After years of fans wondering when Bandai Namco and Dimps would finally move on from Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2, Dragon Ball Xenoverse 3 is real, and we have finally seen it in action. During Summer Game Fest 2026, we got a hands-off look at the long-awaited sequel, and later had the chance to speak with producer Masayuki Hirano about what the team is trying to do this time around.
While there is still plenty that Bandai Namco has not revealed just yet, we do know quite a bit about Dragon Ball Xenoverse 3. From its Age 1000 setting and new combat systems to Soul Assist, Soul Switch, cooldown-based skills, and the upcoming Road Tour demo, here is everything we know about Dragon Ball Xenoverse 3 so far.
Dragon Ball Xenoverse 3 Takes Place In Age 1000
One of the biggest things we know about Dragon Ball Xenoverse 3 is that it takes place in Age 1000. That immediately makes this feel different from the first two games, especially since the focus is not just on replaying the same Dragon Ball Z and Dragon Ball Super moments again.
That does not mean the game is abandoning the larger Dragon Ball timeline, but it does give Dimps a chance to explore a part of the universe that most players have not experienced before. For a series that has spent years going deep into familiar events, Age 1000 feels like the kind of reset Dragon Ball Xenoverse needed.
This Is Not Just Dragon Ball Online Again
Because Dragon Ball Xenoverse 3 is set in Age 1000, it is easy to compare it to Dragon Ball Online. However, during our interview with Masayuki Hirano, he explained that this is not simply the team pulling from the MMO and calling it a day.
Instead, Hirano said the team is building this version of Age 1000 from the ground up using the lore, setting, world, character designs, and resources left behind by Akira Toriyama. That matters because it gives this new setting more weight, especially for fans who want Dragon Ball Xenoverse 3 to feel like more than just another trip through the same battles.
Connection Is The Main Theme This Time Around
According to Hirano, one of the guiding ideas behind Dragon Ball Xenoverse 3 is “Connection.” That connection applies to the timeline, the Age 1000 setting, the characters, and the new gameplay systems that let players interact with the larger Dragon Ball universe in different ways.
That makes sense for Xenoverse, because the series has always worked best when it makes players feel like they are part of Dragon Ball, not just watching it from the outside. With Soul Assist and Soul Switch being major parts of the new combat system, Dragon Ball Xenoverse 3 seems to be leaning harder into that idea.
Soul Assist Lets Iconic Characters Jump Into Battle
Soul Assist is one of the new systems shown during the gameplay presentation. In the demo we’ve witnessed, Vegeta appeared during a Galick Gun attack, assisting the player character during combat and adding some extra flash to the move. It looks like a way to bring iconic Dragon Ball characters into battle without taking the focus away from the player’s custom character.
It also feels like a natural evolution of what Xenoverse has always tried to do, which is letting players build their own fighter while still staying connected to the characters they already love.
Soul Switch Lets You Temporarily Become Another Character
Soul Switch is another major system shown during the demo, and it might be one of the most interesting changes in Dragon Ball Xenoverse 3. During the hands-off presentation that we attended during Summer Games Fest, we witnessed a player character transforming into Future Trunks, gained his moveset, and had their Ki bar refilled.
That could be a big deal for players who want more variety during combat without completely abandoning their custom character. It may also help address some of the long-running complaints about race balance, especially from players who do not always want to play as a Saiyan just to feel powerful. It’s also pretty cool, since I’m a huge Namekian fan, and I could see myself having quite the time transforming into Piccolo.
Super Attacks Now Use Cooldowns Instead Of Ki
One of the biggest gameplay changes in Dragon Ball Xenoverse 3 is that Super Attacks now appear to use cooldowns instead of draining Ki. In the demo, when a skill was used, that individual skill went grey and had to recharge before it could be used again.
Hirano explained that this change was made because, in the previous Xenoverse games, players would often settle into one optimized spam-heavy playstyle against stronger enemies. By moving Super Attacks to cooldowns, the team wants players to experiment with more attacks, more playstyles, and more of what the Dragon Ball universe has to offer.
The Ki Bar Works Differently Now
The Ki bar is not gone in Dragon Ball Xenoverse 3, but it does appear to work differently than it did before. In the demo, the Ki bar acted more like a life force bar, which honestly makes a lot of sense for Dragon Ball when you think about how often Ki is treated as someone’s actual fighting energy.
Perfect guards also played into this system. When performed successfully, they could trigger a regeneration aura that slowly restored the Ki bar as long as the player avoided taking damage, which could make defense feel much more rewarding than it was in previous games.
Parties Can Now Include Up To Four Characters
Another notable change is that missions are no longer limited to three main characters. During the gameplay demo, the player was able to take on a mission with a party of up to four characters, which should make fights feel bigger and busier than before.
That may not sound like a massive change at first, but for Xenoverse, it could make a real difference. Larger parties could mean more chaotic fights, bigger boss encounters, and hopefully more room for team-based mission design that goes beyond simply punching through waves of enemies.
The Combat Feels Faster Than Xenoverse 2
From what we saw during the hands-off demo, Dragon Ball Xenoverse 3 looks faster than Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2. The increase in speed stood out during combos and Super Attacks, especially since more of those attacks seemed to actually connect instead of missing or whiffing the way they sometimes did in the previous game.
The visuals and performance also looked strong, even if this did not appear to be some massive visual overhaul. Instead, the bigger difference seems to be in the feel of combat, and that might be exactly what the series needs after nearly a decade of Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2.
Ally AI Still Looks Like It Needs Work
Not everything shown during the demo looked perfect, and one area that stood out was the ally AI. During the Broly boss fight, the AI-controlled teammates did not seem very aggressive and spent a lot of time getting knocked out, which forced the player to focus on reviving them instead of staying on offense.
To be fair, this was a hands-off preview of a game that is still in development, so there is still time for that to improve. Still, after how many times ally AI has been an issue in Xenoverse, this is one area I am hoping Dimps tightens up before launch.
Will There Be A Playable Demo?
As of now, Bandai Namco has not announced a playable demo for Dragon Ball Xenoverse 3 that players will be able to download and enjoy at home. However, that does not mean fans will have to wait until 2027 to get their hands on the game.
Bandai Namco has announced the Dragon Ball Xenoverse 3 Road Tour, which kicks off in July 2026 and runs through December 2026. The event will take place across several locations in the United States and will feature a playable demo of Dragon Ball Xenoverse 3. So, if you are near one of the Road Tour stops, you will have a chance to play the game before it officially launches.
What We Don’t Know Yet
There is also no confirmed Collector’s Edition, Deluxe Edition, Ultimate Edition, preorder bonus, season pass, final pricing, or full launch roster yet. Retail listings may start popping up as we get closer to release, but until Bandai Namco confirms the full lineup directly, it is safer to treat anything outside of the official details as unconfirmed.
Dragon Ball Xenoverse 3 Release Date And Platforms
Dragon Ball Xenoverse 3 is currently planned for release in 2027. Bandai Namco has confirmed the game for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam, with no Nintendo Switch 2 version announced as of now.
That means there is still a lot more to learn before launch, but what has been shown so far is already encouraging. Between the Age 1000 setting, the new combat systems, Soul Assist, Soul Switch, and the Road Tour demo, Dragon Ball Xenoverse 3 is already looking like more than just Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2 with better visuals. After waiting this long, that is exactly what fans needed to see.
