Double Dragon Revive News

Hi everyone!
This is the Double Dragon series development team at Arc System Works.

In this third volume of Developer’s Diary Revive, a project to share information on the Double Dragon series, we will introduce the two playable characters announced in Fall 2024, Marian and Yagyu Ranzo.

[h2] ■The Sosetsuken and Dragon Vein [/h2]
In order to offer a deeper understanding of these characters, first we have two of our developers joining to explain key words from the game: Sosetsuken and Dragon Vein.



Cailteux:
Sosetsuken is the ultimate martial art, a culmination of all techniques known. This title also includes the idea of fortifying yourself by holding supernatural power from the Dragon Vein within the body.

This technique has been passed down through generations since ancient times. In the past, there were hundreds of martial artists studying it, but past wars and the control of the Shadow Warriors over the city caused the Sosetsuken dojo to close its doors. In the modern era, only three people inherit the Sosetsuken: Billy, Jimmy, and Marian.

Marian’s father, the prior heir, has gone missing, and currently the group run a bar next door to the closed dojo while patrolling the city.

To step outside of the story for a moment, the idea behind Sosetsuken from the original Double Dragon series was heavily influenced by pop culture such as hit movies at the time, and is even said to be inspired by Bruce Lee’s Jeet Kune Do.



Nagaki:
The phrase Dragon Vein originates from the term in Feng Shui, and in the game as well it refers to a form of energy found in nature.

This power has a flow to it, and at certain crossroads the flow reaches greater concentrations. The colony appearing in the game is one such place, a fact known only by the select few people who know of the Dragon Vein’s existence. It is no coincidence that the Sosetsuken dojo can be found there, as the valuable land was chosen as its home base.

The Dragon Vein plays a very important role in the story this time.

With these two key words in mind, let’s introduce our characters.

[h2]Character Profile ① Marian Kelly[/h2]



Marian is a familiar face, as the heroine of the series.
Although she gets kidnapped at the beginning of the game, she can wield the Sosetsuken just like the Lee brothers.

Cailteux:
She’s appeared throughout the Double Dragon series in various forms, whether in need of rescue or serving as a police officer.

In this game, Marian is the daughter of the previous generation’s Sosetsuken heir, as well as childhood friend to Billy and Jimmy.

Highly intelligent, she has the strength to stand up against opposition despite her calm nature, making her a reliable presence in the lives of the people around them.

She works as a bar owner, providing a place where the citizens can enjoy a small comfort even in the harsh world after the nuclear war.

From a design perspective, she sports quite athletic attire to ensure a comfortable range of movement so she can be ready to defend the customers at her bar or those close to her at any moment.

She wears a t-shirt in her favorite color, red, with few accessories so she can be battle-ready at quick notice. She chooses mostly black clothing to avoid her clothes looking dirty.


Nagaki:
Allow me to explain Marian’s role from the gameplay perspective.

If we think of Billy as a standard character and Jimmy as a power type, Marian would be a speedy character.

Although she deals slightly less damage, her incredible mobility allows her to traverse the stage and take down enemies in style.

Some stages in the game require you to make your way past obstacles rather than simply defeating enemies. Marian will prove invaluable on these stages.



[h2]Character Profile ② Yagyu Ranzo[/h2]



Yagyu Ranzo is another playable character in Double Dragon Revive.
He comes from a lineage dedicated to protecting the Dragon Vein.

Cailteux:
Ranzo is yet another familiar character from the series.
He made his first appearance as a playable character in Double Dragon 3, and has shown up as a boss character as well.

As in his prior appearances, he works as part of a highly secret organization.

In this game, he comes from a lineage dedicated to keeping locations of the Dragon Vein secret and preventing them from being used for evil. He is an elite ninja of the highest rank within the organization, respected by his allies.

He enters the story and encounters the heroes after learning about the misuse of the Dragon Vein in the colony where our tale takes place.

For his visual design, we’ve kept the white and light grey color scheme from his earlier designs, with the concept of “what would a modern ninja wear?”

This concept combines the garbs traditionally associated with ninja with modern streetwear and sportswear.

Nagaki:
Ranzo is a character who can fight at far range.

All of the other playable characters fight using hand-to-hand combat. However, Ranzo can attack by throwing shuriken and kunai, as well as other long-range attacks, even capable of setting enemies aflame with his fire technique.

He also has good mobility options, with quick movement speed and high jumps, meaning he can easily take a hit-and-away approach.

I’d recommend anyone who doesn’t want to get in too close to the enemies to give him a try.



[h2]●Coming Up[/h2]
In this issue of Developer’s Diary Revive, we introduced Marian and Ranzo now that you’re familiar with the main Lee brothers.

Next time, we’d like to touch on the Shadow Warriors gang that stands in opposition to our protagonists.
Keep an eye out!

Be sure to follow the Community Hub and official X account so you don’t miss the next volume.
Thank you for reading through to the end.


Official Webpage
https://www.arcsystemworks.jp/ddrev/en/

Official X Account
https://x.com/DD1987_PR

We have released a showcase video for Double Dragon Dodgeball, an exclusive bonus game available to those who pre-order Double Dragon Revive.

[previewyoutube][/previewyoutube]

In this title, classic dodgeball gameplay meets the world of Double Dragon, featuring iconic characters from the series. Experience intense, action-packed battles using dodgeball as your weapon!

The game offers a variety of modes, including a single-player Story Mode, where players can enjoy the familiar Double Dragon rescue mission for Marian, as well as a Survival Mode that supports up to four players, from head-to-head matches to all-out brawls.

All who pre-order Double Dragon Revive can enjoy Double Dragon Dodgeball for free!

Check out the newly released showcase video to get an early look at the game's exciting features. Don't miss it!


https://store.steampowered.com/app/3012220/_/

Hi everyone!
This is the Double Dragon series development team at Arc System Works.

In this second volume of Developer’s Diary Revive, we offer the latest info on the Double Dragon series–touching on the world of Double Dragon Revive and introducing the series protagonists and inheritors of the Sosetsuken, the Lee brothers.

[h2] ●The World of Double Dragon Revive [/h2]
Double Dragon Revive takes place in a world 15 years after a devastating nuclear war, where the concept of nations no longer exists. For more details, check out the Story section of the official web site.

The colony is a society formed by those who gathered in this wasteland of a world.

It is here where the protagonists of Double Dragon Revive, the Lee brothers, wield their multifaceted martial arts technique the Sosetsuken to stand against a conspiracy.

[h2]■ The Earnest Younger Brother, Billy, and the Outgoing Older Brother, Jimmy[/h2]

Despite their similarities, the twins Billy and Jimmy have different personalities.

△ This moment after returning from patrolling the city shows the difference between the brothers.

The two of them live with their childhood friend Marian in a city within the colony until they learn that she’s been kidnapped and set off to rescue her.

△ Despite their differences, they both value justice.

The story has been crafted with loving attention, with the characters thought out down to the last detail.

The creative director in charge of the story setting, Cailteux, and the executive director, Nagaki, join us to explain the characters.



Cailteux:
In this game, the Lee brothers are far from simple palette swaps of each other. From their actions in the story to their outfits, we’ve ensured their personalities come out even in the finest details.

Nagaki:
We’ve also designed them to feel different in battle, with Billy being a straightforward standard type of character, while Jimmy uses heavier attacks with higher damage.


△ When Marian worries for them, Jimmy makes light of it to ease her concerns, while Billy expresses discontent at being treated like a child.

Character Profile ① Billy Lee



Cailteux:
The younger brother, Billy, is very sincere and has a strong sense of justice. He devotes himself entirely to his training as a successor to the Sosetsuken.
Although gentle at heart and unable to turn away anyone in need of help, his passion can give him tunnel vision and prevent him from properly discerning the current situation. His brother Jimmy often comments on his overly serious nature.
He holds himself to high ideals as a martial artist, living a rather stoic life with a minimalistic approach to his belongings. For this reason, he prioritizes practicality with his clothes, making for a rather simple outfit that allows for a full range of movement.
His only fashion statement is his matching belt with Jimmy, a present from Marian. Although it doesn’t exactly suit his preferences, he still treasures it.


You can see how his personality comes out in his outfit design.

Character Profile ② Jimmy Lee



Cailteux:
The older brother Jimmy values his freedom, living at his own pace. He’s closely involved in the colony community. Although he doesn’t dedicate as much time to his training as Billy does, Jimmy can stand toe-to-toe with him thanks to his natural talent.
This frustrates Billy, who laments the greater heights he could achieve as a martial artist with full use of those talents.
Despite his usual nonchalant attitude, however, Jimmy has a broad perspective and capacity for thought, allowing him to keep Billy in check when his passions rush him ahead, or to come up with precise solutions using information gained from his expansive network.
In contrast to his serious but inflexible brother, Jimmy is shrewd and makes the most of things as a dependable older brother.

Unlike Billy, he likes fashionable clothes, and wears a leather jacket inspired by his interest in motorcycles along with a pair of slacks with the addition of a necklace and chains, fashionable accessories Billy would shy away from.



In contrast to the calm blue Billy wears, Jimmy’s vibrant red catches the eye.
This is yet another way their characters shine through in their clothing designs.

Nagaki:
Although they may fall on different sides of the coin, the two of them are close and share a kindness and dedication to protecting the comrades around them, often patrolling the city together.

Cailteux:
Exactly. One other sign of their close relationship is that they choose clothes from the same brand. If you look closely, their clothes both have brand logos and the name of a (fictional) clothing brand on them.

Although these profiles only include their character portraits, you can get a closer look at the details in-game.


[h2]● Coming Up[/h2]
In this issue of Developer’s Diary Revive, we introduced the traditional protagonists of the series, the Lee brothers.

Next issue, we’ll cover the two playable characters announced last year.
Keep an eye out!

Be sure to follow the Community Hub and official X account so you don’t miss the next volume.
Thank you for reading through to the end.

Official Webpage
https://www.arcsystemworks.jp/ddrev/en/

Official X Account
https://x.com/DD1987_PR

Our serial Developers’ Diary Revive is now ongoing.

You can find it every month on the Community Hub page on Steam. Come and check it out to learn about the challenges and the enthusiasm of the dev team.


[h3]◆Episode 1: The Beginnings of Double Dragon Revive[/h3]
https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/3012220/view/500563872868991092

[h3]◆Episode 2: Lee Brothers, Heirs of the Sousetsuken[/h3]
https://steamcommunity.com/games/3012220/announcements/detail/530965707756667030

[h3]◆Episode 3: Sou-setsu-ken and the Dragon Vein. [/h3]
https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/3012220/view/530967787132158187

[h3]◆Episode 4: The Formidable Foes, the Shadow Warriors [/h3]
https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/3012220/view/530970797929398274

[h3]◆Episode 5: Powerful Contenders, Reborn in the Modern Era [/h3]
https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/3012220/view/530973313390870557

[h3]NEXT: Coming June 2025...[/h3]

========================



https://store.steampowered.com/app/3012220/_/

Official X

Hello everyone!
We’re the development team of the Double Dragon series at Arc System Works.

We are very happy to initiate a series-first regular column project called “Developer’s Diary Revive,” starting from today.

We would like to share a glimpse of what we are doing to develop and promote the game.
Please have a look!

[h2] ●What’s Double Dragon? [/h2]



The Double Dragon series has a long history, but the promotional video released on December 13, 2024 may have been a good reason for many people to want to have a go at the series for the very first time.

To help these new players understand the appeal of the series, we asked Tatsunori Ishikawa, producer of Double Dragon Revive (hereinafter referred to as DDRev), to talk about the history of the Double Dragon series and the appealing points of this new title.


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Ishikawa：
“Double Dragon is a title that began operating in arcades in 1987, and it has a history of over 30 years. It was created by Technōs Japan Corp., the same company that produced the River City series (also known as Kunio-kun series in Japan), and it can be considered the origin of belt-scrolling action games.

Many people might be familiar with the River City series, and one fun fact is that the characters Ryuichi and Ryuji from that series are created based on Billy and Jimmy, the protagonists of Double Dragon.

Since then, the series has been ported to various platforms, including NES and Game Boy Advance, and currently, Arc System Works holds the rights of this IP, releasing "Double Dragon 4" in 2017. The game has a large global fanbase and remains popular; we receive offers about creating new titles using the Double Dragon brand regularly to this day.”


△Screenshot of Double Dragon*

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Indeed, Double Dragon is a series with a longer history than Arc System Works.

Initially launched in 1987, Double Dragon series has been adapted into a TV animation and movie in The United States, making it a globally popular series. Double Dragon Revive, which will be released on October 23, 2025, is the series' latest entry.


[h2]●So, what’s Double Dragon Revive?[/h2]



Double Dragon Revive, as the name suggests, is a long-awaited new title that represents the culmination of our development team's years of preparation and dedication to revive the masterpiece that is the 'Double Dragon' series for modern times. It embodies our team's passion and commitment to evolve the series to suit the new era, while preserving the tradition and spirit of the previous titles.

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Ishikawa：
We released Double Dragon 4 in 2017 and received a wide range of feedback.

Although Double Dragon 4 evokes a sense of nostalgia, we placed excessive emphasis on recreating the original atmosphere. As a result, I believe it ultimately became a title that lacked the fresh experiences and enjoyment typically associated with a new game. When we began developing the latest installment of Double Dragon, we kept in mind that even fans of the original series desire a novel experience.

What to keep? What should be created anew?

We considered, for example, enhancing character progression through level-ups and equipments, as well as incorporating popular roguelike elements. However, we felt that these additions would deviate from the way Double Dragon is enjoyed, so we decided to first reboot the game as a pure brawler experience.

On top of that, we believe we can offer a fresh experience by enhancing the fun in completing stages and the overall feel of the action itself.


△Screenshot of Double Dragon 4*

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We also spoke with the game's development director, Hiroshi Nagaki, about its appeal.


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Nagaki：
First of all, I'm relieved that we were able to unveil it safely.

Double Dragon Revive is a game that challenged us to merge the strengths of traditional brawlers with new action elements, and I hope everyone will have the opportunity to experience the result.

The appeal of brawler games lies in the casual experience of character action to the fullest within a straightforward game cycle of defeating enemies in a defined order." However, due to this simplicity, it can also lead to boredom quite easily.

This game addresses the inherent weaknesses of brawler games and features a system that rewards players for making appropriate decisions based on the situation.

Originally, the Double Dragon series consisted of side-scrolling games that required players to adapt to various situations by utilizing the terrain and weapons. I think Double Dragon Revive is becoming a game that has expanded that potential and has evolved to have that modern play feel.

By playing the game repeatedly, you will uncover strategies that will enable you to easily defeat enemies you previously had a hard time with. I think it's a challenging game that can be enjoyed in a classic manner, and I encourage everyone to give it a try.

△A series-classic weapon attacks are still around!

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Please look forward to the challenging gameplay loop developed by Arc System Works, leveraging our expertise and experience.

We are also aware that that many players who have played previous games in the series have shown interest towards the graphics of the game.

[h2]●The newly revived fighting action! [/h2]



While honoring the legacy of the series, Double Dragon Revive has advanced beyond the retro-style 2D graphics of its predecessors, evolving into 3D graphics that enable players to experience new levels of action.

Why did you decide to take that direction?

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Ishikawa：
When we aimed to incorporate elements such as stage gimmicks to create a new action experience, as well as identifying enemy techniques and executing counterattacks, we encountered limitations in what could be achieved in a 2D format.

Let’s say you decide to implement the action of "throwing enemies in the trash can;" this would require significant effort to implement that special hit motion across all 2D materials for every character. If you later come up with a new idea, you might find yourself saying, "There's no hit motion for that one either! and ultimately have to abandon the entire mechanic.

With 3D, specific defeat animations can be reused across multiple characters, so we thought it would be beneficial to design the game in this manner.

Nagaki：
That's right. We didn't initially opt to create it in 3D from the get go; rather, we carefully considered how to implement a variety of actions and ultimately concluded that 3D was the best approach.

By adopting a 3D format, we can more effectively convey various elements such as "height" and "depth" that are associated with the stage structure, and we believe this enhancement enables us to offer a gameplay experience with greater depth.

△Utilize certain gimmicks on stage, and knock out the enemy with a single strike!
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The changes in graphics have also contributed to a greater depth in gameplay.

Are there any other aspects of the action that you insisted on including?

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Ishikawa：
We are a development company that has continuously developed fighting games, and much of that expertise has been integrated into the game.

Even for a single attack motion, we know from our experience to determine factors such as the number of optimal frames for the satisfying attack to hit, and the appropriate amount of hit stop to implement. So I believe the controls we have developed for this game give a very comfortable play feel.

Nagaki：
Speaking of 'fighting game mechanics,' There are actions optimized for use in certain, specific situations in game.

For example, if you intercept an enemy's 'aerial assault' with an 'anti-air attack,' you can gain a decisive advantage. You can evade high-swinging enemy attacks by taking action that puts you in a lower position. Additionally, you can counter a powerful charge attack with an armored attack. To name but a few.

In this title, we've incorporated these elements into a system called "critical assault", where if you attack an enemy's special move at a specific time, a "critical assault" will occur, and you can gain various advantages from doing so.

△The enemy is about to launch a powerful charge attack, but...

△Intercepting with Storm Kick, which has an armor effect, will cause a critical assault!

△It deals a lot of damage and also stuns the enemy, giving you a chance to follow up!

You can also use the "Dragon Orb gauge" to unleash a powerful "Finishing Blow". With a successful critical assault, player gains a bonus that will fill up the Dragon Orb gauge. Building up the Dragon Orb gauge with a critical assault, and mowing down enemies utilizing the netted Dragon Orb gauge, is one of the vital aspect of the gameplay. The conditions for triggering a critical assault differ depending on the type of enemy. So, how well can you use it? When would be the best time to use the Dragon Orbs you have accumulated?

Having to think about such elements is one of the fun factors.


△Deliver a finishing blow using the accumulated Dragon Orb gauge, and gain the decisive advantage!

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The game wasn't made from the start with the intention of making a 3D game, but rather, it was decided to make it in 3D to add more fun to it.

[h2]●What's next?[/h2]
In this issue of Developer's Diary Revive, we introduced the Double Dragon series and talked about the making of Double Dragon Revive.

Going forward, we plan to regularly publish new information about Double Dragon Revive, as well as development episodes and behind-the-scenes stories that you can't see anywhere else.

From secret development documents to the development staff's stories that you can't see in media interviews, and more! We'll try to share as much as we can with you!

Please follow the Community Hub/Official X and wait for the next update.
Thank you for reading.


Official Webpage
https://www.arcsystemworks.jp/ddrev/en/

Official X Account
https://x.com/DD1987_PR

※1：Screenshots are from separate product "Double Dragon Collection" (2024).