Ahead of this year’s Tokyo Game Show, I experienced an exclusive hands-on session with Dragon Ball Xenoverse 3, and early indications suggest it could fully justify a grueling ten-year wait for passionate fans.

The Evolution of a Franchise

Back in 2015, the original Xenoverse debuted as a remarkably bold project for its era. Crafted by developer Dimps, it immersed gamers directly into the iconic anime universe via deep character creation tools and cooperative online quests.

When its successor arrived in 2017, the scale expanded exponentially. The resulting title achieved massive commercial success, crossing the milestone of 10 million copies sold worldwide.

Logically, a third installment should have materialized swiftly to capitalize on that momentum. Instead, supporters endured a full decade before catching a glimpse of the next chapter.

Gameplay Innovations and Hands-On Impressions

Remaining under the stewardship of Dimps, Xenoverse 3 represents a massive technological leap forward. Both its visual fidelity and core mechanics deliver a significantly more fluid and polished experience.

During my playthrough of several cooperative missions alongside fellow journalists, the session proved intensely exhilarating. Although rusty after years away from Xenoverse 2, the controls allowed me to adapt rapidly and contribute to team objectives.

The standout impression was the exceptional responsiveness of the combat mechanics, rendering fights vastly more engaging than my recollections of the previous title.

Development Status and Future Outlook

It remains important to note that the preview featured an unfinished build. With a targeted launch slated for next year, minor technical imperfections—particularly concerning netcode stability—were naturally present.

Fortunately, the development team is already well aware of these rough edges and intends to resolve them prior to debut. Furthermore, robust post-launch support and a steady stream of downloadable content are expected, echoing the prolific roadmap of Xenoverse 2.

The adventure unfolds within the fresh Age 1000 timeline, imbuing the environment with a distinctly futuristic atmosphere that sparks genuine intrigue regarding the narrative direction.

Honoring a Legendary Legacy

An emotional reality shadowing the project is the recent passing of Akira Toriyama, the visionary creator who shaped the universe and its foundational lore.

Based on initial previews, Xenoverse 3 appears to serve as a respectful, fitting homage to Toriyama’s artistic heritage while steering the overarching storyline down compelling new paths.

Ultimately, the early build left a tremendously strong impression, pointing toward something truly extraordinary when the complete package arrives next year.

Dragon Ball Xenoverse 3 is officially scheduled to launch in 2027 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam.