The latest game in the “Dragon Ball” series, *Dragon Ball Xenoverse 3*, is scheduled for release in 2027. This title is the third numbered entry in the *Dragon Ball Xenoverse* series.
We got an early look at the PvE quests—which support up to four players out of the game’s maximum eight-player online mode. Through three different types of quests, we got a feel for cooperative play and the new “Soul Change” system.
Deepen Your Bonds with 130 Characters! The New “Soul Change” System Makes Its Debut
This game offers two main modes: a single-player Story Mode and an online multiplayer mode supporting up to eight players.The story is set in AGE 1000, 200 years after the events of *Dragon Ball*, and reportedly offers about twice the content of the previous game—roughly 25 hours of gameplay. As for multiplayer, it includes 4-on-4 PvP and PvE, as well as 1-on-1 PvP.
A key feature of the *Xenoverse* series is the ability to form master-apprentice relationships with existing characters, and this feature remains a staple in this title. With a roster of 130 characters, players can make them even stronger through development elements like Bond Levels and Skill Boards by completing quests and missions.
Before the demo, there was also an explanation of the battle system. First, there’s “Soul Assist,” which allows you to summon a character to receive support. Additionally, there’s “Soul Change,” which lets players channel a character’s soul. In short, this means players can directly control characters like Goku or Vegeta. There’s also a wide variety of moves, including Awakening Moves, Special Moves, and Ultimate Moves.Not only do you inherit a character’s soul, but by inheriting their battle style, you can make your player character run and attack in the same way as that specific character.
In this hands-on demo, there were four races to choose from for your avatar: Earthlings, Saiyans, Namekians, and the Frieza Clan. This is a system carried over from the previous two games, and each race reportedly has its own Awakening Move. For my first quest, I chose a Saiyan.
When I opened the menu screen, I found a wealth of options for configuring battle settings, equipment, and cosmetic items. Since the developers had prepared various types of preset equipment specifically for this demo, I selected the “High Mobility/Balanced” option.My appearance was modeled after Videl, and my Soul was Tien Shinhan. The multiplayer quest I took on was titled “50-Man Sparring (Defeat 50 Enemies).” I headed to the lobby for multiplayer and jumped right into the action.
Defeating 50 enemies with a team of four! Cooperative play with teammates’ “Kamehameha” and “Genki Dama” flying all over the place
“First, I need to get used to the controls!” I thought, so I looked at the controller guide to memorize the buttons for attacking, guarding, and special moves. Apparently, this game doesn’t have an easy control mode, but if you’re used to “Dragon Ball”-style action games, I didn’t find the controls that difficult.I chained together combos while unleashing special moves, guarded, and dashed to dodge enemy attacks. Through this repetition, I gradually figured out the best strategy. In this quest, the humanoid enemies Grell and Cultivator Man made an appearance. Since it was a four-player multiplayer session, we worked together to defeat 50 enemies.I was happy to see a comment from my master on the results screen, but then I realized I’d forgotten to perform a Soul Change with him—which was a real letdown… Time for a rematch on my second try.
Next, I chose a Namekian and equipped close-range gear. For my mentor and special move, I selected Kefla.Since this was a defense-type quest, the objective was to fight to protect a certain object. The enemies attacking us were the Ginyu Special Forces. I’d gotten used to the controls, so the fighting was much easier, but I still had a pretty tough time against the Ginyu Special Forces, who had so many special moves. However, I was finally able to perform a Soul Change and fight as Kefla.Thanks to Kefla’s powerful moves, I could rapidly chip away at the enemies’ health. When fighting in multiplayer like this, it’s fun to watch my teammates firing Kamehameha waves or charging up Genki Dama right beside me. If I have the time, observing how others fight seems like a great way to learn.
And so, having successfully completed the second quest, I’m taking on the final one. For the last one, I chose an Earthling and equipped him with long-range gear. My mentor is Gamma No. 2. Since it’s a “clear-the-area” type of quest, I was excited to see what it would be like. However, I was told it’s the hardest quest in this set.
Jiren & Toppo appear in the toughest quest! I’ll take them on using Soul Change
In the quest, we descend into a mysterious facility and defeat the enemies blocking our path as we advance. Then, Jiren and Toppo appear as the bosses. As a Jiren fan, my excitement skyrocketed. I’d love to tell you all—the reason behind Jiren’s obsession with strength… but anyway, I had to make sure we defeated them while keeping the entire party safe.Since my character is a ranged fighter, I rarely took direct hits, which made it much easier to move around.
I used Soul Change to become Gamma No. 2, but since some of my moves are melee-based, I had to close in on Toppo and Jiren.Even though it was a struggle, the cinematic, comic-book-style cutscenes unique to Gamma-2 popped up, and I couldn’t help but smile. It seems there are little details like this scattered throughout the game. I managed to defeat both of them, and the developers told me, “You finished faster than we did in our test play!” As expected, getting used to the game is key.
That’s how I was able to fully enjoy the three quests in multiplayer mode. Having teammates makes me nervous—I have to be careful about how I play—but it also really pumps me up.I thought it would be fun not only with friends but also when matched with strangers. And even though there were various types of quests, the fact that they all boiled down to “defeat all enemies” made me smile—it felt so quintessentially *Dragon Ball*. It looks like there’s plenty of potential for different developments in this area.
While I was able to experience a glimpse of multiplayer this time, there are still many mysteries surrounding *Dragon Ball Xenoverse 3*. I’ll be keeping an eye out for new information in the future.
*Dragon Ball Xenoverse 3* is scheduled for release in 2027 on PC (Steam), PS5, and Xbox Series X|S.
