The developers at Dotemu have reconfirmed DLC additions for beat 'em up revival of the Sega Genesis classic, Streets of Rage 4 is one of the most successful retro returns of this generation. A near-perfect recreation of the classic series, the game moved things forward while honoring the past with unlockable characters and hidden retro-themed boss battles. Add in a distinctive art style that feels unlike anything else out there and you've got a bonified treat for fans new and old.
It's natural that fans who've already devoured the base game will want more content, especially considering how long the wait was between installments. Although it's an instantly recognizable name from Sega's catalog, the Streets of Rage franchise was on hiatus from the release date of Streets of Rage 3 in 1994 all the way to 2020. The Genesis threequel was less than well-received, but the franchise still had plenty of fans, and developers continued to pitch new games over the years. Finally, Dotemu, Lizardcube, and Guard Crush Games found the right formula, and Sega signed off on the labor of love that released back in April.
Related: Streets of Rage 4 Review: This Is How To Bring Back A Classic
Back in May, the developers hosted a Reddit AMA which gave fans more insight into future plans for the release. It was here that the game's DLC plans were confirmed, and a recent tweet by Dotemu reassured that nothing has changed. With the current state of the world, there are delays in all corners of the game industry, so it's understandable that a release date for the additional content isn't forthcoming. Back in May, the developers itted that they're not even sure what the best additions would be, and fans were quick to suggest stages and characters they'd love to see make the jump into the new release.
Going through the AMA, there are several other interesting takeaways about the release of Streets of Rage 4. For one, the team at Dotemu stated that the sales figures for the beat 'em up "exceeded [their] expectations," which likely set the table for future DLC additions in the first place. The studio also states that its past experience with Wonder Boy: The Dragon's Trap opened the door to SEGA letting the developer work on the dormant franchise, as it had already proven it could revive a name that people ed fondly.
In a year full of uncertainty and delays in gaming, Streets of Rage 4 was truly a treat, and the wait for even more of that game will be a long one indeed. Although it's becoming more and more unbelievable as nostalgia continues to take hold of the national psyche, it's still rather unusual to see a decades-old franchise make a return and fit right into the current gaming landscape. Streets of Rage 4 is anything but a cash grab, and one would hope that it shows other publishers the values of all their IPs, not just the ones currently on the menu.
Streets of Rage 4 is out now on PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch.
