Bandai Namco Entertainment has officially unveiled the highly anticipated continuation of its time-bending Dragon Ball action-RPG series. Dragon Ball Xenoverse 3 was formally announced this spring with its debut trailer, finally revealing it as the previously teased “Age 1000” project. The game is set to launch in 2027 for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X.
Longtime series developer Dimps is returning to develop Xenoverse 3, which promises to build upon the core formula of its predecessors: a massively multiplayer online hub where players create their own custom Time Patroller and venture through a story that re-writes the classic Dragon Ball sagas. This entry, however, will forge a new path, moving the saga into a bold, uncharted future timeline.
The Age 1000 Project Revealed
The announcement came during a major annual event for Dragon Ball gaming fans, which served as a platform for numerous reveals. The Xenoverse 3 reveal followed a presentation for other upcoming projects, immediately shifting focus to the mysterious “Age 1000” teaser that had circulated months prior. The new trailer dispelled the mystery, showcasing that this future-set world was indeed the next mainline Xenoverse game.
The concept of “Age 1000” directly informs the game’s setting. Unlike previous entries that revisited and altered events from Dragon Ball Z and Dragon Ball Super, Xenoverse 3 is charting new territory. The story is set in a far-flung future era of the Dragon Ball universe, a timeline distinct from any previously explored in the core narrative. This provides a fresh canvas for both new threats and a new generation of heroes, while still connecting to the series’ established lore of temporal manipulation.
Akira Toriyama’s Final Creative Contributions
The development of Dragon Ball Xenoverse 3 carries a significant legacy component. The late Akira Toriyama, creator of Dragon Ball, was directly involved in the game’s creative direction before his passing in 2024. His contributions were not superficial; Toriyama provided specific designs and concepts that will define the game’s world and characters.
This involvement includes the design of two key player characters, who will presumably serve as the new avatars for players in this future age. Furthermore, Toriyama conceptualized an older, future version of the iconic character Bulma, suggesting she will play a role in this advanced timeline. These contributions guarantee that the artistic and narrative expansion into the future retains the authentic spirit of the Dragon Ball world, offering fans a poignant final glimpse of Toriyama’s direct influence on the gaming universe he helped inspire.
What This Means for the Setting
Toriyama’s hand in designing the world implies that the “Age 1000” is not a generic sci-fi backdrop but a considered evolution of the Dragon Ball Earth and beyond. Players can expect to see familiar technological and architectural themes—Capsule Corporation aesthetics, futuristic cities, and strange new landscapes—pushed forward centuries. The inclusion of an older Bulma strongly hints at a narrative where the descendants or legacy of the Z-Fighters are central, dealing with threats that have evolved alongside the universe itself.
Gameplay and Online Focus
As an online-focused title, Dragon Ball Xenoverse 3 is expected to expand upon the social and cooperative elements that defined its predecessors. The hub city, likely a futuristic metropolis, will be populated by players from around the world. From here, players will accept quests, form parties, and engage in parallel quests and raids. The core loop of creating a custom character, learning techniques from masters, and acquiring loot to improve your fighter will almost certainly return, refined for the new generation of hardware.
The move to PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X exclusively allows Dimps to leverage significantly improved hardware. Expectations include:
- Larger, More Detailed Hub Worlds: Seamless areas with more players and environmental complexity.
- Enhanced Combat Visuals: More particle effects, destructible stages, and smoother animations during high-speed battles.
- Expanded Character Creation: More races, body types, and cosmetic options, potentially including parts inspired by the new future setting.
- Deeper RPG Systems: More nuanced skill trees, stat allocation, and gear synergies for truly unique character builds.
The New Character: Brett
The announcement trailer also introduced a new character named Brett. Details are scarce, but his reveal confirms that the future timeline will be populated with original characters alongside potential older versions of familiar faces. Brett’s design and role–whether he is an ally, a mentor, or an antagonist–will be a key point of interest as more information is released. His presence underscores the developers’ commitment to telling a new story rather than solely revisiting past plot points.
Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2’s Final Chapter
Interestingly, the announcement of a sequel does not mean the immediate end for the previous game, which has enjoyed an extraordinarily long post-launch life. In a parallel announcement, the final piece of downloadable content for Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2 was confirmed. Titled “Future Saga Chapter 4,” this DLC is set to release in the summer across all platforms.
This final update signifies the closing of a major chapter for the eight-year-old game. It also creates a thematic bridge to Xenoverse 3, as the “Future Saga” in Xenoverse 2 has been exploring alternate future timelines, potentially setting the stage for the leap to Age 1000. For players, it means the current game will receive a definitive conclusion to its story before the community begins its migration to the new title in 2027.
The Wider Dragon Ball Gaming Universe in 2026-2027
The reveal of Xenoverse 3 was part of a larger showcase of upcoming Dragon Ball projects, painting a picture of a vibrant ecosystem for fans. Understanding this context highlights where Xenoverse 3 fits within Bandai Namco’s strategy.
- Dragon Ball Super: Beerus: A high-quality anime film remake of the “Battle of Gods” arc, slated for Fall 2026 in Japan. This is a separate, cinematic project focused on retelling a classic story with modern animation.
- Dragon Ball Sparking! Zero: The next entry in the Budokai Tenkaichi series, received news of its own major DLC pack, “Super Limit-Breaking Neo,” coming this summer. This game occupies the traditional 3D fighting game niche, distinct from Xenoverse’s RPG-focused, online-centric gameplay.
- Mobile Game Collaborations: Popular mobile titles like Dragon Ball Z Dokkan Battle and Dragon Ball Legends will run collaboration events with Xenoverse 2, ensuring the franchise maintains cross-game visibility leading into the sequel’s launch.
Xenoverse 3’s unique position is clear: it is the primary, persistent online RPG experience for Dragon Ball fans, designed for long-term engagement and community play, set against a backdrop of more focused fighting games and cinematic anime projects.
Anticipated Features and Community Hopes
Based on the evolution from the first Xenoverse to Xenoverse 2, and the capabilities of new platforms, the community has a list of desired improvements that Xenoverse 3 will likely address.
Technical and Quality-of-Life Improvements
The jump to current-generation hardware should eliminate longstanding technical limitations. Fans hope for dedicated servers to reduce peer-to-peer connection issues during online matches and quests. A more streamlined and less menu-heavy hub experience is also a common request, alongside vastly improved load times thanks to SSD technology.
Story and Mission Design
While the “correct history” missions are a series staple, players crave more variety in objectives beyond simple combat. Missions that involve protection, exploration, or puzzle-solving within the Dragon Ball world could add depth. The new future setting offers the perfect opportunity to innovate here, with storylines that aren’t bound by the predetermined outcomes of the original anime arcs. The narrative can have higher stakes and more lasting consequences for the player’s custom character.
Combat Evolution
The foundational combat system is well-regarded, but refinements are expected. A more balanced and competitive PvP environment is a top request. This could involve better netcode, ranked matchmaking systems, and more nuanced mechanics that reward skill over specific meta builds. Additionally, integrating tag-team mechanics or more dynamic team-based combos could make cooperative play even more engaging.
Looking Ahead to 2027
With a 2027 release window, Dragon Ball Xenoverse 3 is still in the relatively early stages of its public lifecycle. The coming years will be filled with deeper dives into gameplay mechanics, character reveals, and beta tests. The decision to set the game in a future designed by Akira Toriyama is its most compelling and daring aspect, offering something genuinely new while honoring the past.
For fans, the wait begins now. The announcement confirms that the Xenoverse series, a pillar of Dragon Ball gaming for nearly a decade, will continue to evolve. It promises not just a graphical upgrade, but a conceptual leap into uncharted territory, carrying with it the final creative vision of the franchise’s legendary creator. As the final updates for Xenoverse 2 roll out, the Dragon Ball gaming community will now turn its gaze forward, to the mysteries and adventures that await in the Age 1000.
