Seven years after the last main line Double Dragon game, Arc System Works has finally announced a release date for its new entry in the classic beat-em-up franchise, Double Dragon Reanimateat The Game Awards. Originally announced in July 2024, Double Dragon Reanimate appears to be the first true modernization of the franchise, renouncing the typical pixel style that has been present in all Double Dragon game.
Double Dragon ReanimateThe recent announcement of The Game Awards 2024 came in the form of a game trailer, showing its release date, pre-order bonus, and new gameplay. Although Arc System Works has been a mainstay in the gaming industry, its recent successes in the fighting game genre may suggest a total overhaul of the beloved franchisewhich itself is part of a genre that has historically had a lot of overlap with fighting games. It seems that Double Dragon Reanimate will be a fantastic return to the glory days of arcades, where Double Dragon found its origin in 1987.
When Double Dragon Revive will be released
October 23, 2025
Double Dragon Reanimate will be released on October 25, 2025. With around a year to go until its release, many more details about the game's included content will likely be revealed in due course. Currently, the planned release window has been left relatively empty by other developers, although this may change as the date approaches. It's quite unusual for a game that's over a year old to have such a specific release date, and with that window between its reveal and release, there's certainly potential for delays.
Double Dragon Revive Pre-Orders
Players gain access to an entirely separate dodgeball game when pre-ordering
Despite about a year until its release Double Dragon Reanimate is currently available for pre-order. Pre-order can be placed for either the standard or deluxe version of the game, with both versions offering a pre-order bonus. In line with the 2015 acquisition of publisher Arc System Works Super Dodge Ball and the Kunio-kun franchise, the first pre-order bonus is Double Dragon Dodge Ball. The bonus game will be an entirely separate app and likely based on the aforementioned franchises.
|
What's included |
Standard Edition |
Deluxe Edition |
|---|---|---|
|
Double Dragon Reanimate |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Pre-order bonuses: Double Dragon Dodge Ball |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Pre-order bonus: 24-hour early access |
No |
Yes |
|
Digital Works |
No |
Yes |
|
Digital Soundtrack |
No |
Yes |
|
Additional character colors |
No |
Yes |
According to the Double Dragon Reanimate page in Arc system works'website, the standard version costs $34.99, while the deluxe edition costs $49.99. While both editions include the base game and the bonus dodgeball game, the deluxe edition will offer players some bonus colors, industry-typical art and soundtrack, and a 24-hour early access period.
Until now, there have been no gameplay reveals or teases of the standalone dodgeball game. Based on the IP that Arc System Works acquired along with Double Dragon in 2015, the game will likely be, at the very least, a fun minigame and more of a throwback to the arcades of old.
Double Dragon Revive trailer and gameplay details
Interactive and dynamic combos are coming with Double Dragon Revive
The pre-order trailer for Double Dragon Reanimate it didn't contain much new information other than the release date and open pre-orders. It primarily consisted of the franchise's leading brothers, Billy and Jimmy Lee, fighting side by side to combat an unnamed villain, presumably the main antagonist, based on his position on the game's cover. A highlight was Billy Lee performing Wrath of the Dragon, a street fighter-Reminiscent Shoryuken move that looks pretty flashy.
Previously released gameplay trailers show more of the real-life game action that will take place in Double Dragon Reanimate. Tokyo Game Show 2024 showcased the game for the first time with an action-packed trailer. In it, the classic, belt-scrolling action gameplay felt packed with environmental KOs, traversal options, and stage-specific weapons.
Another recent trailer released by Arc-Sys featured two additional playable characters besides the Lee brothers. Marian Kelly appears to be a kick-based aerial fighter, with her dives and combos similar to Streets of Furyof Call Fielding. Yagyu Ranzo has a stylish ninja-themed moveset, spitting fireballs, throwing smoke bombs, and teleporting around the battlefield.
It is currently unknown whether Double Dragon Reanimate will have more than four playable characters. Four seems to be a standard number for modern beat-em-up playlists, with the excellent Streets of Anger 4 launching with a similarly sized roster of five. With nearly a year of development before its full release, perhaps more is on the way.
The gameplay itself looks dynamic and flashy, with plenty of combos showcased in the various trailers released. Combos are an important component in the hidden complexity of belt-scrolling action games, and with Arc System Works publishing for developer Yuke's Double Dragon Reanimate has the chance to lead the genre in the aspect that keeps players coming back.
All platforms confirmed for Double Dragon Revive
What consoles will Double Dragon Revive be released on?
Double Dragon Reanimate is set will be released for PC, Xbox and PlayStation. On PC, Double Dragon Reanimate will be exclusive to Steam. PlayStation players will be able to purchase and play Double Dragon Revive on PlayStation 4 and 5. It will have a similar approach on Xbox, where it will be playable on Xbox One as well as Series X/S.
The only console absence here is the Nintendo Switch, a particularly odd choice since the Switch has always provided a home for arcade remasters, twists, and modernizations. There are still plenty of options in terms of platforms available, and most players will likely find a way to play Double Dragon Reanimate when it launches in October 2025.
Sources: Arc system worksArc System Works America/YouTube (1, 2)