Koei Tecmo has announced a shift in its philosophy regarding the creation of suggestive character costumes for the popular fighting game series, Dead or Alive.

Project manager Tsuyoshi Inoue shared this new policy during an interview with Japanese gaming outlet Famitsu on August 9. Inoue explained that during competitive matches, players tend to feel awkward and avoid wearing such outfits, noting that the actual usage frequency of swimsuits and similar costumes in ranked matches is low. The project manager stated that the team will focus on accentuating the inherent charm of the characters and creating costumes that "fans who truly cherish the characters can consistently use," signaling a plan to minimize suggestive elements.

Meanwhile, controversy has also flared up around Minato, a newly added character in Dead or Alive 6 Last Round. Some players have raised 'copy-paste' suspicions, claiming that Minato's move set is too similar to the existing character Honoka. General director Akihiro Nakamura addressed this by explaining that while the moves are similar, the character lore differs. The general director explained that whereas Honoka instinctively mimics techniques, Minato learns through equipment and hard effort, and unlike Honoka who chooses techniques out of mere interest, Minato places importance on visual spectacles and entertainment like dancing.