The Sega Villains Stage DLC is bringing Yakuza’s Goro Majima, Sonic’s Dr. Eggman, and Death Adder from Golden Axe to the game’s world via mysterious rifts that Joe Musashi is trying to close by the most obvious method: Defeating the source of their power. That’s going to lead to some memorable showdowns with the aforementioned characters, who are in a decidedly different element than what we’ve come to expect.

There are five new stages aside from the three bosses, alongside new music tracks inspired by them. Aside from two Boss Rush modes featuring the new threats, there’s a trio of ninpos and skins each to round things off. We were very happy with the base game last year, and there’s no reason to believe that the DLC is going to be any different. It’s time to let your katana sing as you side-scroll through some chaotic fighting against familiar yet formidable opponents,

If you’re still on the fence, perhaps watching Joe take on an assortment of its new additions in the launch trailer below can help you decide if you’re diving in right away.

It’s an odd addition, for sure, especially since Majima has been more of a tweener in more recent entries. Nevertheless, his concept art looks pretty good – time will tell how he and the other villains actually factor into this DLC stage, and whether they’re a match for Joe Musashi.

The standalone pricing for the Sega Villains Stage DLC is unknown, but it’s included in the Deluxe Edition. Stay tuned for more details on its release date in the coming months (perhaps at The Game Awards 2025).

Shinobi: Art of Vengeance is available for Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PS4, PS5, PC, and Nintendo Switch. Check out our review for it here – we gave it a nine out of ten, praising the art style, combat and stage design.

As a side-scrolling beat ’em up, Golden Axe is one of Sega’s more iconic franchises, though it hasn’t received a new installment since 2008’s Beast Rider. A new entry was announced at The Game Awards 2023, alongside Shinobi, Streets of Rage, and more, but it’s yet to receive any updates.

Regardless, stay tuned for more updates on the Sega Villains Stage DLC, which launches in early 2026. Shinobi: Art of Vengeance is available for PS4, PS5, PC, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and PC. Check out our review here, where we praised the combat, art direction and level design.