Dead or Alive 6: Last Round Launches with Controversial DLC Pricing

Dead or Alive is making waves again as it celebrates its 30th anniversary, but it seems the launch of Dead or Alive 6: Last Round has left many fans feeling a bit sour. The latest edition hit the digital shelves with an eye-watering $1,700 (approx. Rs 472,600) worth of downloadable content (DLC), and the reaction from players has been anything but positive.

Originally released back in 2019, Dead or Alive 6’s Last Round is marketed as the “definitive” edition, but let’s be honest—it doesn’t bring much fresh content to the table. Sure, it includes a new photo mode and a handful of costumes, but that’s about it. Gamers were hoping for crossplay and rollback netcode, which are glaring omissions even by 2019 standards, making it hard to believe they’re still absent in 2026.

While there are promises of new updates and characters coming down the pipeline, existing players aren’t too thrilled. The previous version of the game has been delisted, and anyone who wants to jump into Last Round will need to shell out $40 (approx. Rs 11,120), despite having already purchased the earlier version. Thankfully, old DLC purchases do carry over, but the hefty price tag for new players is likely to raise some eyebrows.

Now, let’s talk about that staggering 440 pieces of DLC at launch, amounting to a jaw-dropping $1,707.60 (approx. Rs 474,710). To be fair, this total includes both individual costume purchases and bundles, plus character unlocks for the free-to-play version. However, seeing years-old content being sold at full price is hard to swallow, especially when some character unlocks have doubled in price—from $4 (approx. Rs 1,110) to $8 (approx. Rs 2,220) each!

It’s no surprise that the game has seen a wave of negativity on Steam, with around 79% of 709 reviews giving it a thumbs down. One frustrated player summed it up perfectly: “I’m usually pretty resilient to Koei Tecmo greed, but this is too far.” Another review echoed similar sentiments, stating, “$40 (approx. Rs 11,120). No new content, just the privilege of being able to spend more money on unrevealed DLC later.”

While Dead or Alive 6 remains an entertaining entry in the fighting game genre, it’s hard to overlook the trend of excessive DLC. With the anticipation of a new series installment, fans hoped for a shift in Koei Tecmo’s aggressive monetization strategies. However, with Last Round’s rocky launch, those hopes might just be hanging by a thread.

Note: PKR figures are approximate, based on a rate of Rs 278.00 per USD. Exchange rates fluctuate — please check the latest dollar rate for exact pricing.