dead or Alive 6 Last Round wouldn’t have been shocking enough by itself, but the addition of a new game in the future was a big surprise, since the franchise hasn’t had a new project since 2019. In addition, DOA 6 had a small impact on the esports scene.

Tomonobu Itagaki, the creator of the Dead or Alive series and Ninja Gaiden, the Dead or Alive spin-off, sadly passed away in late 2025, at the age of 58. Combine this with comments that the series won’t be returning, and it looks like Koei Tecmo will only be working on new Ninja Gaiden titles. Even that seemed impossible at the time.

However, here we are, without any warning, with the big announcement of Dead or Alive 2026, a year in which the Fighting Game Community has been excited about the upcoming release of many new titles. Koei Tecmo, in general, seems to put more resources into making new games, and fighting game fans, it is surprising to see this includes Dead or Alive, a franchise that has been around for 30 years.

So, with the announcement of a new title, does that mean we’re getting a Dead or Alive 7? It’s not confirmed yet, but it’s very possible, especially considering that both Ryu and Kasumi, two of Dead or Alive’s most iconic characters, have new designs.

With Dead or Alive 6 Last Round coming out first, it seems like SEGA’s way of getting players ready for a new fighting game. SEGA also released Virtua Fighter 5 to help inform the announcement of the new Virtua Fighter project, and given the success of this approach so far, it seems good for Team Ninja to repeat it.

While DOA 6 is certainly an exciting title, the hope is that Dead or Alive 7 will correct some of the mistakes the series has faced and get it back on track. There is a chance that, while it will be well received, it may not sell well enough to sustain itself, suffering the same fate as Soulcalibur 6.

A good way for DOA 7 to overcome this is to improve the game’s online capabilities. Dead or Alive already has amazing customization, fighting games have more in the 2020s, just look at Tekken 7 and 2XKO skins prices. What it should focus on are features like rollback netcode and making it as easy as possible to find matches for both regular and limited play.

While Dead or Alive isn’t a franchise the size of Street Fighter or Tekken, especially in 2026, its revival is a big deal. It, along with the new Virtua Fighter game, means that a revival of the storied fighting game franchise is possible, although expectations for the game’s sales need to be kept in check.

Despite Soulcalibur 6 being well received upon launch, a combination of mediocre online play options, low budget, and high sales expectations prevented it from receiving further funding from Bandai Namco. Online play was a major blow, as it didn’t keep players engaged with SC6 for long, despite the amount of single player content. This is a Dead or Alive 7 must-have, and the rollback netcode is a must-have.

However, if Dead or Alive and Virtua Fighter can come back, hopefully releasing within a decade, it would make the 3D fighter scene very interesting, although we are still waiting for the release date of Dead or Alive 7. Although there have been a lot of 2D fighting games, such as Street Fighter 6, Guilty Gear Strive, Dragon Ball FighterZ, and Fatal Fury: City of Wolves, 3D fighters have not make the same impact.

Tekken has had a monopoly on 3D fighters for the past decade, and DOA 7 and the new Virtua Fighter may upset this balance. Dead or Alive 7’s roster will probably have to be huge, considering Tekken 8’s size at launch, but DOA has the characters to do it. It also has its popular side, with a glamorous and casual nature that will help its appeal to the casual crowd, too.

The new DOA is a big announcement for FGC, especially since many thought the series was doomed forever. This, along with the new Virtua Fighter, the ongoing efforts of Street Fighter 6 and Tekken 8, and all the new fighters for 2026, including: 2XKO, Avatar Legends, Invincible VS, and Marvel Tokon, means there will be plenty for FGC fans to get involved with.

Then again, there will be a lot of competition that DOA will have to overcome, and there is no guarantee that it will come out on top. It will have to keep up with modern fighters, with smooth, stable online play, while at the same time returning to the pinnacle of the Dead or Alive 4 series and before.

While very little has been revealed about this upcoming DOA project, it will be nice for fans to finally feel like they have some Dead or Alive stories to look forward to, rather than looking for risks.