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- Bandai Namco has already supported multiple games for several years.
- Dragon Ball Sparking Zero is next and will almost certainly follow suit.
- Between new characters, additional modes, and balance patches, a lot can be added to the game.
Following Dragon Ball Sparking Zero’s release, no amount of praise is seemingly enough for this smash hit. From positive reviews to record-breaking sales, everything points to a huge cash cow for Bandai Namco.
It’s only fitting, then, that the team do its best to support Sparking Zero for years to come. While live-service Dragon Ball might not seem like an obvious pick, Bandai Namco has already dialed up its efforts to keep current titles going for multiple years.
After Dragon Ball’s latest arena fighter success, it only makes sense for Sparking Zero to be next.
Why it matters: Having sold 3 million units after hitting all-time high concurrent player counts on Steam, this arena fighter has the potential to stay relevant for years.
Bandai Namco’s Secret Live Service Empire
Bandai Namco typically goes under the radar when thinking of live service, but there has been a visible shift in the team’s approach in recent years. Its latest releases have all received much more support than one would imagine, giving the publisher multiple IPs to support around the GAAS (Games As A Service) model.
Take Jujutsu Kaisen Cursed Clash, for instance. Far from a resounding success, this game received plenty of criticism industry-wide. Yet, it is somehow still receiving new content nearly a full year later, with Miwa being the latest free character.
Elsewhere, Tekken 8 is expected to last multiple years. Even a game like Naruto Storm Connections is likely to receive support for another year. However, here comes the biggest shocker.
Naruto to Boruto: Shinobi Striker, launched in 2018, is still receiving new content a whopping six years later.
Dragon Ball’s Live Service Success
The live-service concept is relatively new for Dragon Ball games. While an online-focused game like Xenoverse was quickly left behind, the sequel stands in stark contrast to that approach.
Having been released in 2016, Xenoverse 2 continues to stand tall 8 years later, and Dimps has already confirmed more upcoming content as part of Future Saga Chapter 2. Yes, I’m as shocked as you are, and to be honest, there’s no telling how many more years Xenoverse 2 will go on for.
For context, Xenoverse 2 has added around 50 DLC characters, in addition to story mode expansions, costumes, and a lot more. In many ways, Xenoverse 2 has a more expansive roster than Sparking Zero.
Perhaps an even more interesting example of Bandai Namco’s live service goals is the single-player RPG Dragon Ball Z Kakarot. Despite arriving in 2020, this RPG is still receiving DLC episodes today, with the recent announcement confirming new Dragon Ball Daima content.
Oh, and in case you had any doubts, Daima content is also coming to Xenoverse 2 because, of course, it is. Anyhow, this focus should lead to similar treatment for Sparking Zero.
The Future of Sparking Zero
This leaves us with the question of Sparking Zero’s potential future. Additional character DLC is the easy guess and the most basic type of DLC I expect to see added in the future. However, there’s potential to do so much more.
In terms of the characters, Beast Gohan is the obvious pick that fans want to see. At present, Bandai Namco has confirmed Vegeta from Daima as one of the future characters, but the rest of the cast remains a mystery.
As the roster stands today, a few important characters are still missing from the game. ChiChi, King Piccolo, and others from the original Dragon Ball would be welcome. I would also love to see Super Saiyan Bardock in the roster, in addition to the fan-favorite Pikkon.
If Spike Chunsoft wants to get a little creative, the studio can even consider guest characters since Tenkaichi 3 featured Arale from Akira Toriyama’s Dr. Slump. FighterZ’s Android 21 would be a good pick here since she has already shown up in Xenoverse 2 before.
Moving away from the characters, plenty can still be done elsewhere. For instance, both Xenoverse 2 and Kakarot added extra card-based PvP modes over their lifecycles, with the latter also receiving online gameplay to accommodate this mode.
A similarly creative add-on would go a long way to keeping the Sparking Zero experience fresh and giving players something to break the monotony of the core gameplay.
Personally, I really want to see co-op PvP added for online battles to allow for 3v3 shenanigans with 6 actual players. Of course, a few balance updates are also a must.
Whatever direction the team goes, the sky is the limit for future content. Looking at Bandai Namco’s history, I’m confident that we’ll be playing Sparking Zero for a long while, and with the game being as good as it is, I have nothing to complain about.
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[News Reporter]
Avinash is currently pursuing a Business degree in Australia. For more than three years, he has been working as a gaming journalist, utilizing his writing skills and love for gaming to report on the latest updates in the industry. Avinash loves to play action games like Devil May Cry and has also been mentioned on highly regarded websites, such as IGN, GamesRadar, GameRant, Dualshockers, CBR, and Gamespot.
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