What it is
DmC: Devil May Cry is Ninja Theory’s 2013 reimagining of Capcom’s stylish action series. Released for Xbox 360 in the UK on 15 January 2013, it moves Devil May Cry into a separate modern setting with a redesigned Dante, a more Western tone and a world that shifts between reality and the demon realm. The story divides opinion, but the combat remains fast, flexible and rewarding once its weapon-switching system clicks.
- UK release
- 15 January 2013
- Platform
- Xbox 360
- Developer
- Ninja Theory
- Publisher
- Capcom
- Genre
- Action-adventure; hack and slash
- PEGI
- PEGI 16
- Online mode
- No — single-player only
- Engine
- Unreal Engine 3
- UK price
- Historical launch pricing: £39.99 standard; £59.99 Son of Sparda Edition
- Game Pass/PS Plus
- No current inclusion confirmed for the original Xbox 360 release
Story and setting
This is an alternate-universe Devil May Cry, not a continuation of the original series’ storyline. Dante is a young demon hunter and a Nephilim, born from the union of an angel and a demon. He lives on the margins of society until Kat, a psychic who can see the demon realm, draws him into a conflict involving The Order, Dante’s twin brother Vergil and the demon king Mundus.
Much of the action takes place in Limbo City, a contemporary metropolis secretly controlled by demons. Limbo exists alongside the human world but reshapes itself to trap and attack Dante, producing the game’s strongest visual idea: streets, buildings and industrial spaces twist, collapse and rearrange themselves during missions. The modern setting, political themes and redesigned characters were deliberately intended to give the series a new identity.
How it plays
DmC is a third-person, single-player action game built around close-range combat, firearms, aerial juggling and stylish combos. Dante begins with his Rebellion sword and twin pistols, then gains angel and demon weapons including the fast Osiris scythe and the heavy Arbiter axe. Holding the triggers switches between angel and demon forms, allowing weapons to be changed during attacks rather than through a separate menu.
The system rewards variety. Repeating the same move lowers the style rating, while chaining different weapons, launchers, grappling attacks and evasive manoeuvres raises it towards the coveted SSS rank. Angel and demon grapples also serve as traversal tools, pulling Dante towards distant points or dragging enemies into range. Missions mix combat with platforming, environmental hazards, hidden collectibles and secret challenge rooms. Difficulty settings and replayable missions give the campaign more depth than a single run suggests.
DLC and later editions
The original Xbox 360 version received Bloody Palace as a free post-launch update. It adds more than 100 combat levels, leaderboards and gameplay adjustments made in response to player feedback. Vergil’s Downfall followed as paid downloadable content, adding a separate campaign set after the main story and starring Vergil with his own move set. Costume, weapon and bonus-item packs were also released, including the Samurai Pack associated with the UK Son of Sparda Edition.
DmC: Devil May Cry: Definitive Edition arrived separately on Xbox One and PlayStation 4 in 2015. It includes the original game and released DLC, runs at 1080p and 60 frames per second, and adds Turbo Mode, Hardcore Mode, Must Style, Gods Must Die difficulty, manual lock-on, rebalanced combat and a 60-floor Bloody Palace for Vergil. These improvements were not added to the Xbox 360 version itself.
Xbox 360 performance and reception
The Xbox 360 release targets 30 frames per second rather than the 60fps standard associated with several earlier Devil May Cry games. Digital Foundry’s comparison found the 360 version to be the steadier console build, holding a more consistent 30fps during demanding combat and avoiding the screen tearing seen on PlayStation 3. The later Definitive Edition is the better technical version, but it is a separate current-generation release.
Reviews were broadly positive despite the controversy surrounding the reboot. The Xbox 360 version has an 86 Metascore on Metacritic. IGN awarded it 8.9/10, Eurogamer gave it 8/10, Official Xbox Magazine scored it 9/10 and The Daily Telegraph awarded 10/10. Critics generally praised the combat, imaginative environments and soundtrack, while reservations centred on the dialogue, some boss encounters and the decision to replace the established continuity.
UK availability now
Contemporary UK pricing put the standard release at £39.99, while the GameStop-exclusive Son of Sparda Edition cost £59.99 and included a replica Dante necklace and the Samurai Pack. There is no current official Xbox 360 RRP. Microsoft ended new purchases of Xbox 360 games and downloadable content through the Xbox 360 Store and Marketplace on 29 July 2024, although previously purchased content remains playable and redownloadable.
For new players using modern Xbox hardware, the relevant release is DmC: Devil May Cry: Definitive Edition for Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S, not the original 360 edition. The 360 game has no online multiplayer, no co-operative mode and no competitive online component, so its appeal rests entirely on its campaign, challenge content and combat mastery.
Not yet confirmed
- Capcom has not announced a new Xbox 360 patch, further DLC or a sequel to this alternate-universe version of DmC: Devil May Cry as of 1 October 2026.
- A current Game Pass or PS Plus entitlement for the original Xbox 360 release was not confirmed; subscription catalogues can vary by region and change over time.
DmC: Devil May Cry: your questions
Is DmC: Devil May Cry a remake?
It is a reimagining set in an alternate universe, with a different version of Dante, Vergil and Mundus. It is separate from the original Devil May Cry continuity rather than a direct remake of the first game.
Does DmC: Devil May Cry have online multiplayer?
No. The Xbox 360 version is single-player only, with no online co-op or competitive multiplayer.
What is the best version of DmC: Devil May Cry on Xbox?
The Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S Definitive Edition is the technically superior version, with 1080p resolution, 60fps performance, all original DLC and additional modes. It is separate from the original Xbox 360 release.
What DLC was released for DmC: Devil May Cry?
The original received the free Bloody Palace combat mode, the Vergil’s Downfall campaign, costume and weapon packs, and bonus content such as the Samurai Pack. Definitive Edition includes the original DLC and adds further modes and gameplay changes.
