Dragon Ball Xenoverse 3 has unveiled its highly anticipated first major gameplay trailer, offering a close look into its enhanced combat mechanics, new features, and an unexplored setting within the Dragon Ball universe, specifically in "Age 1000," a timeline that follows the main series. This setting allows for a fresh narrative centered around a player-created avatar, with the trailer showcasing the default Saiyan preset, affectionately nicknamed "J. Age" by fans, a reference to the initial "John Dragon Ball" moniker. The character's journey begins in a customizable apartment, serving as a home base, before transitioning into a bustling hub area where players can interact online.
The core combat retains the familiarity of its predecessors with light and heavy attacks, boost chase, supers, and ultimates. Supers, such as powerful blasts, are cooldown-based, while Ultimates are more potent but less frequently usable. The trailer introduces two significant new mechanics: Soul Assist, which summons legendary characters like Trunks and Vegeta for aid, and Soul Switch, enabling the player to temporarily become their Soul Assist character, complete with unique moves and faster cooldowns, as demonstrated by J. Age's transformation into Trunks.
Shocking Awakening Changes Divide Fans
Beyond the well-received additions, a pivotal change has sparked controversy among fans: the reimagination of Awakening, now a limited-time power-up state. Unlike its indefinite form in previous games, Awakening in Xenoverse 3, including the iconic Saiyan Super Saiyan transformation, lasts only 60 seconds in the trailer. This shift has been met with dismay, with fans expressing disappointment on platforms like Reddit, highlighting the loss of a beloved feature that allowed for sustained transformations, a key aspect of the Xenoverse experience.
"One of the best parts of 1 and 2 was being able to maintain your transformations. If they want timers, then there needs to be some sort of a mastery mechanic. We know characters can master Super Saiyan to stay in it indefinitely, so let us do the same. Making forms always limited is just going backwards and it sucks,"
a fan
Others have called for collective feedback to persuade the developers to revert the change, drawing parallels with successful fan feedback campaigns like that of the Sonic live-action movie character redesign.
Dragon Ball Xenoverse 3's Launch: A Mixed Bag
Despite the current backlash, Dragon Ball Xenoverse 3 is poised for a 2027 release across PlayStation 5, Windows PC, and Xbox Series X, providing ample time for potential adjustments based on community feedback. The game's setting in "Age 1000" offers a rich, unexplored backdrop, and features like Soul Assist and Soul Switch inject fresh dynamics into combat. But the limited Awakening mode stands as a point of contention that will undoubtedly continue to shape the game's development trajectory.
Backlash Over Xenoverse 3’s Awakening Drop-rate
The community's vocal response to the Awakening change reflects a deeper desire for consistency with the series' lore and previous gameplay mechanics. While some fans have suggested the implementation of a mastery system to allow for indefinite transformations after a certain level of skill or achievement, others simply plea for the return of the original, unlimited Awakening feature. As of now, the developers have not officially responded to these concerns, leaving the feature's fate uncertain as the game progresses towards its 2027 launch.
DBXV3's Boldest Tweaks Spark Fan Fury
- Setting: Age 1000, an unexplored timeline post-main series.
- New Features: Soul Assist for summoning allies, Soul Switch for temporary character transformation.
- Awakening Change: Limited-time power-up states (e.g., 60-second Super Saiyan for Saiyans).
- Launch Platforms: PlayStation 5, Windows PC, Xbox Series X.
- Launch Window: 2027.
The road to Dragon Ball Xenoverse 3's release will undoubtedly be watched closely, especially as fan feedback continues to pour in regarding the Awakening feature. With its enhanced combat, promising new mechanics, and the vast, untapped narrative potential of Age 1000, the game has much to offer, but the fate of Awakening will significantly influence player enthusiasm in the months to come.
