While many game studios chase the elusive idea of a “forever game,” Bandai Namco cracked the formula a decade ago with Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2. Pitting fan-favorite characters from the franchise against custom-made warriors, Xenoverse 2 had an extraordinarily long run following its release in 2015, as constant updates and new story content kept the experience fresh for years. A decade later, Dragon Ball Xenoverse 3 is aiming to move the series forward.
Following teasers for “Age 1,000” and the subsequent unveiling of Dragon Ball Xenoverse 3 earlier this year, publisher Bandai Namco has begun to steadily reveal more details about the action-RPG, its new gameplay mechanics, and where it fits into the Dragon Ball timeline. If you haven’t been keeping up, then here’s a closer look at everything that has been revealed so far.
Dragon Ball Xenoverse 3 release date
Dragon Ball Xenoverse 3 doesn’t have an official release date yet, but it is expected to launch in 2027.
Dragon Ball Xenoverse 3 platforms
Dragon Ball Xenoverse 3 will launch for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S.
Dragon Ball Xenoverse 3 story
While the first two Xenoverse games saw players join the Time Patrol and take part in major Dragon Ball events–chronal shenanigans that were largely the result of Dragon Ball Online villains Towa and Mira–Xenoverse 3 is set several hundred years in the future. It’s up to the Great Saiyan Squad to keep the peace in West City and the rest of the world. It’s not long before you’re drafted into their ranks, and the game has a very distinct superhero influence.
This was one of the final projects by the late creator and illustrator of Dragon Ball, Akira Toriyama, who helped design the characters and lore for Xenoverse 3. It’s the furthest point in the Dragon Ball timeline that has ever been explored, and the developers have also emphasized a theme of connection throughout the game–more on that in a bit.
Dragon Ball Xenoverse 3 gameplay
Like the previous Xenoverse games, Xenoverse 3 is a 3D brawler that mixes RPG mechanics with beat-’em-up action. Players will get to create their very own warrior, with different races like Saiyans and Humans catering toward specific playstyles with their unique strengths and weaknesses. Humans, for example, are all-rounders who can quickly fill up their potential meter, while Saiyans have raw power and their signature transformations.
Beyond the core beat-’em-up gameplay, players can also unleash powerful skills, like beam attacks and area-of-effect ki explosions. While you needed to charge up your Ki Meter to pull these off in previous games, in Xenoverse 3 you can use these attacks at any time and wait for them to recharge after a cooldown period. Ki now acts as a stamina gauge, while some of the transformations we’ve seen so far include the Super Saiyan and Kaioken power-ups.
Ultimate Attacks also allow you to tidy up the battlefield pretty quickly of bad guys or deliver flashy beatdowns to bosses during a clutch moment. It’s an ability that does take a while to charge up, so it’s best kept as an ace up your sleeve. Outside of combat, it looks like West City will serve as the social space for Xenoverse 3, and it’ll be full of activities for you to take part in during your downtime.
Soul Shift
The biggest additions in Xenoverse 3 are the Soul Assist and Soul Change awakenings. While out on patrol, Soul Assist allows you to use the powers of a legendary Dragon Ball warrior, while Soul Change allows you to transform into a powerhouse like Trunks or Vegeta, who have quicker cooldown timers for their signature powers. You’ll need to charge up a meter to become a Z Warrior, and this same meter is also tied to your Awakening ability, so you’ll need to choose wisely when it comes to activating this power-up.
Dragon Ball Xenoverse 3 multiplayer
While Dimps has confirmed that there will be multiplayer in Xenoverse 3, the developer hasn’t shown this off yet. Xenoverse 3 is focused on single-player first, but if it’s anything like the previous entries, expect modes that allow players to team up for challenging missions and some good ol’ fashioned 1v1 action.
