Shinobi is getting its SEGA Villains DLC this April

SEGA and Lizardcube have announced that the SEGA Villains Stage DLC for Shinobi: Art of Vengeance will launch on April 3, 2026. The expansion brings three crossover bosses to the 2D action platformer: Dr. Eggman from Sonic the Hedgehog, Goro Majima from Like a Dragon, and Death Adder from Golden Axe. It will be available across all major platforms, including PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch, and PC.

I spent a lot of time with Shinobi: Art of Vengeance when it launched last August. Lizardcube had already proven they knew how to handle classic SEGA properties with Streets of Rage 4 and Wonder Boy: The Dragon's Trap, but their take on Joe Musashi felt like a step up in terms of combat fluidity. The base game shifted away from the strict arcade structure of the Genesis originals, leaning closer to a Metroidvania with exploration and unlockable traversal tools. Now, they are expanding that foundation with five new stages themed around these guest villains.

Majima, Eggman, and Death Adder

The character selection here covers three very different eras of SEGA history. Death Adder is a natural fit for a side-scrolling action game, considering his roots in the 1989 arcade beat-em-up Golden Axe. Dr. Eggman brings the 16-bit mascot era into the mix, likely with some sort of mechanical contraption for Musashi to dismantle. Then there is Goro Majima, the wild card from the modern Like a Dragon series. Seeing Majima translated into Lizardcube's hand-drawn 2D art style is honestly the main draw for me here.

Beyond the boss fights, the DLC includes two new Boss Rush modes to test your execution skills. You also get three additional ninpo magic arts, extra outfits for Musashi, and six new music tracks. The soundtrack for the base game was handled by Tee Lopes, who previously worked on Sonic Mania and Streets of Rage 4, so new music is a welcome addition. Tee Lopes has a knack for blending retro sound chips with modern instrumentation, and his work on the base game was excellent.

$10 standalone or included with the deluxe edition

Hardcore mode for everyone

SEGA is releasing a free patch alongside the DLC that adds a new Hardcore Mode to the base game. The update also includes combat system adjustments, tweaks to character outlines, and improvements to the map and tutorial displays.

I remember the late-game platforming being fairly demanding already, with some optional areas requiring precise use of the grappling hook and mid-air dashes. A Hardcore Mode sounds like it will test exactly how well you mastered those mechanics. The company has been leaning heavily into its back catalog lately with announcements for Crazy Taxi and Jet Set Radio, but letting a studio like Lizardcube mash up Golden Axe and Yakuza inside a Shinobi game is a genuinely fun way to handle legacy characters.