DOA4's arrival slipping again?

[UPDATE] Xbox 360 may not get its fight on as expected; online retailers list December 14 as new release date. Tecmo expects to make announcement next week.

Fortuitous fighting fans that finagled a newfound Xbox 360 had a fantasy: Beat the bejesus out of one another on November 22, the day the console launched. Those hopes were dashed when the console's lone fighter, Dead or Alive 4, was moved from its original place in the launch lineup to December 1.

Gamers cracked their knuckles and gritted their teeth at the news, but the extra week would give them more time to do a few push-ups and practice some roundhouse kicks. Soon after, online retailers began listing the game as being available on December 7, which was again met with various acts of pent-up aggression and splintered two-by-fours.

Next-gen fighting fans, prepare to have plenty of willing sparring partners--DOA4's hopeful release may be postponed once again to December 14. Both GameStop.com and EBgames.com are listing the game as shipping two weeks into December, more than three weeks after its originally planned release date.

EB Games was first to proclaim the game's initial delay through e-mails to customers who preordered the Xbox 360. The game has also missed its launch date of December 10 in Japan, moving back to December 17.

Dead or Alive 4 is rated M for Mature and will retail for $59.99. For more on the game, go a few rounds with GameSpot's previous coverage.

[UPDATE] Tecmo has not officially announced a release date for the game, so retailer projections should not be considered the be-all and end-all. A representative from the company has told GameSpot that an official statement concerning the game's status will likely be made next week.

44 Comments

  • NeonNinja

    Posted Dec 3, 2005 8:41 pm PT

    I don't care how much it's delayed right now, I don't have a 360 to play it yet, and prolly will not until like January. I think the game will be great though.

  • Love4MusicUK

    Posted Dec 2, 2005 12:18 pm PT

    I hope this don't mean the UK release will slip further back too. I am really looking forward to getting this game

  • jaefrmbk2k

    Posted Dec 2, 2005 6:37 am PT

    i love tekkan cinco. but my favorite challenger jus got knocked. that means locked up. naow i got nobody good to stomp aout. anyone know about any good tournaments goin' on in the hood? i live in Brooklyn.

  • zaidpass

    Posted Dec 1, 2005 8:59 pm PT

    omg just set up a date and dont change it.

  • GunslingerMan

    Posted Dec 1, 2005 2:29 pm PT

    Inoperative yeah im sure it will . Tekken 5 already is set for fighting game of the year . Best 360 fighting game yeah ... cause there aren't others out on the system

  • GunslingerMan

    Posted Dec 1, 2005 2:26 pm PT

    Tecmo just say 2006 already .

  • inoperativeRS

    Posted Dec 1, 2005 11:40 am PT

    I read a long interview with Itagaki and I'm surprised if they delay it even more, he sounded like it was ready. Well anyway from what I've heard this'll probably be the best fighting game on the 360, and probably on any platform for a long time.

  • ArmoredAshes

    Posted Dec 1, 2005 10:21 am PT

    Well they had better get it out soon.....the closer to christmas they release it the less of a chance i have of getting it..i mean it is one of the games i am busting for it to come out. other than [EM] and halo 3.....well on the bright side i guess it should be bug free....if not i can imagine the posts that will ensue

  • nemes1s3000

    Posted Dec 1, 2005 3:50 am PT

    It's not so bad, only a couple of weeks away.

  • ewjim

    Posted Dec 1, 2005 1:27 am PT

    Phhwew! It's just DoA...

  • shaktisingh

    Posted Dec 1, 2005 1:10 am PT

    I hope it doesn't pass QA from Microsoft just because of release dates like Quake 4 obviously did.

  • ixlr8evo8

    Posted Dec 1, 2005 12:56 am PT

    OMG WHAT A SURPRISE... I TOTALLY DIDN'T EXPECT THAT!!

  • insidius

    Posted Nov 30, 2005 11:32 pm PT

    The game is done and printed to disk already. I personally know people that have copies in hand, but cannot sell them until the official release date, whenever that is.

    My guess is that there was a shipping problem and not all retailers got their shipments or whatnot.

  • MeTaL-HeaD

    Posted Nov 30, 2005 10:47 pm PT

    I HATE XBOX I HATE IT HATE IT HATE IT HATE IT wait a minute did I say that too loud???

  • artorius

    Posted Nov 30, 2005 9:32 pm PT

    All I know is that DOAUltimate was awesome and from what I have read about DOA4, with it's inovations in the graphics, countering systems, new characters, a spartan from the Halo series even, and what they are doing with the online lets me know that Team Ninja is giving this game their all, and that makes me very happy! So when it comes out it comes out! I payed for it already, so I'm not worried about it. Take your time Team Ninja, I am happy to wait for the definitive DOA experience, and as we all know this one is "ONLY ON THE XBOX360"

  • devilscry

    Posted Nov 30, 2005 8:45 pm PT

    Although this really pisses me off, since it was the one game i was waiting for, and it makes me re-evaluate what games i'll need to get when i finally get my 360. my main problem is when MS says its gonna restock stores with 360's every week, AND DOESN'T!!! COME ON ALREADY!!! talk about taking a ruse too far...

  • Pickles16

    Posted Nov 30, 2005 7:09 pm PT

    i agree w/ hush it will be like just the other DOA games, but i need my HALO fix!

  • hush404

    Posted Nov 30, 2005 6:56 pm PT

    Meh it doesn't really matter, it'll play like all the other DOA titles just like all of the other DOA titles play like every other DOA title. Yawn, with DOA2 Ultimate including online I don't see a huge need for DOA4 except for 360 owners to say they have a fighting game. It's just DOA with better visuals... just like every DOA title released.

  • mutenpika

    Posted Nov 30, 2005 6:42 pm PT

    I want it so badly, but I don't want an unfinished product...
    I have full confidence in you, Itagaki-san. Do whatever is necessary to bring the best ninjas to my console that you can.

  • davahsa

    Posted Nov 30, 2005 5:59 pm PT

    I cry over and over again and again when I (for some reason) expect to see a Team Ninja game meet its "in hands date." I smile over and over again and again when I (for obvious reasons) get the Team Ninja game that was made with so much attention to detail, and this DOA will address the button mashing's ability to crush in a fight! Take your time Tom Itagaki! A Double D Spartan makes the wait hard though...

  • zymase

    Posted Nov 30, 2005 5:22 pm PT

    My feeling about this is the same as about my personal other most-anticipated 360 game, Oblivion: it's a shame that it's been delayed again, as I'm salivating to get my hands on it, but hopefully the wait will have been worth it.

  • alonso84

    Posted Nov 30, 2005 5:16 pm PT

    Now the game is coming in the same day that is my birthday? Wow that's incredible!

  • forchy

    Posted Nov 30, 2005 4:40 pm PT

    i just want a fighting game already!!

  • Fallen_Angelz

    Posted Nov 30, 2005 4:29 pm PT

    Cortana would have been so much cooler. The female MC looks like the regular MC. Cortana would fit better in the cast, but Halo was a very odd choice for a secret character.

    I guess as long as we never see Gon again, fighting games can put Pee Wee Herman in them for all I care...

  • CyphenX

    Posted Nov 30, 2005 3:59 pm PT

    This game is going to have Xbox LIVE as a HUGE part of it's package, so I think they should just get it out and then give us anything extra that they want to put in on LIVE. At least it would make everyone happier...

  • Cartman86

    Posted Nov 30, 2005 3:55 pm PT

    Probably just fixing bugs.

  • cubeace6

    Posted Nov 30, 2005 3:42 pm PT

    great now i gotta wait to buy my 360 thabks to this delay, what else could happen ?

  • gmoney983

    Posted Nov 30, 2005 3:29 pm PT

    Team Ninja is not one to delay a game release for no good reason. And if history is any prognosticator (i.e. Ninja Gaiden Black) I can only hope when we finally get our grubby little paws on DOA 4 it will be something special and not some rehash of all the other DOA titles.

  • MrPsycohed

    Posted Nov 30, 2005 2:49 pm PT

    Wow, this really sucks. 'Cause, y'know, we can't play DoA2U in the mean time.

    . . . oh wait.

  • bj91x

    Posted Nov 30, 2005 2:30 pm PT

    Ouch! First I hear Rumble Roses XX isn't coming out until months from now, and now, my alternate choice for 360 T&A game gets pushed back even more. I must say, DOA is already ignored by top fighting game players, and it getting closer to the release of T5R isn't going to be too good for DOA4. And from what I hear, SC3 might come to the 360 soon as well. With top players focusing on T5R (and possibly SC3, though I hear they already stopped playing SC3), it'll be harder for the players to notice DOA4, even if DOA4 actually turns out to be as good a fighting game as Tekken, VF, and SF series. It doesn't help that these players have been closely watching all the DOA games, and are expecting another scrubby game from DOA4. To be honest, I'm kind of skeptical about getting this as well, and I have bought every DOA that ever got released on the consoles...

  • Masamune999

    Posted Nov 30, 2005 2:10 pm PT

    The delay might be due to the DVD format. Remember Tecmo talking about the stoarge problems while using HD. The package might include more than one disk.

  • TRUEPATRIOT

    Posted Nov 30, 2005 1:45 pm PT

    "Sabooya
    Hopefully they are not having problems with the game and rushing to fix it, but rather they wanted to add some extra goodies for us to enjoy "
    no game is ever delayed because they just wanna add goodies its always something wrong.

  • ac2565

    Posted Nov 30, 2005 1:40 pm PT

    [This message was deleted at the request of a moderator or administrator]

  • Theman3788

    Posted Nov 30, 2005 1:34 pm PT

    Not again!!!!! I was want to fight as Chick master Chief!!!!

  • boyblob

    Posted Nov 30, 2005 1:08 pm PT

    Ah no problem. I won't be able to play the system until Xmas so I don't really care.

  • Omega-Protoman

    Posted Nov 30, 2005 1:07 pm PT

    Hopefully, it will just be confirmed for release in 2005.

  • homsuplo75

    Posted Nov 30, 2005 1:03 pm PT

    It's not too big a surprise to hear that there are a number of games not coming out when they said they were supposed to. If I was releasing a new game system and wanted to drive the frenzy for it I would make sure to say there are X number of games coming out at the time of system launch. However even if there are only a handful of games at the time there will always be those who go buy it no mater what. So one the system has launched you can then go back and say "Well...guess those games won't be out as quickly as we thought." How many people will go return their system just because a game is taking a week or two longer to come out?

  • darklight941

    Posted Nov 30, 2005 12:54 pm PT

    this sux. i want DOA4 to come out already so i can play it. tekken was ill in its graphics and stuff but i prefer DOA to it. the gameplay was adictive and it was, how shall i say, less crammed and overwhelmed than tekken. DOA still has a good shot but im so pissed that they postponed it again. i mean all the other xbox 360 games are shooting, racing or war games that are for fun for like 10 hrs then theyre more boring than a history lecture. the one game i wanted they keep postponing and from whut ive seen its already good enough so they should launch it out already.

  • Sabooya

    Posted Nov 30, 2005 12:53 pm PT

    Hopefully they are not having problems with the game and rushing to fix it, but rather they wanted to add some extra goodies for us to enjoy

  • wtroutman

    Posted Nov 30, 2005 12:42 pm PT

    What does it matter, most of us can't even find the console!!

  • veratronator

    Posted Nov 30, 2005 12:39 pm PT

    Well i keep seeing commercials for this game and its not gonna be out for a while december 14 yea right iam gonna go see king kong no buy doa 4 ill wait till its in the bargain bin.

  • blackIceJoe

    Posted Nov 30, 2005 12:39 pm PT

    At the same time I want it I want them to take all the time to make it great.

    I can't wait to play it. I think it will be fun

  • _LEGIONS_

    Posted Nov 30, 2005 12:31 pm PT

    This is going to be fun online, even if it's nothing innovative, it still does what it's supposed to be: FUN

  • Fallen_Angelz

    Posted Nov 30, 2005 12:18 pm PT

    Maybe they are taking the extra time to make it look like more than an Xbox DOA 3.5?

    I like the DOA series, but theyve all pretty much looked and played the same. I would site the Tekken series as a true innovator in the fighting genre, but then someone would point to Tekken 4 and make me cry.

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