DOA Name Possibly Removed from Venus Vacation

Dead or Alive: Venus Vacation has been out for a long time, and over the past five years or so of the game lifespan we’ve started to see the regularly announced Venus (that aren't originally DOA girls) completely outnumber the OG fighters that made this series famous to begin with. Now the Dead or Alive name could be missing completely. Was this an oversight from Team NINJA? Could this be a separation of the fighting and volleyball series? Or could this even be the end of the DOA franchise in totality? There are many questions to ask, but we will not be equipped to know for sure until Tokyo Game Show 2024 where Koei Tecmo will air their live presentation.

What we do know is that Team NINJA will be releasing a new project surrounding the Venus Vacation name. We also know that this is one of the most lucrative productions within all of Koei Tecmo, sporting their best numbers to date and a fanbase that is constantly ready for new content and new characters that they can fall in love with. There are many players out there that are ready for a new 3D fighting game. How would these players react if the new fighting game was an all-female cast featuring Venus that take styles of previous male characters?

When you think of every possibility; it's hard to factor in a decision Team NINJA could make that doesn't invite some type of controversy. Players are understandably in an odd place, and they have the right to be concerned for their favorite franchise that they have supported for over two decades. My personal belief is that there needs to be a compromise that pleases both parties. After all, Yasuda has said for several years now that he wants to return to classic series and outside of NINJA Gaiden - Dead or Alive is the only classic franchise that Team NINJA has under their belt.

We will keep you updated with all of the latest news prior to TGS and after the event with our news posts and Indepth analysis of Koei Tecmo. This is an interesting time in our long history, and we thank you here at FSD for being a part of our constantly growing community. It's interesting because despite the news or lack thereof for DOA we continue to grow with our readership and user numbers. We know that you guys fight strong and are completely dedicated to this franchise and will continue to honor that with our work.

 

I don t think That DOA is Dead, Cause It s One Of Major Team Ninja Franchises, Even with all that troubles with doa 6. For me It s Rather Good News Than Bad, cause It s maybe says That TN want to make a distance Between DOA, NG, Venus series (in sense of style and atmosphere). , Where NG And DOA - one whole. And Venus - something Other. One Day Itagaki Said That all we see In Extreme series - it s Zack s Dream And Nothing More. It s Joke In Doa Universe and he s Laugh About some Journalist who Thought That Extreme has canonical Bonds with Doa\NG plot. I m Absolutely Sure That We See NG\DOA Soon - It s Too Popular and even legendary series for TN To Forget about Them, and They Know That Fans Want It, Cause If It s Not - We wouldn t see some Figures With Ayane and Ryu and All of that little Details which Team Ninja like to drop To Fans To Tease Them. I m Not Waiting Some News About DOA Till 2026 (30th anniversary of Doa Series). So, I will just wait and make some art, and other stuff. All will Return - It s Law Of Universe, Trust me).

 

I think people saying it's the end of DOA are reaching imo. I think the new project will likely focus more on Venus Vacation more as a whole and they're likely discarding the DOA name to keep the brand separate from the actual DOA franchise. Besides the volleyball and swimsuits, we have to be honest and realize that the VV girls outnumber the DOA ones, and the game isn't really much of a Xtreme title in terms of gameplay, Xtreme and VV are definitely quite different gameplay wise besides the obvious volleyball and the DOA girls

I think since the series is now so successful they decided to make it a standalone since I don't think Venus Vacation needs "Dead or Alive Xtreme" in the title anymore since it's not much of that anymore, it can hold it's own weight. I hope maybe this will be either an expansion of the gacha or maybe they're gonna overhaul and improve the models and game so it's more like a current gen gacha.

 

So basically, Venus Vacation is going full Fighting EX Layer to separate itself from the DOA franchise.

 

So basically, Venus Vacation is going full Fighting EX Layer to separate itself from the DOA franchise.

Well I don’t really know. This could be something as simple as an oversight. Could be a good thing or a separation.

I think it’s worth being addressed though.

 

It would be funny - albeit logical - if the project was Atelier Venus Vacation.

It's the only other franchise currently under the Koei Tecmo brand that has anything remotely abundant when it comes to cheesecake.

 

I think the end goal was always for VV to be its own thing:

Dead or Alive Xtreme: Venus Vacation Director on Implementing Series Characters

Dead or Alive Xtreme: Venus Vacation characters aren't easy to decide on, and director Yasunori Sakuda explained some of its difficulties.

www.siliconera.com

Personally, all I care is whether Tamaki is part of this new game or not.

 

I think the end goal was always for VV to be its own thing:

Dead or Alive Xtreme: Venus Vacation Director on Implementing Series Characters

Dead or Alive Xtreme: Venus Vacation characters aren't easy to decide on, and director Yasunori Sakuda explained some of its difficulties.

www.siliconera.com

Personally, all I care is whether Tamaki is part of this new game or not.

You will be fine then. There is no way they are letting that asset go. She makes money and that's the general direction KT goes in.

 

DOA is not dead. KT isn't dumb enough to axe Team Ninja's flagship title. I also don't think KT will show anything in regards to the mainline fighting game at TGS either.

 

DOA is not dead. KT isn't dumb enough to axe Team Ninja's flagship title. I also don't think KT will show anything in regards to the mainline fighting game at TGS either.

I completely agree, but that's not what everyone is saying. A lot of players think that this is a bad sign of things to come. I have a feeling they will keep quiet about it, but if we do see a new DOAX and we don't see a single OG DOA girl from the start. Damn. That would not be good.

Also, I don't think @Jotamide is completely incorrect with his theory that they could have been looking for a point to make a cut off. That's not outside the realm of reality and I've wondered that in the past myself.

Like you said, they probably will not KO DOA because it makes money, but I think it's important for the players that do believe it's coming to an end to look at the other options on the table and that was the point of this article.

 

I wish that before this new project becomes the subseries' next big thing, we can see the cut girls first.

 

DOA state right now

 

I'm with @deathofaninja here, as this could be a number of things because the removal of the DOA name didn't really conclude anything. It still seems a bit vague on what that actually means. I don't see it as good nor bad, but on the sense of ....... what does that even mean? this is not a doom & gloom post here, this is genuine curiosity.

For start, VV was the only thing at the moment that was supporting DOA in terms of sustain. Some type of pillar of support. If you take that out, how would DOA even sustain itself? there's no new fighting game, there's nothing in the market that's keeping DOA afloat, and the competitive scene is unofficial support etc. We have to remember that official support for DOA6 finished a couple years ago, so the only one that was keeping DOA on the map in the market was realistically VV.

I know some say that the removal is a sign of good things to come so that VV becomes it's own thing and that DOA can escape it, but my question is... how exactly? I think that shipped sailed too far gone on what DOA is, so separating the two would probably lead to yet another controversy. (We had too many of those already.) I personally don't believe DOA IP is dead, but what are they even going to use the brand for then if they are separating it? they aren't going to just magically make another fighting game without some type of budget and support, and Shimbori left no?

At the same time, maybe it's not a big deal type of thing and something rather minor in effect where both still use each other even if the DOA name isn't there.

 

That Venus Vacation New Project if I were to speculate is more of a spin-off, something similar to Sonic at the Olympic Games on Mobile devices while on consoles exclusive to Nintendo are based on Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games (debut on Nov 6, 2007 based on Beijing 2008 with final game release on Nov 1, 2019 JP release based on Tokyo 2020). Just because DOA name isn't on the new project relating to Venus Vacation, doesn't mean DOA is being divided from Venus Vacation (which wouldn't make sense considering DOAXVV is DMM Games Number 1 game, and the only DOA game that is profitable), or the franchise is dead (the only game that is capable of the DOA franchise death is DOA6, not DOAXVV that has been supported for 6 years soon to be 7 years).

There are many players out there that are ready for a new 3D fighting game.

For Me I'm not 100% ready for a new 3D fighting game like DOA, after DOA6 and how KT been censoring their sex appeal content when comes to international releases and other franchises like Atelier & Fatal Frame (while DOAXVV only content they miss in Asia releases are third party content like Uzaki-Chan). The only thing I would be ready for KT/TN to do if possible is make a 2nd fighting franchise for worldwide market, while DOA franchise should be exclusive to Japan/Asia like DOAX games (that began in DOAX3).

it's hard to factor in a decision Team NINJA could make that doesn't invite some type of controversy.

Team Ninja already invited controversy when they decided to put their focus on eSports & EVO along with toning down their sex appeal, which was none other than DOA6 (which dare I say is the Worst DOA Game ever made, if it was a different game with the DOA name not attracted to it. It would've been a decent game that is nothing special). The only thing Team Ninja should be doing is just copy both DOA5 & DOAXVV in terms of sex appeal from costumes & features, and only care about players who were still playing DOAXVV along with spending their money on Paid V-Stones.

 

Definitely interesting if nothing else…don’t really know how to feel about it though until we get more details of what this actually means for DoA as a whole. And what this new project actually is. Again though i am curious for what might be shown at tgs now.

 

If this was any other company I'd say it is a very deliberate rebranding, for better or worse.

However as this is KT, and more specifically, TN, we know historically that their marketing is absolutely head-ass and the left hand never knows what the right is doing.

So really, who can say? Not us, and probably not even them.

 

I saw an interesting theory today about why the "DOAX" part is removed from the title - it suggests that there may be a new XVV-style gacha project that is instead centered on the Atelier franchise. @deathofaninja do you think this sounds plausible, based on your knowledge of Team Ninja and Koei Tecmo?

 

As interesting a theory as that might be, I would also find it somewhat difficult to imagine. XVV works because its lewd as hell. Atelier games are usually a bit softer with the sexualization, if any is ever present at all, and the characters are often minors/portrayed with that body type. There are exceptions but not that many. And in the worst case it would damage the brand image forever as it would lose a lot of the wholesomeness surrounding the IP.

They certainly could pull it off, but it would be a very big step in a different direction.

 

I saw an interesting theory today about why the "DOAX" part is removed from the title - it suggests that there may be a new XVV-style gacha project that is instead centered on the Atelier franchise. @deathofaninja do you think this sounds plausible, based on your knowledge of Team Ninja and Koei Tecmo?

Maybe. I know that a lot of people have requested Ryza to be in the game.

My guess is that this project is going to be a mobile title. LOL

 

Mobile means you have to sacrifice higher graphic settings, will alienate most existing fanbase