Dragon Ball is one of the biggest franchises in the world, so it makes sense that anime and gaming fans are excited for Sparking Zero when it releases later this year, or next year, depending on Bandai Namco.
But some gamers are worried that this installment in the franchise could receive a similar treatment to some of the earlier iterations that came before it. So far, Bandai Namco doesn’t have the best reputation with the Dragon Ball fanbase, as recent games have barely been received well, and that sets a worrying precedent for this title.
Dragon Ball Fans Are Worried the Game Could Receive the Same Lack of Care Its Predecessors Got
One of the worst things a developer can do is annoy the fanbase of the franchise they’re developing. Usually a developer in the gaming industry tends to only have one fanbase to contend with, but sadly, Bandai Namco, who is the publisher behind Sparking Zero, has two.
Bandai cut many corners with XV2, Kakarot, and FZ, and even soured their business relationship with ArcSys. Please do your best to do this game justice @BandaiNamcoUS @spikechunsoft https://t.co/edRFftPnMx
— Creeps (@AreCreeps) March 8, 2024
Since Bandai Namco has both the anime and gaming fanbases to sooth with Sparking Zero, there is a lot of pressure to ensure that this new iteration of the game is as good as it can be and doesn’t cut any corners in terms of development.
According to one Twitter/X user, this isn’t the first time that Bandai Namco has cut corners and used a reduced budget to develop a Dragon Ball game, but these are only rumors and don’t have any facts behind them.
At the time of writing, we don’t have confirmation as to what kind of budget Bandai Namco has provided to Sparking Zero, but if it receives enough to keep the developers ensuring that the game receives care and attention, we could be seeing a brand-new look at the franchise.
If Sparking Zero Fails, the Fanbase Will Probably Riot and Demand a Change
With the numerous adaptations that DB has undergone within the gaming industry, there are plenty of versions of the franchise that both gamers and anime fans would happily ignore, but for many, this could be the final straw.
After the passing of Akira Toriyama, both anime fans and gaming fans feel that this is the time for Bandai Namco to show how much it cares for this project. If the project cannot live up to the fanbase’s expectations, then it is highly likely that Bandai Namco will lose all the support that the fanbase has provided over all these years.
So far, from what we can see, SZ will live up to the hype that the gaming and anime communities are looking for, but until we finally get a release date, gamers will continue to worry that this project could go down in a ball of fire rather than rise up.
What do you think about this unfortunate thought from the gaming community? Are you looking forward to trying Sparking Zero? Do you think Bandai Namco can finally release a hit Dragon Ball game? Let us know in the comments!
