A new mainline Devil May Cry game has been on the minds of fans ever since the acclaimed fifth entry in the series was released. With the increased relevance of the character-action genre along with Devil May Cry 5's recent four-year anniversary, now could be the perfect time for Devil May Cry 6.

Devil May Cry 5 exceeded six million copies sold just last year, an accomplishment befitting of the title's mastery in gameplay. The nuance of combat in the base game and Vergil DLC left a strong impression on fans and newcomers alike, sparking an immediate desire for the next mainline iteration. With Capcom's celebration of DMC5's four-year anniversary having taken place earlier this month, the anticipation for Devil May Cry 6 has been more pertinent than ever.

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Devil May Cry 6 Could Build Upon the Recent Spotlight of the Genre

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Recent years have seen further success among the character-action genre, pointing towards Devil May Cry's influence in games like Hi-Fi Rush. Comparisons were drawn between the two in regard to combat, with Hi-Fi Rush's protagonist Chai able to glide across his mechanized guitar similarly to how Nero uses his Punch Line devil breaker. The title served as another example of how well character-action games can perform across large audiences. Platinum Games' Bayonetta 3, despite some controversial reception to its narrative, aided in the same cause through the returning success of its combo-driven gameplay. With the acclaim of these recent titles comes a deeper desire for Devil May Cry 6, which could shake up the genre even more than it already has.

In a similar vein, the wildly anticipated Final Fantasy 16 is set to release this June, and its combat director Ryota Suzuki worked on DMC4 and DMC5 for Capcom in past years. As teasers of the combat have already been met with praise among fans, Final Fantasy 16's DMC-esque combat system could stoke even more desire for the series' next mainline entry. Moreover, FF16 has the potential to bring about further interest to the DMC games for those yet acquainted with the series, as the Square Enix title will be sure to garner a wide range of players.

Devil May Cry: Peak of Combat is technically the newest DMC game in development, which may help to tide over fans eager for the series' next mainline iteration. Though Peak of Combat has been outsourced to video game company NebulaJoy, the title is still an official part of DMC supervised by Capcom in its creation for mobile platforms. Currently in its closed beta stage, the game appears to mix elements of past and recent Devil May Cry titles, coupling older character designs like Nero's look from DMC4 along with newer animations like Vergil's Judgement Cut from DMC5.

While seeing a mobile release is exciting, it's safe to assume that fans are still yearning for a continuation of DMC5's story beats and console driven gameplay. With the different avenues DMC6 could take, the title is hotly anticipated for good reason; there might be a chance that Devil May Cry 6 will build on the foundations of DMC5's cooperative gameplay, iterating on the feature to make it even more relevant for a modern day release. Though DMC5 doesn't necessarily show signs of age, the title's acclaim does point towards the sixth entry being a wildly successful contender for Capcom's next endeavor. Given the recent spotlight of the genre, now could be the time for Devil May Cry 6 to truly thrive.

Devil May Cry 5 is available now for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.

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