Team NINJA is Planning to Reboot Dead or Alive and NINJA Gaiden

Some breaking news has been released today during Team NINJA's keynote at the South Korea G-Star conference by Fumihiko Yasuda that Dead or Alive and NINJA Gaiden reboots will be the future of the company after the release of Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty & Rise of Ronin. The final image presented in the breaking story has been translated by key individuals in our community including @WAZAAAAA and @Matt Ponton respectively:

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Team NINJA's Future - Reboot of Popular Series - Images of NINJA Gaiden & Dead or Alive ​

There is a lot of information in this story, and we will break all of it down here at Free Step Dodge, but this looks like extremely positive evidence of a future and now is probably not the time to leave the DOA community if you were planning to jump the fence. We've been covering Team NINJA's Fumihiko Yasuda all year and he checks all of the boxes of a proper president: he's been honest, he's developed legendary games, he's focused on the present and the future.

We don't know all of the details yet, but everyone interested should be inclined to give Yasuda a chance after (in all due respect) the marketing blunder that Yohei Shimbori was vacuumed into as Team NINJA director and producer for Dead or Alive 6. Shimbori was put into a position where he could not excel with DOA6 and was unfortunately retired because of it not to dampen the rest of his career which was a legendary run on his part.

If we find out in ANYWAY that these translations are inaccurate, we will remove them, but as of now they have been double checked, fact checked, site checked and approved for this story release. Also, it's important to consider that the term 'reboot' can mean a wide array of different things, some elements that could have negative impact and some elements that could have positive impact and we ask that you consider that when discussing the future of the games. Seeing as how Yasuda has been as transparent as he can be to a global audience; this is a good indicator of things to come.

 

Hope this time they remember than fanservice is big part of the series popularity.
They ruined everything by focusing in the western market than never care about those IP.

DOA 5 was set to please the western market and you got more sexualization in that game than any previous DOA.

DOA 6 was set to please absolutely no one. Every division of KT had a different view of what that game was supposed to be and as a result it did not work.

 

I hope the tone is balanced this time around. I don’t want DOA to be campy. It should be sexy, serious while keeping the spirit of martial arts. I felt DOA3 did that the best. Another thing, they need to hire better writers for the story. Last and not least, of course awesome gameplay and graphics

 

Team Ninja reportedly confirms Ninja Gaiden and Dead or Alive reboot plans | VGC

The studio wants to share more news ‘as soon as possible’…

www.videogameschronicle.com

VGC updated their story stating that KOEI TECMO wasn't announcing anything at this time which we knew from the get-go if people bothered to read the entire source story that states Yasuda couldn't say anything about it in the last paragraph.

And again: Players want validation that the series will continue, and the press wants official announcements with trailers and interviews. That's pretty normal. From what I'm seeing though the press isn't going to let go as more outlets like the one @HHH816 mentioned and more are barking at Team NINJA loudly for more information. So, there is a chance they will say something additional to ease the begging.

This reveals a lot though because if they are rebooting the games like they say, we are definitely not getting a NINJA Gaiden like 3 or prior NINJA Gaiden experience and we are definitely not getting a DOA6: Ultimate. Those would not be reboots. NG will likely follow a new pattern and a DOA6U would be an expansion, not a reboot of the series.

Now even though most of us don't care for DOA6 we will continue to support every effort the community makes with DOA6 leading into DOA7. That being said the majority of people that love DOA6 shouldn't worry about one thing and that's characters.

Team NINJA reuses a lot of assets, and no FG developer out there is stupid enough to pull a SCV again. I know the one remaining constant at Team NINJA is that they love their characters and know that most of their value as a company is sprouted from their difficult to master games and iconic characters.

I have gotten more messages and DMs than anything asking about the Lolita characters. Some want them dead, and some want them to stay:

Those characters aren't going anywhere. LOL Team NINJA makes too much money off them. Some people have developed with their fighting styles as well. Don't even bother requesting to Team NINJA not to bring them in. Their goal will likely be to bring out a great fighting game and Gacha money. Hopefully no more season passes and something like loot crates that can be purchased or earned.

 

I have gotten more messages and DMs than anything asking about the Lolita characters. Some want them dead, and some want them to stay:

Those characters aren't going anywhere. LOL Team NINJA makes too much money off them. Some people have developed with their fighting styles as well. Don't even bother requesting to Team NINJA not to bring them in.

DOAN out here spitting FACTS at the haters. If you want DOA to be successful, you shouldn't be wishing for TN to make moves that would alienate other players. If there's one thing I grow weary of, it's hearing people bitch and whinge about characters they don't even use.

 

DOAN out here spitting FACTS at the haters. If you want DOA to be successful, you shouldn't be wishing for TN to make moves that would alienate other players. If there's one thing I grow weary of, it's hearing people bitch and whinge about characters they don't even use.

Well, I can understand why some people would want them removed as some players feel the game was invaded, but the thing is Marie Rose did really, really, really well in Japan - when she came out... she was from what I heard the bestselling DOA DLC of all time. Honoka is now associated with the ninja storyline so she's not going anywhere. Victor will probably be the main villain of DOA7 and NiCO has the most access to him, so she'll probably stay too.

Evidence of their popularity is brought to light by the polls, and you just have to sometimes take one for the team if you are not into it. As a community we aren't really in a place where we can make the arguments to KT because we want another game so it's a pointless crusade.

Once upon a time I hated Marie Rose but she has grown on me over the years and so has Honoka. I liked NiCO immediately because she offered me lightning and I thought her, and Tamaki were actually a lot of fun to play as. Diego on the other hand was painfully generic. If they bring him back, he needs a lot more for moves.

 

I will say my 2 cents on the forum side that I am vastly more hopeful of Ninja Gaiden specifically getting a reboot or whatever than DOA though this DOES mean DOA isn't completely off the cards now. I still personally think it's still a little too early to bring DOA back, especially if it's just gonna be another cheap low budget outsourced cash grab.

If we do see a DOA7 I actually wouldn't mind a SC6 style reboot, where it's DOA1-4 retold again but this time with characters like NiCO and Marie already part of the story(and hopefully without the terrible retcons). Anyone expecting TN to get rid of Honoka and/or Marie is huffing some dank copium, why would TN kill off the most popular characters in the series??

 

Imo we shouldn't be pushing for DOA 7 but for DOA Dimensions 2 instead.

 

It will be a bit too much if they'll reveal NG and DOA together in 2024. Maybe they'll reveal NG in 2023 after Wo Long release, and then DOA after Rise of Ronin in 2024

 

If they are gonna keep the Lolis in, just make them less cringey. Marie is obnoxious in DOA6. I'm in physical pain from the cringe when she does her opening and victory stuff

If TN puts Kanna in the next DOA game, I'm boycotting that shit lmao

 

Team Ninja moves to clarify Ninja Gaiden / Dead or Alive ‘reboot’ reports | VGC

“Like many of our dedicated fans, we share the enthusiasm for the return of these titles”…

www.videogameschronicle.com

 

Hmm, my concern at this point isn't that it says the word "reboot" next to the images, it's that maybe the Korean publication are the ones who decided to use the word "reboot" when they could have been using the word as interchangeable with "revival", which is something even some English speakers might do. I want Yasuda or one of his collogues to actually use the word now before I believe that's the direction they've decided to go.

Either way though, I agree that just mentioning them again in reliving. It doesn't hurt to speculate (with large heaps of salt) about the possibilities and mentally prepare foe what a DOA/NG reboot could be, though, if that's really what will happen.

And I'm not gonna get into a discussion about MR/Honoka/NiCo/Kanna now. I've done it a lot when they were new, but my opinions aren't gonna change anything, but they're not opinions driven by "hate". Fact is, no one should expect every character on the roster to be loved by everyone, and some characters can have a case made against them as to why they might be seen as out of place in the series, or that their designs could be better (like Diego or Rig are talked about). Besides, no DOA female is disliked more than Lisa. It's tough to be a Lisa fan. I'd bet a hard reboot would totally get rid of her and give her story bits to NiCo, maybe make Mila into Tina's new BFF...

 

If they are gonna keep the Lolis in, just make them less cringey. Marie is obnoxious in DOA6. I'm in physical pain from the cringe when she does her opening and victory stuff.

Grow thicker skin.

 

DOA is bigger than NG.

 

Hmm, my concern at this point isn't that it says the word "reboot" next to the images, it's that maybe the Korean publication are the ones who decided to use the word "reboot" when they could have been using the word as interchangeable with "revival", which is something even some English speakers might do. I want Yasuda or one of his collogues to actually use the word now before I believe that's the direction they've decided to go.

Either way though, I agree that just mentioning them again in reliving. It doesn't hurt to speculate (with large heaps of salt) about the possibilities and mentally prepare foe what a DOA/NG reboot could be, though, if that's really what will happen.

And I'm not gonna get into a discussion about MR/Honoka/NiCo/Kanna now. I've done it a lot when they were new, but my opinions aren't gonna change anything, but they're not opinions driven by "hate". Fact is, no one should expect every character on the roster to be loved by everyone, and some characters can have a case made against them as to why they might be seen as out of place in the series, or that their designs could be better (like Diego or Rig are talked about). Besides, no DOA female is disliked more than Lisa. It's tough to be a Lisa fan. I'd bet a hard reboot would totally get rid of her and give her story bits to NiCo, maybe make Mila into Tina's new BFF...

The Japanese on the image literally says "リブート" (reboot) though... Unless you mean they are saying reboot but really just mean bringing the series back in general?

 

@UpSideDownGRUNT It's not the word itself that I'm disputing, I get that the word reboot was used, it's who's saying it. I'm just wondering if it's just the publishers of the interview who decided to use that word or if it's because it's a word that came right out of Yasuda's mouth. But yeah, like I said, some people might use the word "reboot" interchangably with "revive", so just bringing the series back in some fashion rather than having a "new start" or restart in some way.

But I don't want to dwell on it. I'm taking this as two things - DOA is coming back pretty much for sure and a reboot of some sort is a possibility (but not set in stone). If someone from TN uses the word themselves then there's no doubt anymore.

EDIT: sorry, read my next comment, whoops, lol.

 

Team Ninja moves to clarify Ninja Gaiden / Dead or Alive ‘reboot’ reports | VGC

“Like many of our dedicated fans, we share the enthusiasm for the return of these titles”…

www.videogameschronicle.com

I don’t see what is any different from this update and the one they originally posted. Nobody expected an announcement once again. Just that the series were safe and they know we care and want some type of information.

Game news outlets hounding for interviews and trailers. Don’t bother to read last paragraph of original story.

 

OH, Ok, I'm getting something wrong here. It wasn't the publication that used the word and that image, that's a slide/image used by TN themselves at the conference, and the Korean publication just shared it. Since it's coming straight from TN, then yeah, I guess that puts more weight on TN deciding to reboot them after all...

I should have realized that since the words on the slide/image are in Japanese, not Korean. I guess I was focusing too much on whither Yasuda used the word himself in the interview, but that's TN's own slide so it's not something that should be overlooked for sure.

 

For me a reboot is good. They need to keep up with the latest trends in fighting games with modern and flashy moves. Maybe incorporating elemental attacks for new characters or projectile blasts, kunais, or shuriken to surprise your competitor. Make it colorful and vibrant with the effects. Give them super moves or musou attacks worth taking a video. I also want to see a story that incorporates all the characters this time helping each other to fight a common boss. I just can't wait for this game to evolve and I will support it. Hope to see all the old characters plus lots of fresh new ones for the old and new fans of the game.

 

For me a reboot is good. They need to keep up with the latest trends in fighting games with modern and flashy moves. Maybe incorporating elemental attacks for new characters or projectile blasts, kunais, or shuriken to surprise your competitor. Make it colorful and vibrant with the effects. Give them super moves or musou attacks worth taking a video. I also want to see a story that incorporates all the characters this time helping each other to fight a common boss. I just can't wait for this game to evolve and I will support it. Hope to see all the old characters plus lots of fresh new ones for the old and new fans of the game.

I disagree, my only way of hoping for Dead or Alive to reboot is to go back to the root of Dead or Alive 5 and it's graphical style while simply keeping the fighting gameplay smooth and fresh. This is why Dead or Alive 5 appealed to most gamers like myself who are more used to the character designs and it's basic modes. But honestly I would love to see other fighters make their return like I know Ein and Leon must come back, but I also hope for Bankotsubo and maybe even Shiden or Joe Hayabusa to perhaps fight alongside in the new game. Those are what I was hoping for and for what this DOA reboot has to offer for us.

Btw what I meant by "disagree" is "incorporating elemental attacks for new characters or projectile blasts, kunais, or shuriken" when I bet the Power Blow must make a comeback at least for Dead or Alive 7!

 

For me a reboot is good. They need to keep up with the latest trends in fighting games with modern and flashy moves. Maybe incorporating elemental attacks for new characters or projectile blasts, kunais, or shuriken to surprise your competitor. Make it colorful and vibrant with the effects. Give them super moves or musou attacks worth taking a video. I also want to see a story that incorporates all the characters this time helping each other to fight a common boss. I just can't wait for this game to evolve and I will support it. Hope to see all the old characters plus lots of fresh new ones for the old and new fans of the game.

eww.. i don't want the game screen cluttered with stuff just like SF6

character model should be a priorities and the fighting should be real no excessive power up or anything