The long-awaited sequel Dragon Ball Xenoverse 3 had its first gameplay trailer released by Bandai Namco, showing the new game mechanics and the possibility of summoning characters like Vegeta for help.
However, a change to the Awakening mechanic, the iconic Super Saiyan transformation, has generated great frustration among Dragon Ball fans, as the feature now operates with a time limit.
The game’s narrative unfolds in an “unexplored world of Dragon Ball: Age 1000”, a period that follows the main series, centered on an avatar customized by the player. In the trailer shown, the chosen protagonist is Saiyan J. Age, whose nickname among fans, “John Dragon Ball”, was a reference to the initial announcement of the title.
Leaving a customizable apartment that serves as the main base, players access a central area for online dating. From there, J. Age embarks on an introductory mission that demonstrates the fundamentals of combat, including light and heavy blows, momentum pursuit, as well as the familiar “supers” and “ultimates” from previous games.
Among the new features presented, “Soul Assist” stands out, which allows the player to summon legendary Dragon Ball characters, such as Trunks and Vegeta, to help in battle. Additionally, the “Soul Switch” offers temporary transformation into the character summoned by Soul Assist, where J. Age can transform into Trunks, gaining abilities and faster recharges.
The biggest point of friction with the Xenoverse fan community lies in the modifications to the Awakening system. This mode is an alternative to Soul Aid, giving the character a state of strengthening, which for Saiyans results in the transformation into a Super Saiyan, although the form varies depending on the chosen species.
The main criticism from players focuses on the fact that, unlike previous titles, this power bonus now has a limited duration. In the trailer example, J. Age sports the Saiyans’ signature golden hair for just 60 seconds. “I hope the entire community criticizes this idea non-stop until they change it, because they won’t do anything if they can pretend it’s just a minority of people,” commented one user on the Reddit platform.
Another player expressed displeasure, stating, “Yeah, I’ll be honest, this is terrible. One of the best parts of 1 and 2 was being able to maintain transformations. If they want time limits, then there needs to be some sort of mastery mechanic. We know characters can master Super Saiyan and stay in that form indefinitely, so let us do the same. Limiting transformations is a step backwards and sucks.”
Although reverting Awakening Mode to an unlimited state could imply a considerable balance adjustment, Dragon Ball Xenoverse 3 does not yet have a set release date, being only scheduled for 2027. This suggests that the development team would have enough time to consider changes, if they so desired. Some players are encouraging the community to “put pressure on them the same way Sonic fans put pressure on the first live-action Sonic movie, forcing them to redo the character’s design.”
Dragon Ball Xenoverse 3 is scheduled for release in 2027, with versions confirmed for PlayStation 5, Windows PC and Xbox Series X. There is, therefore, a considerable period for players to adapt or for possible revisions to the mechanics.
