Bandai Namco has officially revealed its hand: Dragon Ball Xenoverse 3 is not a mirage or a rumor, but a reality set for 2027. The project, long hidden under the codename Age 1000 and misleading fans with associations with that same 2010 MMO, has turned out to be a direct continuation of the Xenoverse series. Period.
The announcement was accompanied by a nearly four-minute video. Inside, the familiar formula is laid out: avatar customization, an English voice-over for Bulma, and the familiar intrusion into the universe’s time paradoxes. Once again, you’ll have to shape your fighter and rewrite history, just like we did in 2016.
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Akira Toriyama’s Legacy and Xenoverse 3 Content
Apparently, the game has a very deep foundation. The developers at Bandai Namco emphasized that they are using original material created by Akira Toriyama. Incidentally, work on the content has been in full swing since the late 2010s. This means that Xenoverse 3 won’t just feature reskins of old models, but fresh developments and lore, blessed by the legendary manga artist.
The trailer doesn’t feature many familiar faces yet, but a keen eye will easily spot the silhouette of Piccolo’s cape. And that’s already a hint.
10 Years Between Xenoverse 2 and Xenoverse 3
By the release of the new game, the gap between the series entries will be around ten years. This is a significant gap, especially considering that Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2 has been steadily receiving updates and DLC since 2016. The second game has been in the news for so long that many people no longer expected a threequel.
What was shown in the Dragon Ball Xenoverse 3 trailer
The nearly four minutes of the trailer make it clear: the engine has been beefed up, but the spirit of Xenoverse remains intact. Besides showcasing the character creator and the aforementioned Bulma, the video reinforces the key message: your hero will once again be the center of the action.
Platforms confirmed: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC (Steam). The title will be available for pickup in 2027.
What to choose for your scenario?
Xenoverse 3 vs. Sparking ZERO: What’s the Difference
Two Bandai Namco titles set in the same universe, and fans are still arguing in the comments about how they differ. Let’s break it down. Sparking! ZERO from Spike Chunsoft has been on shelves since October 11, 2024. It’s the sequel to the legendary Budokai Tenkaichi 3, which was highly anticipated for 17 years. Xenoverse 3 from Dimps will arrive in 2027. Their genres are fundamentally different, their audiences overlap by about 40 percent, and the “one or the other” choice is essentially false. 3 Arena Fighting vs. Action RPG Gameplay Analysis
Sparking! ZERO runs on Unreal Engine 5 and is a pure arena fighting game. Short rounds, 3D battlefields with destructible structures, and an emphasis on verticality. Fights are dominated by three new mechanics: Skill Count (a meter for special moves instead of the classic Ki), Revenge Counter for breaking enemy combos, and Vanishing Assaults for dashing exchanges of blows. The quickest brain and the clearest input wins.
Xenoverse 3 takes a different path. It’s an action RPG with an online hub in West City, and at the center of everything is the player’s custom avatar. Five races are available at launch: Saiyan, Earthling, Namekian, Majin, and Frieza’s race. Next comes stat boosting, assembling a build of Ki-techniques, super attacks, and gear, and co-oping in Parallel Quests with teammates. What wins here isn’t reaction time, but a well-thought-out setup for a specific role in the pack.
Sparking! ZERO is for you if you:
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Caught Tenkaichi 3 on PS2 and want the same formula, but on UE5 and in 4K
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Enjoy canon and dream of playing as Jiren, Bruus Champa, or Goku Daima (the latter is a pre-order bonus)
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Love 10-15 minute matches and ranked play with clear shooting ranges
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Play locally with friends: splitscreen and the World Tournament are still here
Get Xenoverse 3 if you prefer:
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Your own fighter in the universe, not the hundredth Vegeta on the roster
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Farming, skill tree, and RPG routine: build rotations, setups for melee, marksman, or support
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The Parallel Quests co-op format from XV2, only now with next-gen Time Patrollers
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Long-term support: Dimps pulled off the second game for eight years straight and More than a dozen paid DLCs have been released.
So, why should you get both games at once?
Sparking! ZERO satisfies the desire to “feel like Vegeta, wiping Freezer before lunch.” Xenoverse 3 answers the question of “I want to be myself in the Dragon Ball world and write my own chapter in Age 1000.” While the audiences do overlap, the games have fundamentally different cores. Think of it like Street Fighter 6 and Skyrim—both are formally about on-screen action, but in reality, they’re two completely different ways to spend an evening. Fans of the franchise would be better off picking up both titles rather than racking their brains over which to choose.
