Dead or Alive 6 Last Round Suffers Steam Review Bombing and Rating Drop
Dead or Alive 6 Last Round has only just landed, but it’s already caught in a wave of review bombing on Steam. The backlash is dragging the game’s rating down to “Mostly Negative,” with players pointing at both DLC headaches and a familiar lineup of technical issues. For a fighting game built on polish and responsiveness, the complaints are landing hard.
Team Ninja’s track record is often associated with Ninja Gaiden, but Dead or Alive has been one of the studio’s longest-running series. The franchise started in arcades in 1996 and quickly became known for its fast, readable combat. Over time, the modern Dead or Alive brand expanded into six mainline installments plus a long list of spin-offs, with Dead or Alive 6 officially arriving in 2019.
Dead or Alive 6 also released with a free version that included no story mode and limited the roster to four fighters. Now, the new re-release—Dead or Alive 6 Last Round—is sparking fresh controversy among long-time fans who expected a clearer upgrade path. Instead, many players feel like the “last round” approach only adds friction.
The series is back in the spotlight: Team Ninja has announced Dead or Alive 6 returning again as Last Round, while also teasing a separate new project in development.
Fans Are Not Happy with Dead or Alive 6 Last Round
Dead or Alive 6 Last Round is launching with underwhelming Steam reception, and the PC storefront currently shows only 23% of reviews as positive. Much of the anger is aimed at Team Ninja and Koei Tecmo’s business decisions tied to the re-release. Players claim the edition doesn’t properly carry over older content, leaving them to pay again for items they already owned.
One recurring complaint is the way older DLC packs are handled. Reviews frequently mention that certain DLC from the original Dead or Alive 6 isn’t supported in Last Round. On top of that, the transfer plan also skips two of Dead or Alive 6’s standout crossover DLC characters—forcing players to repurchase the King of Fighters additions for Last Round.
More specifically, the characters cited are Mai Shiranui and Kula Diamond, both of which players say must be bought again in the re-release instead of being included in the transfer path.
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Beyond DLC, the negative scores are filled with reports that bugs from the original Dead or Alive 6 release still haven’t been fully addressed. Some players even point out that the re-release still uses a 2015-style graphics setup for the Steam controller. Others argue that Last Round hasn’t delivered enough meaningful visual or technical improvement, despite more than half a decade passing since Dead or Alive 6 originally launched.
Players also highlight missing modern quality-of-life features. Complaints include the lack of crossplay with other platforms and the absence of rollback netcode, both of which are increasingly expected in contemporary fighting games—especially for anyone who plays online beyond local communities.
Quick facts
- Dead or Alive 6 Last Round is being review bombed on Steam, with the rating falling to “Mostly Negative.”
- Players say the PC version currently sits at 23% positive reviews.
- Common complaints include missing older DLC support and the omission of some DLC characters from the transfer plan.
- Mai Shiranui and Kula Diamond (from the King of Fighters crossover) are said to require re-purchase.
- Some reviewers report bugs from the original Dead or Alive 6 still appear in Last Round.
- Other criticisms include the lack of crossplay and rollback netcode.
Team Ninja had positioned Last Round as an upgrade, and the most visible changes focus heavily on presentation and accessibility. Photo mode is highlighted as one of the standout additions, with screenshot tools improved compared to the original Dead or Alive 6. The re-release also brings the five in-universe DLC characters from Dead or Alive 6 into the base roster so players can jump in without additional purchases.
Those included fighters are Phase-4, Nyotengu, Momiji, Rachel, and Tamaki. In addition, Last Round launches with an updated release of the previously mentioned “Core Fighters” version, described as a free release featuring four members from Dead or Alive 6’s cast.
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After the early negative reception, Team Ninja’s next steps for the franchise are already being discussed. The Last Round announcement also came with a teaser for a brand-new project, which could be pointing toward the eventual reveal of a seventh main-series entry. At the same time, the franchise is marking a loss: series director and producer Tomonobu Itagaki passed away in 2025 at the age of 58.
Dead or Alive 6: Last Round is starting off rough, and fans are hoping Team Ninja moves quickly to address the concerns around content, stability, and online play. With a new project teased and a future mainline game potentially on the horizon, the community will be watching closely to see whether the next steps actually fix the issues players are calling out today.
