Fans of the Dead or Alive series are going to have to wait a bit longer before they're able to bring the pain in the series' latest entry. Koei Tecmo announced today that Dead or Alive 6 is now delayed until March 1, citing the developer's desire to "further enhance and balance" the game as the main reason.  The game's producer and director, Yohei Shimbori, issued a short statement saying as much "The title's development is already near complete; however, we would like to take more time to further polish its balance, gameplay, and expressivity," he said. "In return for your patience, we commit to bringing you the best DEAD OR ALIVE gaming experience."

While some fans who've been eagerly awaiting the arrival of Dead or Alive 6 will certainly feel a bit disappointed at first, Koei Tecmo and Team Ninja's choice to delay the game will likely prove to their benefit in the end. Many a fighting game fan has experienced the unsatisfactory results that follow rushing a game to market over the past couple of years, so it's good to see that some are willing to take the extra time needed to get it right. Whether or not they actually do get it right won't be clear until release, but more time in the oven can only benefit Dead or Alive 6.

Dead or Alive 6 launches for PC, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One on March 1. Check out our review of Dead or Alive 5 to learn more about how it differs from the likes of Street Fighter or Mortal Kombat.