Gab Hernandez 
Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero’s release date announcement could be coming soon, as a major milestone has been broken for the game’s release.
After years of dormancy, the Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi franchise is returning with Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero, much to the delight of shonen anime fans everywhere. The last mainline release, Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi 3, came out in 2007 and is still considered one of the best Dragon Ball games ever made.
Since then, the likes of Dragon Ball FighterZ and Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot proved the fanbase hasn’t dwindled. If anything, the success of modern series like Dragon Ball Super shows the franchise will continue to evolve. Now, fans may have a clue of the game’s release date.
Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero receives an ESRB rating and an unlisted video on YouTube
Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero has been officially rated by the ESRB as “T” for Teen. The Bandai Namco Entertainment America Channel also uploaded an unlisted video focusing on “Power vs Speed.”
Fans expected a T rating for the Dragon Ball game. The more interesting detail is that ESRB typically rates games when they’re close to release. While this isn’t always the case, it could also indicate a large or extended marketing push for the game.
Alongside this is Bandai Namco Europe having a single, unlisted video on the Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero playlist. The new video could be a release date trailer or a character showcase.
Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero’s most recent trailer titled “Power vs Speed” highlights elements of the gameplay through several fan-favorite characters as well as some new faces. It teases a massive roster, as expected of a Budokai Tenkaichi game.
When is Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero’s release date?
Bandai Namco has not announced Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero’s release date, but November 2024 is one of the most likely landing spots.
The original Dragon Ball manga celebrates its 40th anniversary on November 20. While the release date could be on the day itself, even a launch within the month makes it part of the 40th-anniversary celebration for the franchise. And of course, the holiday season is always a safe guess when it comes to major game releases.
Spike Chunsoft historically releases games months after the initial announcement. Pair that with the importance of the DBZ Anniversary and a new anime series, and November is the perfect time to re-spark the Budokai Tenkaichi franchise.
