Dead or Alive(franchise)

Dead or Alive(Japanese:デッド オア アライブ,Hepburn:Deddo oa Araibu,abbreviated asDOA)is a Japanesemedia franchisecentered on a series offighting gamesdeveloped byTeam Ninjaand published byKoei Tecmo(formerlyTecmo). The gameplay of the series is primarily composed of fast-paced hand-to-hand combat in a 3-Dimensional playing field that began with thefirst gamereleased in 1996, followed by five main sequels, numerous updates,spin-offs,printed media,afilm adaptation,andmerchandise.

Dead or Alive
Logo of the series sinceDead or Alive 3
Genre(s)	Fighting Sports
Developer(s)	Team Ninja
Publisher(s)	Tecmo(1996–2010) Koei Tecmo(2010–present)
Creator(s)	Tomonobu Itagaki
Platform(s)	Arcade,Sega Saturn,PlayStation,Dreamcast,PlayStation 2,Xbox,Xbox 360,Microsoft Windows,iOS,PlayStation Portable,Nintendo 3DS,PlayStation 3,PlayStation Vita,PlayStation 4,Xbox One,Android,Nintendo Switch,PlayStation 5
First release	Dead or Alive November 26, 1996
Latest release	Dead or Alive 6 March 1, 2019
Spin-offs	Dead or Alive Xtremeseries

The series revolves around the events of the Dead or Alive World Combat Championship, an international martial arts tournament in which fighters from across the globe participate for the title of world champion and large cash prizes. The tournaments are held by the Dead or Alive Tournament Executive Committee (DOATEC). The conflict between the ninja competitors and DOATEC's personnel serves as the main focus of the series.

Dead or Alivehas been a critical and commercial success, having been well-praised for its impressive fighting system, beautiful graphics, and interactive environments. The franchise has received numerous awards and accolades. Its sequels such asDead or Alive 2andDead or Alive 3received universal acclaim and are considered milestone titles in the fighting genre and gaming.Several characters of the series have made appearances and are referenced in other games while several games of the series have also been featured and referenced in other media.Dead or Alive's success sparked a renewal interest in Tecmo'sNinja Gaidenseries.As of 2019, the franchise has sold over 10.05 million units worldwide.The franchise sales andfree-to-playdownloads combined totaled over 24.05 million units.

Gameplay

Atagthrow byHelena DouglasandLeifangagainstAyaneinDead or Alive Ultimate

TheDead or Aliveseries focuses on fast-pacedgameplayin athree-dimensionalplaying field. Like other modern fighting games that attempt to emulate real life martial arts,DOA's input system is designed so controls correspond to the game character's actions; if the character moves forward with a punch, the controls most likely would include the punch input and pressing forward on the directional pad. In comparison to others in the fighting game genre, such asVirtua Fighter,the series places emphasis on striking characters quickly and efficiently. There is an emphasis on quickcombosand air-juggles since the game's countering system and fast recovery times prevent slow, technical sets of moves in most instances. The series controls also make the instances of speed and simplicity more congruent with the focus of timing and combos in mind, as the commands for basic attacks are widely considered more straightforward than most video games. There is only one button for punch, kick, throw and guard, with the player rarely having to combine more than two different input schemes together at a time.

Evolution of the Hold mechanic input

Attack	DOA	DOA++	2 / 2M	3	2U	4	O	D	5	6
High P	H	H	F	F	F			H	H
High K		H
Middle P		H	F	F	F			H	H
Middle K		H	F		F				H
Low P	H	H	F	F	F			H	H
Low K		H

One of the series' most innovative additions to the genre is its countering system, officially known as the "Triangle System". The basic gameplay of the series is based on the Triangle System with three basic actions: Blows, Throws, and Holds; Blows beat Throws, Throws beat Holds, and Holds beat Blows.Beginning with the originalDead or Alive,players could tap the guard button and a direction corresponding with the anticipated attack, which would do a powerful counterattack known as Counter Hold. Counter Holds must be timed correctly and match the direction of the attack being countered. If the attack targets the torso, the player must also take into account whether the attack is a punch or a kick. The input for Holds has changed several times over the course of the series with the latest games adopting a 4-point Hold system, and some games offering the option to change the input type.This countering system further setsDead or Aliveapart as skilled players can identify combo patterns on defense and counter accordingly, which in turn encourages the opponent to adjust their offense on the fly to be less predictable and avoid being countered.

An example of one of the series' Danger Zones as seen inDead or Alive 3

The series uses interactive features that appear in certain fighting arenas, called "Danger Zones". Fighters caught in a Danger Zone will take extra damage, giving the attacker a slight advantage. Theseenvironmental hazardscan be anything from Falls to Explosives to Breakable Structures. If a fighter has low health, being trapped in a Danger Zone is more likely to knock them out than a normal attack, although in certain titles, elements such as falls cannot do this, and instead just leave the fighter with very low health.

In the firstDead or Alive,stages were simply fighting ring arenas and the Danger Zones were just explosive outer edges of the arena floors. InDead or Alive 2,stage environments became larger and multi-tiered and the original Danger Zone was replaced with more fully interactive ones such as Falls off the Edge, Walls, Electrically Charged Walls, Explosive Walls, Breakable Walls and Windows. Players are also offered the ability to sidestep into the foreground or background.

SinceDead or Alive 2,the series has implemented itsTag teamfighting system, allowing characters to switch back and forth instantly for combo attacks and even attack simultaneously when timed correctly. The Tag Mode also included special throws unique to certain pairs of characters called "Tag Throws", and the mode allows for the participation of four players, something not very common in the fighting game genre.Dead or Alive 3introduced the "Attack Change" feature in the Tag mechanics where the fighting character can switch places with a partner, in which the character jumping in can then unleash an attack while jumping in. SinceDead or Alive 3,Tag matches can be selected in the other game modes.

Dead or Alive 3improved upon the gameplay and graphics in superior detail compared to the previous games. The game offered unrestricted 3D-axis movements with better sidestepping, giving players the ability to dodge most attacks with a sidestep. The game added a new feature in its Sparring Mode called "Exercise" also known as "Command Training", an automatic command tutorial that teaches players how to perform attacks. The game expanded on the concept of multi-tiered environments, pushing the range of the stage sizes larger than that of its predecessors.

Dead or Alive 4introduced the "Bounce Combo" system where players can perform further attacks to opponents who are bouncing off the floor or ground, and can also performed attacks on opponents while they are down. Moving Obstacles were introduced in certain stages as a type of Danger Zone that causes damage to fighters who are hit by them and using a counter hold at the right timing can help players avoid being hit by them. Jumping over non-moving Obstacles and performing flying attacks while jumping over them was also introduced.Dead or Alive: Dimensionsutilizes theNintendo 3DSbottomtouchscreenin addition to the normal control system, offering optional touchscreen-based controls by tapping a move set to execute Blow combos, Throws, and Holds. SinceDimensions,the series supports in-game frame data that can be displayed during Training Mode.

Dead or Alive 5uses a revamped control system and features a more cinematic experience, especially with regards to Danger Zone effects. "Power Blow" is a triggered powerful attack that can enable the player that is low on health to knock the opponent character away in a selected direction, possibly initiating a cinematicquick time eventcalled Cliffhanger. The game's new Critical System features Critical Stuns, Critical Combos, and Critical Bursts.Dead or Alive 5 Ultimatefurther added the vertical Power Launcher and an extensive Tutorial mode.Dead or Alive 5 Plusfor thePlayStation Vitafeatures optional touchscreen-based controls from first-person perspective.

Dead or Alive 6introduces both the Gauge System and costume customization. The Gauge System consists of the "Break Gauge", which allows numerous special moves to be performed depending on how full the gauge is, such as Fatal Rushes, Side Attacks, Break Holds, and Break Blows.The game also features an enhanced Bounce Combo system that allows players to bound their opponent on the ground for a finisher, with different inputs depending on the character.

The spin-offXtremeseries is mostly based around two-on-two matches ofbeach volleyballand casino gambling. After the originalDead or Alive Xtreme Beach Volleyball,the available activities have expanded to include the likes of watercraft racing and beach photography,while emphasizing the series'breast physics.

Plot and characters

Further information:Characters of the Dead or Alive series

The main cast ofDead or Alive,from left to right, ninjasKasumi,Ryu Hayabusa,AyaneandHayate

TheDead or Aliveseries depicts a collection of skilled martial artists in a worldwide competition named the "Dead or Alive World Combat Championship", or simply "the Dead or Alive tournament". DOATEC (Dead or Alive Tournament Executive Committee), a massive corporation with unknown motives, holds the fighting competition in arenas ranging from the North Pole to the Amazon rain forest.

Dead or Alive,the first game in the series, introducedthe initial charactersand their reasons for entering the tournament. For example,Zackenters for profit, whileKasumi,a runawayfemale ninjaof the Mugen Tenshin Ninja Clan and the series' main protagonist, enters the tournament to seek revenge againstRaidouwho crippled her brotherHayate.Kasumi wins the first DOA tournament and kills Raidou, however, due to her status as a runaway, the strict laws of ninja society prevent Kasumi from returning to her village, and she becomes a hunted fugitive.

Dead or Alive 2is set less than a year later, asTenguescapes from his world and threatens the human world.Fame Douglas,the founder and CEO of DOATEC was assassinated shortly after the first tournament, causing DOATEC to fall under anew leadership.Kasumi was kidnapped by DOATEC and was used as a subject in DOATEC's bio-weapon experiment,Alpha.Kasumi's brother Hayate, previously injured by Raidou, is also kidnapped and was used as a subject in DOATEC's bio-weapon experiment, Epsilon. New fighters includeEin,Helena Douglas,Kasumi Alpha,Leon,and Tengu. Eventually,Ryu Hayabusakills Tengu and wins the second tournament.

Dead or Alive 3,takes place after the defeat of Tengu. The game's plot concerns a secret goal of DOATEC's mad scientistVictor Donovanto produce the ultimate human weapon, called the Omega Project. Through the Epsilon and Alpha stages, it was initially believed that DOATEC captures and wipes the Mugen Tenshin's Hajin Mon ninjaGenra's memory. In reality, as revealed in a retold-based gameDead or Alive: Dimensions,Genra betrayed Mugen Tenshin to align himself with DOATEC, having revealed himself to be responsible for Tengu's invasion on Earth, then voluntarily becomes a subject for his transformation into Omega. A third tournament is later held to test Genra's Omega abilities. In the end, Kasumi's half-sisterAyanekills her former master and wins the third tournament. The game introduces five more fighters, the first playable appearance of Hayate, and the brand new fightersBrad Wong,Christie,Hitomi,and Omega.

Dead or Alive 4again explores DOATEC's attempts to create a powerful clone of Kasumi with theAlphaProject. The various fighters discover the true nature of DOATEC and set out to stop it. Helena takes over DOATEC as its new president and CEO, determined to fight against the corruption within the organization and change DOATEC for the better. Helena wins the fourth tournament and decides to give the title to Zack. The game introduces four new fighters, Alpha-152,Eliot,Kokoro,andLa Mariposa.

The fifth game,Dead or Alive 5,is set two years later. DOATEC is newly reformed with Helena still in control and Zack appearing to be an employee. Donovan forms a new organization called MIST to continue the Alpha Project.Jann Leebeats Hitomi in the last round of the fifth tournament, thus winning. However, Jann Lee still felt that there is one person whom Jann Lee wants to defeat in order for him to be a true winner,Rig,who at first has an amnesia, but presumably ruse, and calling Donovan, "dad". Meanwhile, Kasumi, Ryu, and Ayane, with the help from Helena, fight to destroy the Alpha project and stop Donovan.

Continuing toDead or Alive 6,DOATEC and Mugen Tenshin discover that MIST is after the fifth tournament qualifier participant Honoka, due to her having a similar power signature as Raidou, causing them to keep an eye on her in different ways. Even worse, by the time the sixth tournament begins, Rig is found out to be indeed amnesiac; he was unknowingly being implanted with a hypnotic suggestion by MIST that will brainwash him to serve them under the alias "Victor Donovan Jr.", causing Bass and Jann Lee to worry and become suspicious of Rig's current situation. For the final tournament match, Jann Lee is once again officially a winner, but he was unofficially defeated by a newcomer, Diego. Ayane and Honoka are soon kidnapped by MIST and coerced into unwillingly reviving Raidou, their biological father, as an undead cyber ninja demon. As her older-half-sister Honoka is still weakened, Ayane teams up with Kasumi and Hayate to kill the revived Raidou once and for all, leaving no trace of him behind. Helena, who arrived at one of MIST's hidden laboratory to secure the place, approaches a young scientist who act as Lisa's replacement and is responsible for Raidou' resurrection,NiCO.Although NiCO attempts to revive Helena's mother, Maria, Helena rejects her plan, causing NiCO to escape from her.

History

Release timeline

1996	Dead or Alive
1997
1998	Dead or Alive ++
1999	Dead or Alive 2
2000	Dead or Alive 2 Millennium
	Dead or Alive 2 Hardcore
2001	Dead or Alive 3
2002
2003	Dead or Alive Xtreme Beach Volleyball
2004	Dead or Alive Ultimate
2005	Dead or Alive 4
2006	Dead or Alive Xtreme 2
2007
2008	Dead or Alive Online
2009	Girls of DOA BlackJack
2010	Dead or Alive Paradise
2011	Dead or Alive: Dimensions
2012	Dead or Alive 5
2013	Dead or Alive 5+
	Dead or Alive 5 Ultimate
2014
2015	Dead or Alive 5 Last Round
2016	Dead or Alive Xtreme 3
2017	Dead or Alive 5 Infinite
	Dead or Alive Xtreme Venus Vacation
2018
2019	Dead or Alive 6
	Dead or Alive Xtreme 3 Scarlet
2020–2024
2025	Venus Vacation Prism: Dead or Alive Xtreme

Dead or Alive Onlinepromotion atChina Digital Entertainment Expo & Conference(ChinaJoy) 2007

The series was created by its original director and producerTomonobu Itagakiafter he became a programmer forTecmoin 1992. During the mid-1990s, Tecmo was in financial trouble and was in need of a hit to boost sagging game sales. In this vein, Itagaki made a wager with the management of company, including the vice president later turned president of the company, Junji Nakamura, assuring he would create a video game that would garner a fan base.Tomonobu Itagaki stated how he was dissatisfied with the way modern fighting games at the time were presented; he missed the old arcade-style of play and had another vision for the fighting game genre. Following the initial working titles of "Ninja Fighter" and "Poligon Fighter",he named the series "Dead or Alive" to demonstrate both the company and game's fail or succeed status, and proceeded to form a division in the company namedTeam Ninja.ThefirstDead or Alivegame was a success in helping Tecmo overcome their financial problems, and in turn, helpedDead or Alivebecome a franchise. Itagaki's inspiration for the series derived from theVirtua Fighterseries in Japan as the management asked Itagaki to create a game similar toVirtua Fighter.Inspiration also derived from theFatal Furyseries in Japan, and theMortal Kombatseries in America, withDOA's sexual appeal drawn from the former series, and the ability to knock opponents off landscapes from the latter. When asked how he wished the series would contribute to the fighting genre, Itagaki replied: "I want people to rememberDOAas a game that was very aggressive and combative. As to [...] how it contributed to the fighting genre – I look at it as something similar to howsushiwas released in this country and became mainstream. You know, like, some people like graphics, some people like animation, some like flashy character design and so forth. ThroughDOA,we want to reach out to those people and become somewhat of a mainstream game. "

The sequels,Dead or Alive 2,Dead or Alive 3,andDead or Alive 4brought much success to the franchise, both critically and commercially. The success ofDead or Alivesparked a renewal interest in Tecmo's classic (but at that time long dormant)Ninja Gaidenseries.AfterNinja Gaidenwas revived in 2004 by Itagaki and Team Ninja, they began linking it back withDead or Alive,setting the franchises within the same universe with overlapping characters and events. As it was a completerebootof the series and did not continue the canon of any previousNinja Gaidentitles, the developers were free to do with the universe and its characters as it saw fit, and so the game was implemented into theDOAuniverse, setting upNinja Gaiden I,Dragon SwordandNinja Gaiden IIas prequels to the firstDOA.In addition,Ninja GaidenprotagonistRyu Hayabusa,who had already been on the roster of everyDOAfighting game since the beginning, plays a major role in that series' overarching storyline, which has been fleshed out during the development of the subsequentNinja Gaidentitles. Having featured Ryu in most ofDead or Alivegames during development of theNinja Gaidenreboot, Team Ninja then included the charactersAyaneandKasumiin most of theNinja Gaidengames. Conversely, several characters fromDOAhave roles in the rebootedNinja Gaidenseries, initially only appearing during story sequences but becoming fully playable characters in special modes in the later games.RachelandMomiji,characters originating from theNinja Gaidenseries, appear in updated versions ofDead or Alive 5.

Before his departure from Team Ninja, Itagaki stated in 2006 that he had a newDOAgame planned,but in a 2008 interview he said about the series: "This is another area that my closest colleagues and I all agree that we were able to achieve the definitive fighting game withDOA4.So we're not looking to extend the series at this point. "In a released statement on June 3, 2008, Itagaki announced his resignation from Tecmo (July 1, 2008) due to business troubles with then president of Tecmo, Yoshimi Yasuda. Itagaki stated that this would unfortunately lead to the end of production for the game and its series.However, Tecmo replied with the announcement that Team Ninja would not be dissolved upon Itagaki's departure, stating that both theNinja GaidenandDead or Alivefranchises would remain in production and that some projects were already underway.

Soon after, Tecmo would merge with fellow video game publisher,Koei,to form Tecmo Koei Games, now known asKoei Tecmo.The role of Team Ninja leader and series producer was taken over byDead or Aliveplanner and tester, Yosuke Hayashi, while game designer and planner, Yohei Shimbori, takes over as director of the series.Dead or Alive Paradisewas the firstDOAconsole game not developed by the original Team Ninja.Dead or Alive 5was created in partnership withSega AM2ofVirtua Fighterfame, featuring several guest characters from that series.Free-to-playversions of the gamesDead or Alive 5andDead or Alive 6were released to attract new fans to the series and to introduce more people to the fighting genre, hoping to help to bring back the fighting games' golden era of the 1990s.On March 31, 2021, director Shimbori announced his departure from Team Ninja to pursue other opportunities,while his position of director was taken over by Hayashi. In 2022, Hayashi would step down as Team Ninja head to become the Koei Tecmo entertainment division's general manager,with Fumihiko Yasuda serving as Team Ninja's current head.

Since 2019, no new games in the fighting game series have been released.At the end of a presentation by Koei Tecmo atG-Star2022, it was hinted that the franchise might be rebooted again in the near future. The rumors were subsequently disconfirmed by Team Ninja creative director, Tom Lee.In a February 2024 interview with Team Ninja department manager, Masakazu Hirayama, he stated that they are is considering the possibility of returning to the series, saying thatDead or Aliveis an important IP to them.When asked about introducing a guest character fromDead or AlivetoTekken 8,producerKatsuhiro Haradacited this content drought as the main reason he doesn't see a collaboration happening.

At theTokyo Game Show2024, Koei Tecmo announcedVenus Vacation Prism: Dead or Alive Xtreme,a new entry in theDead or Alive Xtremespin-off series, set for release in early 2025.

Games

Main series

Title	Details
Dead or Alive Original release date: WW:November 26, 1996	Release years by system: 1996 –Arcade(Sega Model 2) 1997 –Sega Saturn 1998 –PlayStation 2008 –PlayStation Network
	Notes: Released on PlayStation 3 as a PS one Classic in Japan on December 10, 2008.
Dead or Alive 2 Original release dates: JP:October 16, 1999 NA:February 29, 2000 EU:July 14, 2000	Release years by system: 1999 – Arcade (Sega NAOMI) 2000 –Dreamcast,PlayStation 2
	Notes: PlayStation 2 launch title in Japan.
Dead or Alive 3 Original release dates: NA:November 15, 2001 JP:February 22, 2002 EU:March 14, 2002	Release years by system: 2001 –Xbox 2021 –Xbox Live
	Notes: Xbox launch title. Released on Xbox Live on November 10, 2021.
Dead or Alive 4 Original release dates: NA/JP:December 29, 2005 EU:January 27, 2006	Release years by system: 2005 –Xbox 360
	Notes: Ademoversion of the game was made available for free download on Xbox Live on July 24, 2006.
Dead or Alive 5 Original release dates: NA:September 25, 2012 JP:September 27, 2012 EU:September 28, 2012	Release years by system: 2012 –PlayStation 3,Xbox 360
Dead or Alive 6 Original release date: WW:March 1, 2019	Release years by system: 2019 –PlayStation 4,Xbox One,Microsoft Windows,Arcade (Sega ALLS)
	Notes: Afree-to-playversion of the game was released under the nameDead or Alive 6: Core Fighterson March 15, 2019. An arcade version of the game was released on July 18, 2019.

Updated versions

Title	Details
Dead or Alive ++ Original release date: JP:October 16, 1998	Release years by system: 1998 – Arcade (Sony ZN-1)
Dead or Alive 2 Millennium Original release date: JP:January 18, 2000 NA/EU:2000	Release years by system: 2000 – Arcade (Sega NAOMI)
DOA2: Hardcore Original release dates: NA:October 25, 2000 JP:December 14, 2000 EU:December 15, 2000	Release years by system: 2000 – PlayStation 2 2012 – PlayStation Network
	Notes: PlayStation 2 launch title in North America. SpelledDOA2: Hard*Corein Japan. Released on PlayStation 3 as a PlayStation 2 Classic in Japan on August 22, 2012 and in North America on March 24, 2015.
Dead or Alive 5+ Original release dates: NA:March 19, 2013 EU:March 22, 2013 JP:March 20, 2013	Release years by system: 2013 –PlayStation Vita
Dead or Alive 5 Ultimate Original release dates: NA:September 3, 2013 JP:September 5, 2013 EU:September 6, 2013	Release years by system: 2013 – PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Arcade (Sega RingEdge 2)
	Notes: A free-to-play version of the game was released under the nameDead or Alive 5 Ultimate: Core Fighters. An arcade version of the game was released on December 24, 2013 asDead or Alive 5 Ultimate: Arcade.
Dead or Alive 5 Last Round Original release dates: NA:February 17, 2015 JP:February 19, 2015 EU:February 20, 2015	Release years by system: 2015 – PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, Xbox One, Arcade (Sega RingEdge 2), Microsoft Windows
	Notes: A free-to-play version of the game was released under the nameDead or Alive 5 Last Round: Core Fighters. The PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 versions of the game are digital-only outside of Japan.

Compilations

Title	Details
Dead or Alive Ultimate Original release dates: NA:October 26, 2004 JP:November 3, 2004 EU:February 18, 2005	Release years by system: 2004 – Xbox 2021 – Xbox Live
	Notes: Compilation containing an enhanced version ofDead or Alive 1and a remake ofDead or Alive 2. Released on Xbox Live separately asDead or Alive 1 UltimateandDead or Alive 2 Ultimateon November 10, 2021.
Dead or Alive: Dimensions Original release dates: JP:May 19, 2011 EU:May 20, 2011 NA:May 24, 2011	Release years by system: 2011 –Nintendo 3DS
	Notes: Compilation game based on a modifiedDead or Alive 4engine.

Spin-offs

Title	Details
Dead or Alive Xtreme Beach Volleyball Original release dates: NA:January 22, 2003 JP:January 23, 2003 EU:March 28, 2003	Release years by system: 2003 – Xbox
Dead or Alive Xtreme 2 Original release dates: NA:November 13, 2006 JP:November 22, 2006 EU:December 8, 2006	Release years by system: 2006 – Xbox 360
Dead or Alive Online Original release date: CHN:December 2008	Release years by system: 2008 – Microsoft Windows
	Notes: Dead or Alive Online( sinh tử cách đấu - Online) was aMicrosoft Windows-based, free-to-playonline fighting game based onDOA2Uthat was originally planned as a premiere in China for the2008 Summer Olympics,with a worldwide release to follow after the Olympics. Players would createchibi-styleavatars,interact invirtual communitiesand participate in one on one fighting match or tournaments. Players would also receive invitations to compete in various types of fighting contests and the game also supported a team mode, allowing players to form teams with their friends to coordinate in fighting. The game was in open beta since December 2008,with the latest beta having been released on August 24, 2009. In 2010,Tecmo KoeiceasedDead or Alive Onlineoperations and all game servers were shut down.
Girls of DOA BlackJack ～ the Kasumi version ～ Original release date: WW:June 7, 2009	Release years by system: 2009 –iOS
	Notes: and Similar to theDOA Xtremeseries' minigame, the game features Kasumi as a blackjack table dealer. The game was released in 2009 but its sales have been suspended on theApp Storesince February 22, 2010.
Dead or Alive Paradise Original release dates: NA:March 30, 2010 EU:April 1, 2010 JP:April 2, 2010	Release years by system: 2010 –PlayStation Portable
Dead or Alive Xtreme 3 Original release date: JP:March 24, 2016 AS:March 24, 2016	Release years by system: 2016 – PlayStation 4, PlayStation Vita
	Notes: The game was released asDead or Alive Xtreme 3: FortuneandDead or Alive Xtreme 3: Venuson PlayStation 4 and Playstation Vita respectively. Similar toCore Fighters,the game features a free-to-play version.
Dead or Alive 5 Infinite Original release date: CHN:2017	Release years by system: 2017 –Android,iOS
Dead or Alive Xtreme Venus Vacation Original release dates: JP:November 15, 2017 AS:March 26, 2019	Release years by system: 2017 – Microsoft Windows
	Notes: Announced at Tokyo Game Show 2016. Free-to-playgacha gamedeveloped by Team Ninja and published by Koei Tecmo Games. Released in Japan in November 2017 and in select South East Asian countries on April 2019 viaSteam. The Steam version supports English subtitles.
Dead or Alive Xtreme 3 Scarlet Original release date: JP:March 20, 2019 AS:March 20, 2019	Release years by system: 2019 – PlayStation 4,Nintendo Switch
Venus Vacation Prism - Dead or Alive Xtreme - Proposed release dates: JP:March 6, 2025 AS:March 6, 2025	Proposed system release: 2025 – Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4,PlayStation 5
	Notes: Announced at Tokyo Game Show 2024. 3D adventure-styledating simdeveloped by Team Ninja and published by Koei Tecmo Games.

Cancelled

Title	Details
Dead or Alive: Code Chronos Cancellation date: November 5, 2010	Proposed system release: Xbox 360
	Notes: Dead or Alive: Code Chronoswas the code name for a cancelled video game that was in development by Team Ninja for the Xbox 360 during the mid-2000s. In a February 2005 interview, Team Ninja's Tomonobu Itagaki said thatCode Chronoswould be set prior to the originalDead or Aliveand will relay the story of characters Ayane and Kasumi before thefirst tournament. Itagaki said it would "not be a fighting game" and instead act as a prequel to the series proper, and the game was supposed to be related to the part of the opening cinematic ofDead or Alive Ultimatethat showed the child versions of Kasumi and Ayane.Earlier reports had implied the character of Helena would be more heavily involved. In 2008, Itagaki officially resigned from Tecmo, thus leaving theDead or Alivefranchise.And in November 2010, Yousuke Hayashi, the new head of Team Ninja, confirmed in an interview that the project has been officially cancelled.

Related media

Film adaptation

Main article:DOA: Dead or Alive

A feature film titledDOA: Dead or Alive,directed byCorey Yuenand starringHolly Valance,Devon Aoki,Jaime Pressly,Sarah Carter,andNatassia Malthe,was released in the United States on June 15, 2007. In the film, four female fighters are invited to a martial arts contest; they begin as rivals, but work together to uncover the secret that Donovan, the organizer of the tournament, is trying to hide. Not screened in advance for the press,the film received negative reviews and was a flop at the box office.

Crossovers

SeveralDead or Alivecharacters have made appearances and are referenced in other games.

• AyaneandKasumiboth appear as playable characters in theNinja Gaidengames.
• Kasumi and Ayane appear as playable characters in theMonster Ranchergames.
• Kasumi's signature blue outfit appears as an alternative outfit for the character, Mio Amakura, inFatal Frame II: Crimson Butterfly.
• The outfits for Kasumi,Ryu Hayabusa,and Ayane, appear as alternative costumes for the characters, Arin, Max, and Kooh, in theSuper Swing Golfgames.
• An armor similar to Ryu's outfit makes a cameo inHalo 3as an unlockable armor set called Hayabusa.
• Ryu, Ayane, and Kasumi make guest appearances in thePlayStation 3version ofDynasty Warriors: Strikeforcewhere Ryu and Ayane are NPCs that offers three different quests to the player.
• Kasumi appears as a playable character inQueen's Blade: Spiral Chaos.
• Ryu's and Ayane's costume parts were available as exclusive DLC during the first anniversary promotion campaign forDynasty Warriors Online.
• Ryu, Kasumi, and Ayane are playable characters inWarriors Orochi 3.They appear in another dimension where they assist the other warriors.
• Ayane appears as a playable character inFatal Frame: Maiden of Black Waterduring the post-endgame story.
• Ryu and Ayane appear as playable characters in the Japan-onlyDynasty Warriors Vs.(previously known asDynasty Warriors 3DS).
• Kasumi, Ryu, Ayane,Honoka,andMarie Roseappear inWarriors All-Stars,whereas Kasumi, Honoka, and Marie representDead or Alivecharacters while Ryu and Ayane representNinja Gaidencharacters.
• Ryu appears as a playable character inWarriors Orochi 4 Ultimate.
• The presumable ancestors of Ryu Hayabusa respectively, Jin and Ren Hayabusa, including the ancient variant ofNyotengu,appear inNioh 2as secret bosses. Ryu Hayabusa later appears in a patch for the game.
• The outfits, hairstyles, and accessories for Kasumi, Ryu, and Ayane were used inPhantasy Star Online 2.
• Ayane, Marie, Honoka, Kasumi, andTamakiappear in theSenran Kaguragames.
• Kasumi, Marie Rose, Nyotengu, and Honoka appear inThe King of Fighters All Star.

Other media

Several games have made appearances and have been mentioned in other media. In the 2002 filmRun Ronnie Run,the character, Jerry Trellis, is shown playingDead or Alive 2asKasumiin two different scenes and asGen Fuin one scene. Jerry uses some of Kasumi's moves in a real fight.Dead or Alive 2is also seen briefly in the 2002 filmOne Hour Photo,where the son, Jake Yorkin, is playing the game in his bedroom.Dead or Alive 3appears in the television seriesBuffy the Vampire Slayer.In the 11th episode of the6th seasonentitled "Gone" from 2002, two of the Trio members, Andrew Wells and Jonathan Levinson, playDead or Alive 3at the arcade. On December 24, 2005,Dead or Alive 4was briefly referenced in one of the comic strips forThe Boondocks,as anXbox 360game that the character, Riley, was supposed to get for Christmas, but his threats to Santa, who was actually Riley's grandpa, resulted in his grandpa getting the game instead.Dead or Alivehas been featured numerous times in theGuinness World Records.

In October 2007, a fan-madeweb seriesof CG action movies calledDead Fantasywas created by late web-based animator and writer,Monty Oum.Dead FantasyfeaturedDead or Alivecharacters, Kasumi, Ryu Hayabusa,Ayane,Helena Douglas,Hayate,Hitomi,along withNinja Gaidencharacters,RachelandMomiji,competing against a number of characters from theFinal FantasyandKingdom HeartsRPGfranchises. The web series feature numerousbattle royale-stylebrawls as the two sides fight against each other in a number of different environments. As well as the multiple references to the namesake series, there are also salutes to other games, films, and media of the fighting genre, plus some examples of fan-made weaponry and costumes.Dead Fantasywas well-received by fans of all four game series, and gained success on and off the internet, with trailers, previews and the instalments themselves being featured at several gaming conventions.

Reception and legacy

Aggregate review scores
As of March 29, 2019.

Game	GameRankings	Metacritic
Dead or Alive	(PS) 83.92% (SS) 82.00%	(PS) 84/100
Dead or Alive 2	(DC) 91.37% (PS2) 87.38%	(PS2) 91/100
Dead or Alive 3	86.19%	87/100
Dead or Alive 4	85.49%	85/100
Dead or Alive 5 Dead or Alive 5 Plus Dead or Alive 5 Ultimate Dead or Alive 5 Last Round	(Vita) 84.50% (X360) 79.45% (PS4) 75.19% (PS3) 74.57% (XONE) 72.40% (PC) 60.50%	(Vita) 80/100 (X360) 76/100 (PS3) 74/100 (PS4) 74/100 (XONE) 69/100 (PC) 69/100
Dead or Alive 6	(XONE) 80.00% (PC) 75.00% (PS4) 72.13%	(XONE) 76/100 (PC) 73/100 (PS4) 72/100
Dead or Alive Ultimate	84.14%	83/100
Dead or Alive: Dimensions	82.02%	79/100
Dead or Alive Xtreme	74.24%	73/100
Dead or Alive Xtreme 2	54.35%	53/100

TheDead or Alivegames have been mostly well received. The fighting series have received positive reviews, withDead or Alive 2having the highest ratings out of the numbered games, andDead or Alive 5having the lowest except itsPlusversion for the Vita.Dead or Aliveis considered one of the greatest fighting game franchises of all time. The franchise has received numerous awards and many nominations. Several games in the series have been considered as some of the best fighting games of all time and some of the best video games of all time.

The gameplay of the series was well praised for being fast-paced, fluid, aggressive, brutal, and strategic. Its Triangle system was notable for being innovative and unique to thefighting game genre,and it was the first video game series and first fighting game series with a multi-point counter system.Dead or Alive 2was a turning point for the series, since it offered many new features and was notable for improving and popularizing the concept of multi-tiered environments.Dead or Alive 3was notable for improving and expanding on what the previous games offered,it was notable for being one of the titles that were quintessential in helping build theXboxbrand,it was the first fighting game for the saidplatform,the first fighting game to receive an award from the National Academy of Video Game Trade Reviewers (NAVGTR) during its year of inception,and the first fighting game to be included in the Xbox Championship tournaments.WithDead or Alive Ultimate,Dead or Alivewas among the first fighting game series and the first Japanese fighting game series to offeronline multiplayer,and was the fighting game series to be included in theWorld Cyber Games(WCG).Dead or Alive 4was the only fighting game to be included in theChampionship Gaming Series(CGS), and its inclusion in theesportleague in 2007 madeDead or Alive 4the first fighting game to have a televised competitive esport scene.

Other developers and critics have expressed opinions on the series.Segadeveloper Katagiri, gave praise to the series, stating that "the uniqueness of the defense and offense mechanics and the original elements of things like the danger zone were enjoyable and gave me an overall image that it was 'a series that has evolved in its own way".Namcoon the other hand, ran radio commercial ads insulting the series, prompting creatorTomonobu Itagakito place Namco'sTekkenon his dislike list.WatchMojoincluded the franchise in their Top 10 Tournament Fighting Game Franchises, ranking it 8th, calling the series special for its focus on striking characters efficiently and quickly, and performing gravity defying air juggles and combos.Chance Asue ofGaming Illustratedexpressed love for the series, stating, "This game, more than any other fighter, feels fun and exciting without having to invest my entire life into analysing it". Asue calledDead or Alivea perfect balance between accessibility and depth, and called the fighting system a beautiful system that you won't find in another game.GameRevolutionincluded it in their Top 10 Fighting Game Franchises of All Time. Jeb Haught ofGameRevolutionalways loved the series and its interactive environments, smashing opponents into environmental hazards for extra damage.Screen Rantincluded it on their 10 Toughest Fighting Games To Master andDunia Gamesranked it 4th toughest fighting game in their 10 Toughest Fighting Game Franchises of All Time, as both stated how its simple fighting system with a few amount of buttons makes it easy to get into the gameplay, but its additional features such as fast combos, efficient attacks and counter system makesDead or Alivea fighting game difficult to master.Link Cable Gaming.com ranked the franchise in 10th place in their Top 10: Fighting Game Franchises.Gaming.netplaced it in 7th place in their 7 Best Fighting Game Franchises of All Time.Play Legit.net included the franchise in their Best Fighting Game Franchises andStuff.tvincluded it in 10 of the best fighting games ever.

By July 2013, theDOAseries has shipped over 8.6 million units worldwide.with that number, as of 2016, increasing to over 9.7 million units worldwide.As of April 2019, the series has shipped over 10.05 million units,withDead or Alive 3as the best selling title with over 2 million units sold worldwide.As of December 2019, the series sales andfree-to-playdownloads combined totaled over 24.05 million units.

TheDead or Alivefanbaseconsist of several community sites and online groups.Between 2015 and 2019,Team Ninjaheld annualDead or Alive Festivalevents where fans could compete in fighting game tournaments, along withcosplay,photo andillustrationcontests, and could either win or purchase merchandise of the series.Team Ninja would also hold costume design contests where variousfan-madecostume illustrations for specific characters were submitted to the producers and the winners would have their costume designs featured in the games.Several fans and players of the series, Emmanuel Rodriguez (MASTER),Kat Gunn(Mystik),Vanessa Arteaga(Vanessa),andAdande Thorne(sWooZie),most of whom have competed in theEvolution Championship Series(Evo),World Cyber Games (WCS),and Championship Gaming Series (CGS) esport leagues,have creditedDead or Alivefor launching their careers in the gaming industry.

References

External links

• Official website
• Dead or Alive franchiseatMobyGames