Besides, how was it not done right for not switching protagonists upon sequel? That's how it works. Your character becomes popular people want more and you give it to them.
Sure thing, nothing wrong with that (as long as it doesn't become pure milking). I simply said that it's harder to change the protagonist - as in, harder to get the fans to accept it - when the franchise has had the same beloved one for a long time to the point where the whole brand gets to be identified with it. Hence why Nero has had such a hard time and the games you mentioned stuck with the old protag. And why other series, like say, Assassin's Creed or Resident Evil managed to more easily introduce new protagonists along the way.
Also, "now"? Was there a point where people didn't associate the franchise with him?
I should have used the term identify earlier. It's not a matter of associating, but straight up identifying. Anyway, the word "now" wasn't supposed to mean there was a time where people didn't already consider DMC and Dante synomyms per se, but rather that at this point in time, in the present, it's harder than it's ever been to achieve what Erian thinks is needed for DMC, which is the point I was replying to.
He said DMC needs a change of main dude, and my point is that, whether you think that's the right move or not, regardless of whether you think it's ok to identify DMC with Dante or not, that is bound to be a difficult change for people to accept when Dante is the face of the franchise. That's all.