[UPDATE: The title of this game is now Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero]

Bandai Namco has announced the development of a new Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi game, which is set to mark the return of one of the most beloved game series ever adapted from the Dragon Ball manga and anime universe.

 

The announcement was made at the Dragon Ball Games Battle Hour 2023 event on Sunday, more than 15 years since the last mainline entry in the series was released. While the new game does not have a title, release date, or platforms yet, it has sparked excitement among fans who have been eagerly waiting for its return.

The Budokai Tenkaichi fighting games are renowned for their large rosters of playable characters and their over-the-shoulder 3D camera, which creates a dynamic feel for fights. The first game in the series was released in 2005 on PlayStation 2, followed by two sequels in the two following years, which were also released on Wii. There were also several spinoffs, including Tenkaichi Tag Team, a 2010 PlayStation Portable title; Ultimate Tenkaichi, a 2011 PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 game that tweaked the gameplay formula somewhat; and Dragon Ball Z For Kinect from 2012, which was considered an unlikely entry in the series. Spike (later known as Spike Chunsoft) developed all the games in the series.

The trailer for the new entry doesn’t reveal much, but it shows a beautifully modelled Goku undergoing a dramatic transformation. While the trailer has been shared by several YouTube channels, an official upload of the trailer, as well as its title and release date, have yet to be announced. The announcement has generated excitement among Dragon Ball Z fans, many of whom have been longing for a new Budokai Tenkaichi game for over a decade. It remains to be seen what new features the game will bring, but based on the series' history, it's likely to have a large roster of playable characters and unique gameplay mechanics.