The Evolution Championship Series, or Evo, has become a significant venue for fighting game announcements, and Evo 2026 in Las Vegas is no exception. Throughout the weekend, major titles and upcoming games have revealed new content and future plans.
Dead or Alive 6 Last Round Teases First DLC Fighter
Koei Tecmo has revealed that the first downloadable content fighter for Dead or Alive 6 Last Round will be a new character named Minato. The announcement came with a teaser that focused on the Miyabi stage, showing Minato speaking with NiCO in the background. Minato is slated to be added to the game this summer.
Rivals of Aether 2 Roadmap Details Years of Content
Aether Studios has outlined an extensive roadmap for Rivals of Aether 2. Later in 2026, players can expect two new characters, two additional events, and workshop support for items and characters. The following year, 2027, will bring four more events, two new fighters, two "Remix Rivals" (similar to echo fighters), eight-player matches, and the ability to customize outfit colors using in-game currency. In 2028, Aether Studios plans to bring the game to consoles and launch the first chapter of its single-player story mode. Future updates beyond 2028 will focus on expanding Steam Workshop support, introducing companions, and potentially adding guest characters from other franchises.
Tekken Gets Animated Series Adaptation
In a surprising announcement, the Tekken franchise is receiving a cartoon adaptation. The teaser trailer for this animated series showcases a distinct, more lighthearted art style with chibi-inspired versions of familiar characters, including Alisa Bosconovitch, Kazuya Mishima, Kuma, Paul Phoenix, and Yoshimitsu. Details about the series remain scarce.
Avatar Legends: The Fighting Game Reveals DLC and Player Vote
Gameplay Group and Paramount Games have opened pre-orders for Avatar Legends: The Fighting Game, set to release on July 23. A pre-order trailer offered a glimpse at four of the five planned Year 1 Pass characters: Iroh, Ty Lee, Lin Beifong, and Bolin. The fifth DLC fighter will be chosen by players through a vote among those who pre-order the game. Developers elaborated on the planned fighting styles, describing Iroh as counter-focused, Ty Lee as a rushdown character, Lin Beifong utilizing metalbending, and Bolin combining firebender and earthbender mechanics. The five potential candidates for the fifth fighter are Tenzin, Kuvira, Amon, King Bumi, and Asami Sato.
PlayStation FlexStrike Fight Controller Pre-Orders Open
PlayStation has made the FlexStrike Wireless Fight Stick controller available for pre-order a year after its initial reveal. This controller, designed specifically for fighting games, is priced at $200 and is scheduled to ship on August 6, coinciding with the release of Marvel Tokon: Fighting Souls.