As Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2 continues to receive updates, the case for Xenoverse 3 continues to grow to push the series onto Next-Gen.
Some of the best Dragon Ball games to date have been released in recent years, with Dragon Ball Xenoverse and FighterZ emerging as some of the strongest contenders in the series. However, while the Xenoverse series had a strong start, releasing two games in two years, some fans find it odd that Bandai Namco never made any headway with Dragon Ball Xenoverse 3.
For now, the chances of a new installment in the Dragon Ball Xenoverse series are getting worse and worse as Bandai starts focusing on new games that include characters like Jump Force and FighterZ. Of course, given the success of the series and how the last game ended before additional content, there's plenty of room for a new game to cover more of the Dragon Ball animation and manga series, namely Super.
In addition to diving into Dragon Ball Super, Xenoverse 3 could also expand on an area that previous DLC campaigns have tiptoed into, such as introducing an actual Dragon Ball GT game. So with so much more to come in Dragon Ball, it makes sense for developer Dimps and publisher Bandai Namco to push the brand forward and complete the set with all the advanced content that previous games haven't touched yet. Obviously, those in charge are still ready to create new content for Xenoverse as well, as the series continues to receive updates even four years after the release of the last game.
Dragon Ball GT Alternate Timeline
The recent appearance of Super Baby 2 in Dragon Ball FighterZ has really opened the door for more Dragon Ball GT content to finally get some representation in the franchise's new games. For the first Dragon Ball Xenoverse, a DLC pack was released that introduced some GT characters and storylines, but it was minimal at best, as is often the case with non-canon series. Much of the criticism GT has faced upon release in Japan and the West is probably why the series hasn't really seen as many adaptations as any other series.
Of course, a lot of time has passed since the premiere of Dragon Ball GT, and while many of the criticisms are still valid, the perception of the series has certainly changed for the better compared to the initial response. Players are now eagerly awaiting the arrival of Super Baby 2 and now Super Saiyan 4 Gogeta in Dragon Ball FighterZ, thanks in part to the incredible design that has appeared in the series. Likewise, the nature of the Xenoverse games' storylines also means that much of the filler that was in GT and inconsistent storylines can be cut to make the Black Star Dragon Ball and Shadow Dragon sagas more condensed adaptations.
Continued in Super
As much as some fans would like to see Dragon Ball GT get a fair shake, the real star power that Bandai Namco could bring to Xenoverse 3 would come from Dragon Ball Super. The second game in the series came out in time to make the most of the first movie, which ended up being Super's initial storyline, but the series has since expanded considerably. Now, each new game in the series is required to include at least a few new transformations, and Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot recently introduced the Super Saiyan God form, although it initially did not go beyond the events of Majin Buu.
Even Dragon Ball FighterZ, the game that delves into Dragon Ball Super the most, doesn't really touch on the new stories introduced in the anime or manga. Instead, FighterZ has created its own story that acts as a completely separate arc from any of those found in the main series that could theoretically be inserted into the game, as was done in many of the early Dragon Ball Z films. Therefore, although FighterZ Super characters and forms appear, the actual story arcs weren't presented the way they were in Dragon Ball Xenoverse 3.
Create new parallel jobs with last arcs
One of the most compelling things about Dragon Ball Xenoverse is not the repetition of old storylines from Dragon Ball Z, but the original material that comes out of the timeline change. These side missions become the basis for some of the most interesting moments in the Xenoverse series, as some villains die prematurely, stay alive, or even win their duels against Goku and his friends. This sets the stage for impossible duels that didn't exist in the original game, and as a result can lead to encounters like the Super Saiyan Gods vs. Super Saiyan Blues, or any other plot twist the creators can bring to the story.
Also, as Dragon Ball Super introduces the Multiverse alongside the alternate Xenoverse timeline, it could open the door for even more character creation and even crazier parallel quest options. These "what if" scenarios can detail what happens if the fight against Frieza on Earth doesn't go well, or if Goku Black kills the future Trunks before he can get Goku's help. Some of what Xenoverse showed about the alternate paths the timeline could take has upped the ante for some big fights, and it could do the same with Super, and GT for that matter.
Development of Xenoverse 2 never stopped
Xenoverse 2 is still getting new updates, adding fan-favorite characters like Pikkon four years after the game's release, and other series have essentially taken over the game's role as a Dragon Ball-inspired action game. Bandai Namco clearly sees that there is at least some benefit to continuing to work on the game, even after all this time in its crowded genre. Therefore, it would not be too far to say that the manufacturer has absolutely no intention of testing how far the Xenoverse brand can go.
Also, with the huge success of Dragon Ball IP, such as FighterZ showing one of the best ways to adapt a series into a game, there are all sorts of new inspirations for Xenoverse 3. Most importantly, now that every other AAA game in the world boasts an impressive customization as its main selling point, this is the best time for Xenoverse to beef up what was already its main focus. This is especially true when you consider that Next-Gen console and PC technology could take combat and customization to a whole new level if Bandai Namco gives Dimps the freedom to explore them.
Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2 is available now for PC, PS4, Switch and Xbox One.
