The Dead or Alive fighting game series has always been known for its vibrant fan service and expressive physics, but Koei Tecmo has once again decided to go the route of full censorship for who knows what. “Dead or Alive 6 Last Round” project manager Tsuyoshi Iuchi sparked a heated discussion in the community when he explained in a recent interview with Japanese magazine Famitsu why the team deliberately reduced the number of sexy and revealing costumes for the fighters.
According to the producers, the authors relied on statistics from competitive modes. Iuchi noted that overly revealing clothing and swimsuits are rarely seen in ranked play because players are said to be “embarrassed” by showing them off in front of their opponents. Against this background, the studio decided to shift focus – instead of providing the entire character with beautiful bikinis for equally beautiful girls, the developers wanted to create “practical” alternative styles that loyal fans of a specific character would definitely want to wear continuously.
Of course, fans reacted with hostility to such remarks and threw hats into the hands of the producers through comments everywhere. Players recall that attempts to flirt with puritanism and esports at the start of the original sixth installment had already cost the project its popularity, and in the context of parallel releases for beach volleyball and dating sims, the rejection of the series’ corporate identity seems odd to say the least.