Bandai Namco released the first gameplay footage for Dragon Ball Xenoverse 3 this week, showing a mission and new combat mechanics.

The series has used a beat‑em‑up system since its debut, and earlier titles required players to charge a Ki meter before using special attacks.

In Xenoverse 3, the Ki meter has been replaced by a cooldown system, and transformations are not available at the start of a mission; players must fill an Awakening meter to activate a Super Saiyan or Kaioken boost. The UI shows a timer that changes the transformation icon, indicating a staged transformation process. The game also introduces Soul Assist and Soul Change, allowing players to summon or become characters such as Piccolo, Krillin, Trunks, or Vegeta, each with distinct skill cooldowns. Race‑specific transformations for Saiyan, Human, and Majin characters are listed.

The community on the Xenoverse 3 subreddit has expressed concerns that the changes limit transformation duration, with one top‑voted comment urging the community to pressure developers for a reversal. No official response has been received from Bandai Namco as of publication.

The game is scheduled for release in 2027 on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S.