A sequel to 2015’s anime-based brawler Dragon Ball: Xenoverse is due to hit the Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and PC platforms by the end of 2016, publisher Bandai Namco announced this week.
Dragon Ball: Xenoverse developer Dimps has signed on to direct the upcoming sequel, which boasts a number of gameplay additions and improvements compared to its predecessor.
Released in North America in February of last year, Dragon Ball: Xenoverse is an action RPG in which players build strength via a series of high-stakes combat sequences. Battles take place on the ground, in midair, and underwater as the game’s superpowered cast battles to save their past from the time-traveling villains Towa and Mira.
Challenging fans to “protect the history of Dragon Ball,” Xenoverse 2 re-creates memorable moments from the long-running anime and manga series and casts the player in leading roles. In addition to featuring playable scenes from past Dragon Ball episodes, Dragon Ball: Xenoverse 2 also offers a glimpse into a dark future in which evil has corrupted the Dragon Ball universe.
Like last year’s game, Dragon Ball: Xenoverse 2 will feature in-depth character customization options, allowing players to craft playable Saiyans and Namekians in addition to a number of other playable races. The sequel will also introduce a new hub area for players to explore.
While Dragon Ball: Xenoverse 2 is slated for an Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and PC release stateside, Japanese publication Famitsu (via Destructoid) notes that the game’s Japan-region trailer concludes with a PS4 logo only, suggesting that Xenoverse 2 is a PlayStation 4 console exclusive in Japan.
Xenoverse 2 is the latest project from Japanese developer Dimps, a studio known for its work on Capcom’s Street Fighter V. Other recent Dimps releases include Saint Seiya: Soldiers’ Soul, Freedom Wars and Sonic: Lost World.
A release date for Dragon Ball: Xenoverse 2 is not yet known.
