Dead or Alive 6: Last Round was expected to help celebrate the fighting franchise’s 30th anniversary, but its launch has instead sparked widespread criticism from PC players. The newly released version of the 2019 fighting game has drawn heavy backlash on Steam, where users are questioning its premium pricing, the absence of modern online features, and a massive catalog of downloadable content worth more than $1,700.
While Koei Tecmo describes Last Round as the definitive edition of Dead or Alive 6, many fans argue that it offers too few improvements to justify replacing the original release. The negative reception has quickly translated into Steam reviews, with the game earning a “Mostly Negative” rating shortly after launch.
Steam Users Criticize Pricing and Limited Upgrades
According to the Steam listing and pricing tracker IsThereAnyDeal, Dead or Alive 6: Last Round launches alongside 440 DLC items whose combined listed value reaches approximately $1,707.60. Although that figure includes costume bundles, individual cosmetic packs, and character unlocks for the free-to-play edition, many players have focused on the sheer amount of paid content still being sold years after its original release.
The frustration goes beyond cosmetic DLC. Koei Tecmo has delisted the original version of Dead or Alive 6, and existing owners cannot upgrade to Last Round for free or at a discounted price. Instead, players who already purchased the 2019 game must buy the new edition at full price if they want access to future content updates and upcoming DLC fighters.
Several users also noticed that individual character unlocks have increased in price compared to the previous release, adding further criticism to the game’s monetization strategy.
Missing Features Leave Fighting Game Fans Disappointed
Beyond its DLC practices, many players believe Last Round fails to meet modern fighting game standards. Despite launching in 2026, the game still lacks rollback netcode, which has become the preferred online networking solution for competitive fighting games because it provides smoother online matches with lower latency.
Cross-platform play is also absent, preventing players on different platforms from competing together. Both features have become increasingly common in major releases such as Street Fighter 6, Tekken 8, and Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves, making their omission particularly noticeable.
Outside of a new Photo Mode and additional costumes, Last Round remains largely identical to the original 2019 release.
Steam Reviews Reflect Community Frustration
The launch reception has been overwhelmingly negative. At the time of reporting, nearly 79% of over 700 Steam user reviews were negative, with many players criticizing what they view as aggressive monetization.
One highly rated Steam review reads,
“I’m usually pretty resilient to Koei Tecmo greed but this is too far.”
Another player wrote,
“$40. No new content, just the privilege of being able to spend more money on unrevealed DLC later.”
Although Steam user reviews represent player opinions rather than verified technical assessments, the volume of negative feedback highlights growing dissatisfaction with the game’s pricing strategy.
