When is the Dragon Ball Sparking Zero release date? While its subtitle may be unfamiliar to Western audiences, Sparking Zero is actually the long-awaited Dragon Ball Z Budokai Tenkaichi 4. After a 16-year hiatus, publisher Bandai Namco has drafted in Spike Chunsoft – the original studio at the helm of Budokai Tenkaichi – to ensure Sparking Zero remains an authentic Dragon Ball experience for fans and newcomers alike, and we’ve got all the latest surrounding its release date.
Dragon Ball Sparking Zero ushers the popular 3D arena brawler onto current-gen platforms, and we expect it to take advantage of all the latest tech to ensure the fighting game looks and feels as smooth as ever. Aside from the core gameplay mechanics that define the Budokai Tenkaichi series, Sparking Zero is also set to include “genre-defining features” to create “one of the most immersive anime game experiences of all time” according to Bandai Namco CEO Arnaud Muller. Here’s everything you need to know ahead of the Dragon Ball Sparking Zero release date.
Dragon Ball Sparking Zero release date estimate
We expect the Dragon Ball Sparking Zero release date to fall in Q4 2024. This is based on previous entries in the series, which were all released in October and November. Spike Chunsoft games tend to have a gap of only several months between their announcement and launch, so we don’t expect the release date to extend into 2025.
Dragon Ball Sparking Zero will be available on PC via Steam, as well as on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S for console users. Fans have recently noticed that the game has been delisted from the Xbox store, though it’s worth bearing in mind that game listings often change prior to release and there has been no official announcement from either Xbox or Bandai Namco.
There’s also a possibility that Dragon Ball Sparking Zero might be an upcoming Game Pass game, given that we’ve seen Dragon Ball FighterZ on Game Pass back in 2022. However, Bandai Namco has given no indication it will be available on the subscription service at launch.
Dragon Ball Sparking Zero trailers
An official reveal trailer for Budokai Tenkaichi 4 was first shown at Bandai Namco’s Dragon Ball Battle Hour in March 2023. This brief teaser features Goku’s transformation into Super Saiyan Blue in a seamless transition from Budokai Tenkaichi 3 into the next installment of the series. While it didn’t confirm the name of the latest entry, the trailer served as our first real indication that the Budokai Tenkaichi series was set to continue.
Dragon Ball Sparking Zero was officially revealed in an announcement trailer that aired during The Game Awards 2023. The trailer opens with gameplay footage of Goku and Vegeta duking it out in the Gizard Wasteland, trading Kamehameha and Galick Gun attacks before simultaneously transforming into Super Saiyan Blue in an explosion of Ki energy. We’re also afforded a preview of just some of the most prominent fighters in the roster, including Freiza, Piccolo, Krillin, Trunks, and Cel.
The ‘Goku VS Vegeta’ trailer gave us a more in-depth look at the moment-to-moment combat of Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero with a showdown between long-time rivals Goku and Vegeta. The gameplay trailer also showcased the breadth of Sparking Zero’s Saiyan transformations, including Super Saiyan God and Great Ape. While we expect Sparking Zero to chart the course of Goku and Vegeta’s turbulent rivalry-turned-friendship.
The ‘Power VS Speed’ trailer showcases 11 new characters including, Super Trunks, Master Roshi, Nappa, Burter, Jeice Super Saiyan Broly, Hit, Super Saiyan Kale, Toppo, Dyspo, and Kakunsa. They can be seen fighting it out in various maps and areans, and although we get a glimpse of each of their abilities, the battle between speed and power is at the forefront of this trailer, but which is better?
Dragon Ball Sparking Zero gameplay
Despite the half-decade since Budokai Tenkaichi 3’s release, the Dragon Ball Sparking Zero gameplay we’ve seen so far remains remarkably faithful to its predecessors. Players can choose from an extensive roster of beloved Dragon Ball characters and go head-to-head in expansive arenas. Combat extends from the ground to the sky, as characters unleash their signature abilities and techniques to reduce their opponent’s health bar to zero.
The Sparking Zero announcement trailer invites players to ‘shake the earth’ and ‘break the heavens’, and appears to confirm that battle arenas will be fully destructible. We’ve already seen Goku and Vegeta topple the rock pillars of the Gizard Wasteland using their Ki abilities, but we also catch a glimpse of Frieza sending his Supernova attack down to Namek’s surface, causing the landscape to crack open and be consumed by boiling lava.
The Dragon Ball Sparking Zero roster is confirmed to have 164 character forms in total, beating Budokai Tenkaichi 3’s record of by three. This roster may be expanded further following the sudden passing of Dragon Ball creator Akira Toriyama, as fans petition for his avatar, ToriBot, to be included in Sparking Zero. However, there’s been no official word from either Spike Chunsoft or Bandai Namco on the matter.
The Budokai Tenkaichi series is known for its inclusion of non-canonical attacks and references, and a recent Saikyo Jump magazine scan appears to confirm that Goku’s Super Dragon Twin Fists technique from Dragon Ball Z: Fusion Reborn is included in Sparking Zero. We expect other movie-exclusive attacks and characters to appear as well.
Dragon Ball Sparking Zero news
During an interview with Dragon Ball enthusiast Laun Le Mal, the Sparking Zero developers confirmed that local split-screen multiplayer is not available. This decision is reportedly due to complications with Sony and Microsoft, but with the caveat that the developers are aware of its popularity and may be able to implement it in the future. However, Fusion characters such as Gotenks and Vegito are confirmed appear despite the split-screen omission.
We also now have confirmation that Dragon Ball Sparking Zero has a story mode, with more details to follow closer to the time. In terms of prospective sagas in Sparking Zero, trailers have indicated the usual suspects from Dragon Ball Z – Saiyan, Frieza, Android, and Majin Buu – as well as Dragon Ball Super.
Now that you’re all set for the Dragon Ball Sparking Zero release date, check out some of the upcoming PC games you might want to take for a spin before you don your battle armor. We’ve also got some of the best multiplayer games if you and your pals need to brush up on your reflexes before you reacquaint yourselves with the Budokai Tenkaichi series.