Recent years have seen the release of some of the best games in theDragon Ballfranchise to date, withDragon Ball XenoverseandFighterZcoming out as some of the strongest contenders in the series. However, while theXenoverseseries had a strong opening, with two games releasing over two years, some fans have found it strange that Bandai Namco nevermoved forward with aDragon Ball Xenoverse 3.
At this point, it’s looking worse and worse for the chances of actually getting a new entry in theDragon Ball Xenoverseseries as Bandai begins focusing on newer titles including the characters likeJump ForceandFighterZ. Granted, considering the success of the series and where the last game ended before the additional content, there is plenty of room for a new game to cover more of theDragon Ballanimated and manga series, namely withSuper.
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Aside from dipping intoDragon Ball Super, aXenoverse 3could also expand into areas that previous DLC campaigns tiptoed into, such as introducinga properDragon Ball GTgame. So, with so much ofDragon Ballstill on the table, it only makes sense for developer Dimps and publisher Bandai Namco to push the brand forward and complete the set with all of the extended material the previous games haven’t quite touched on yet. It’s clear that those in charge are still ready to make new content forXenoverseas well, seeing as the series continues to receive updates even four years after the last titles release.
Alternate Timeline Dragon Ball GT
The recent introduction ofSuper Baby 2 inDragon Ball FighterZ, has really opened the door for moreDragon Ball GTcontent to finally get some representation within newer titles in the franchise. A DLC pack did come out for the firstDragon Ball Xenoversethat introduced some ofGT’s characters and storylines, but it was minimal at best, as is often the case with the non-canon series. Much of the criticism thatGTfaced when released in both Japan and to the West is likely the reason that the series really hasn’t seen as many adaptations as any other arc.
Of course, it’s been quite some time sinceDragon Ball GTfirst premiered, and while many of the critiques still hold water, the perception of the series has certainly aged to be better than the initial response. Players are now excited to see Super Baby 2 and nowSuper Saiyan 4 Gogeta inDragon Ball FighterZ, thanks in part to the incredible designs that appeared in the series. Similarly, the nature of theXenoversegames' storylines also means that much of the filler that plaguedGTand the inconsistent storylines can be trimmed to give theBlack Star Dragon BallandShadow Dragonsagas a more concise adaptation.
Continue into Super
Now, as much as some subset of the fanbase would like to seeDragon Ball GTget a fair shake, the real star power that Bandai Namco could bring toXenoverse 3would come fromDragon Ball Super. The second game in the series released in time to maximize on the first to movies that would eventually go on to become the opening story arcs ofSuper, but the series has greatly expanded since then. Every new game in the series is now obligated to include some of the new transformations at the very least, withDragon Ball Z: Kakarotadding Super Saiyan Godform recently, even though it didn’t originally go beyond the events of Majin Buu.
EvenDragon Ball FighterZ, the game that delves intoDragon Ball Superthe most, doesn’t actually touch on the new stories presented in the anime or manga. InsteadFighterZcreated it’s own story that acts as a completely separate arc from any of the ones found in the main series that could theoretically be slotted into place like many of the earlyDragon Ball Zmovies had been. So whileSupercharacters and forms appear inFighterZ, the actual story arcs haven’t really seen much representation in a way that aDragon Ball Xenoverse3could.
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Create New Parallel Quests with the Latest Arcs
One of the biggest draws toDragon Ball Xenoverseisn’t actually the retreading over older storylines fromDragon Ball Z, but instead from the original material that comes as a result of the timeline getting fiddled with. These Parallel Quests become the backbone of some of the most interesting moments in theXenoverseseries as some villains are killed early, allowed to live, or even win their fights against Goku and his friends. It sets up for impossible fights that never happened in the original game, and as a result, could lead to encounters likeSuper Saiyan Gods fighting Super Saiyan Blues, or whatever other twist the creators can put onto the narrative.
Additionally, withDragon Ball Superintroducing theMultiverse alongsideXenoverse’s alternate timelines, this could open the doors for even more character creation opportunities and even crazier Parallel Quest options. These “what if” scenarios could elaborate on what happens if the fight against Freeza on earth doesn’t go quite right, or if Goku Black kills Future Trunks before he can get Goku’s help. Some of what Xenoverse has shown about the alternate routes the timeline can take have upped the stakes of some major fights before, and it can do the same withSuper, andGTfor that matter.
Development on Xenoverse 2 Never Stopped
There are stillnew updates coming toXenoverse 2, bringing in some fan-favorite characters like Pikkon into the game, four years after the game released and other series have essentially taken up the mantle to fill the game’s role as aDragon Ballinspired fighter. Bandai Namco clearly sees that there is at least some worth in continuing to put effort into the title, even after all of this time in its crowded genre. So, it wouldn’t really be going too far to say that the producer has absolutely no intention of testing how far theXenoversebrand can go.
Additionally, with massive successes with theDragon BallIP likeFighterZ, showing off one of the best ways that the series can be adapted into a game, there is all sorts of new inspirations to fuel aXenoverse 3. Most importantly, with every otherAAA title in the world boasting impressive customizationas a major selling point, now is the best time forXenoverseto enhance what had already been its primary focus. This is especially true when considering the ways Next-Gen consoles and PC tech can push the fights and customization to a whole new level if Bandai Namco gives Dimps the freedom to explore it.
Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2is available now for PC, PS4, Switch, and Xbox One.
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