Honestly, if you’re a Dragon Ball fan, you’ve probably spent the last few months feeling like you’re in a Hyperbolic Time Chamber. The hype for a new Dragon Ball Z game is reaching that point where the rumors are starting to sound a bit like those old "unlock Super Saiyan 5" playground lies from the early 2000s. But here’s the thing: we actually have concrete dates now.
Bandai Namco has basically confirmed that a brand-new project is getting unveiled at the Genkidamatsuri event on January 25, 2026. This isn't just another DLC pack or a mobile update. It's being billed as a "new game project," which has sent the community into a total meltdown. Everyone is screaming about Xenoverse 3, but is that actually what's happening?
Let's talk about it.
The Genkidamatsuri 2026 Reveal: Xenoverse 3 or Something Else?
For almost a decade, Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2 has been the game that simply refuses to die. It’s the "Grand Theft Auto V" of anime games. We’ve seen countless DLCs, from the Tournament of Power stuff to the recent Dragon Ball DAIMA tie-ins. But the engine is showing its age. It’s stiff. The netcode is... well, it’s a Bandai game.
Fans are desperate for Xenoverse 3.
They want a game built from the ground up for current-gen hardware that can actually handle the scale of the newer Super and Daima arcs. However, there’s a massive elephant in the room. Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero just released its Nintendo Switch and Switch 2 versions in late 2025 and is still moving millions of copies. Would Bandai really want to cannibalize their own sales by dropping another massive arena fighter so soon?
It’s unlikely.
The industry buzz suggests this "new" project might be something we haven’t seen in a while. Think about the success of Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot. That game proved there is a massive hunger for single-player, narrative-driven RPGs. Some insiders are whispering about a potential Legacy of Goku style revival or even a dedicated Dragon Ball Super RPG that covers the Moro and Granolah arcs—stuff the anime hasn't even touched yet.
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Why Sparking! Zero Isn't Finished Yet
If you thought Sparking! Zero was going to be a "one and done" release, you haven’t been paying attention.
The game hit 10 million units sold faster than Goku can say "Kamehameha." As we sit here in early 2026, the roadmap is still looking incredibly beefy. We just got the Daima Character Pack 2, which added the "Mini" versions of the cast and some really weird, niche villains from the Demon Realm.
But the real kicker is the January 2026 update.
Aside from the new game announcement, Sparking! Zero is expected to get a "Season 2" roadmap. We’re talking more than just characters. Players have been begging for:
- Legit dedicated servers (peer-to-peer is a nightmare in 2026).
- More destructible maps that don't just "reset" or look generic.
- Cross-play between PC and consoles.
If the "new" game project turns out to be a spin-off or a smaller-scale title, Sparking! Zero will remain the flagship competitive fighter for at least another two years.
The Kakarot 10 Million Milestone and the Daima DLC
It’s kind of wild that Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot is still relevant. It just hit the 10 million mark in January 2026. Ten million. For a game that basically just lets you fly around and eat dinosaur meat between cutscenes, that’s an insane achievement.
The Daima Adventure Through the Demon Realm Part 2 DLC just launched on January 15, 2026. It adds Vegeta (Mini) and some pretty cool exploration mechanics in the First Demon World. If you’ve played Part 1, you know the vibe is a bit more whimsical, leaning into that early Dragon Ball sense of adventure rather than just world-ending explosions.
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This success is exactly why a new Dragon Ball Z game in 2026 might not be a fighter. If Kakarot can sell that well six years after its release, why wouldn't Bandai double down on the Action-RPG genre?
What the 2026 Roadmap Actually Looks Like
Let's look at the facts without the "leaker" fluff. Here is what is confirmed for the first half of 2026:
The Genkidamatsuri (Spirit Bomb Festival) is the big one. It's happening in Japan, and it's where the new project lives. Simultaneously, the Dragon Ball Games Battle Hour 2026 is set for Los Angeles in April. That event is usually where we see high-level tournament play for FighterZ and Sparking! Zero, but it’s also the most likely place for the first gameplay trailer of whatever is announced in January.
Then you have the Dragon Ball Super Card Game Fusion World updates and the Gekishin Squadra season shifts. It's a lot to keep track of.
One thing people often get wrong is the "manga content" rule. For years, fans have been saying "They can't use Ultra Ego Vegeta because it’s not in the anime." Well, that's partially true because of rights issues between Shueisha and Bandai. However, with the 40th-anniversary push we’re seeing right now, those walls are starting to crack. If the new 2026 game includes Moro or Granolah, it’ll be a historic shift for the franchise.
The Problem with "Xenoverse 3" Expectations
If the January reveal isn't Xenoverse 3, the internet is going to be toxic for about 48 hours.
People need to realize that Dragon Ball: Gekishin Squadra (released in late 2025) and The Breakers are experiments. Bandai is trying to see if they can make "live service" Dragon Ball work. Xenoverse 2 was a fluke success in that regard—it wasn't designed to last ten years, but it did.
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Building a third one requires a massive overhaul of the combat system. If it’s just Xenoverse 2 with better shadows, people will complain. If they change it too much, the core fanbase will revolt. It's a tough spot for a developer like Dimps.
Moving Forward: What You Should Do Now
Don't go out and buy every piece of DLC for every game just yet. If a massive new title is announced on January 25, there's a high chance some of the older games will see deep discounts or even "Complete Edition" bundles.
Wait for the Battle Hour in April 2026.
That is where we will get the technical details. If you're a competitive player, stick with Sparking! Zero for now—the player base is the healthiest it’s ever been since the Switch 2 launch. If you're more into the story, finish the Daima DLC in Kakarot and keep an eye on those RPG rumors.
The most important thing to remember is that 2026 is officially the 40th anniversary "extended" celebration. Bandai isn't just releasing a game; they are trying to cement the next decade of the franchise.
Keep your expectations grounded, but honestly? It’s a pretty good time to be a fan.
Next Steps for Fans:
- Watch the Genkidamatsuri Stream: Mark January 25, 2026, on your calendar for the official project reveal.
- Check Sparking! Zero Updates: Look for the Season 2 pass details which are expected to drop alongside the new game news.
- Monitor the Manga Status: Any news on the Dragon Ball Super manga returning from hiatus will likely coincide with these game announcements, potentially revealing which characters will actually be playable in the next generation.