Dragon Ball Xenoverse 3: SGF Play Days Preview

The presenter emphasized that Xenoverse 3‘s design intent is to offer players a wider variety of battle situations that make full use of a 4-player squad, and in the preview’s combat encounters, teamwork seemed to matter a great deal.

At Summer Game Fest Play Days, Bandai Namco was present to show off Dragon Ball Xenoverse 3, the newest entry in the action RPG fighting series. With Xenoverse 2 releasing in 2016, Xenoverse 3 represents a return to the series after nearly a decade. Featuring a world crafted and guided by the late Akira Toriyama, RPGamer was able to get a look at characters, both new and returning, as well as the game’s combat system and setting.

Set in Age 1000, Xenoverse 3 is set roughly two centuries after the story of Dragon Ball Z and approximately 150 years after Xenoverse 2. It takes place in the highly futuristic West City, where players take membership in the ranks of the Great Saiyan Squad to protect the city from various threats. The preview placed heavy emphasis on new characters and a fresh setting, featuring plenty of unfamiliar faces, while also including some returning characters, such as Bulma and Vegeta. West City appeared to be quite robust, with plenty of activity and sprawling, futuristic architecture. The story was said to focus on “connection,” with the characters, setting, and gameplay all rooted in this theme.

An Earthling unleashes a powerful blow to the jaw.

Gameplay-wise, Xenoverse 3 has players setting out on missions as part of the Great Saiyan Squad, taking on both enemies and bosses. Players can choose to play as Earthlings, who have more balanced stats, or as Saiyans, who place more focus on ki. Stats are separated into strike attack and defense, ki attack and defense, and HP. In the preview, combat was quite fast, fluid, and stylish, featuring free-flying characters, direct physical attacks, and a wide plethora ki abilities, including the kamehameha. Additionally, players can use a Soul Assist, allowing them to call upon the power of legendary warriors. The presenter emphasized that Xenoverse 3‘s design intent is to offer players a wider variety of battle situations that make full use of a 4-player squad, and in the preview’s combat encounters, teamwork seemed to matter a great deal.

Beyond seeming fast-paced and intense, the combat also looked quite frenetic, with plenty of colorful visual effects and a style that captures Akira Toriyama’s character designs quite well. Ki attacks, in particular, featured evocative visual and sound effects, and both ki and strike attacks were emphasized with fluid, stylish animations and cinematic camera angles, lending the combat an intense energy that Dragon Ball is known for. For interested players, Dragon Ball Xenoverse 3 is set to launch in 2027 for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S.