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3,856 Posts & 2,436 Pages Documenting Dragon Ball, since 1998. We've got you covered!
Published by 09 June 2025, 10:56 AM EDTComment

Last August, Bandai Namco announced a new multiplayer online battle arena (“MOBA”) video game for the Dragon Ball franchise, tentatively titled “Dragon Ball Project: Multi”.

Following relative radio silence after the game’s beta period last year, the game was re-announced last week as Dragon Ball: Gekishin Squadra, with an expanded home console release: the game will now come to the Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, and PlayStation 5 in addition to the previously announced iOS, Android, and PC (via Steam).

A new official website for the game has opened at: dbg-squadra.bn-ent.net

The game’s title contains the Japanese word “Gekishin” which is written out in katakana as ゲキシン on the various official Japanese websites. The word is typically written in kanji as 激震 meaning a violent earthquake (or tremor or shock), though it has been written with different characters as 激神 for the second Dragon Ball Z game on the Nintendo Famicom, meaning “Violent God” (in reference to Freeza in the full title “Dragon Ball Z: The Violent God, Freeza!!”). A separate spelling of 撃針 refers to the firing pin mechanism within a firearm.

The stylized “Squadra” (with the middle “A” striking a resemblance to the number “4”) refers to the fact that the game features 4-vs-4 battles.

A new network test for the game will be held between 6:00 a.m. on 12 June 2025 and 5:59 a.m. on 16 June 2025 (UTC)

Additional trailers featuring Super Saiyan Son Goku, Piccolo, Kuririn, first-form Freeza, Dabra, Majin Boo, #18, young Baby (from Dragon Ball GT), Super Oob (from Dragon Ball GT), Zamasu (from Dragon Ball Super), and Super Saiyan 2 Caulifla (from Dragon Ball Super) were also released.

Per the game’s official website, Gekishin Squadra will feature cross play, progression, and commerce across its various platform releases when its releases sometime later this year:

This product is Cross-Platform Progression compatible.
After creating a new account for this product and linking it with a Bandai Namco ID in-game, upon playing the game on a different platform you will be able to link your BNID to carry over your save data.
Dragon Gems can only be used on the original platform it was acquired.
Also, Dragon Gems purchased with real currency can only be used on the original platform it was purchased.
However, any content purchased using Dragon Gems can be used on all platforms.

Dragon Ball: Gekishin Squadra is in development by Ganbarion, who previously developed 2016’s Dragon Ball Fusions on Nintendo 3DS, 2006’s Jump Ultimate Stars on Nintendo DS, and 2005’s Jump Super Stars on Nintendo DS.

Published by 01 June 2025, 1:07 PM EDTComment

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Episode #0523! Mike catches up with Zénpai, who is now the official translator for an all-new Dragon Ball manga release in Portugal! How did this all come about, how is the release going, what has the feedback been, and what all benefits do we as a broader international community get out of it?!

How to Listen

Our podcast is available via Apple Podcasts, or you can pop the direct RSS feed into the program of your choice. You can also listen to this episode by directly downloading the MP3 or by streaming it on Spotify or YouTube. We invite you discuss this episode on our forum.

 

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Published by 18 May 2025, 2:01 PM EDTComment

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Episode #0522! Mike speaks with David Evelyn, translator on the new English language release of “Dr. Mashirito’s Ultimate Manga Techniques” from Viz. What are some of the fun stories and lessons from the book, and what other great stories does David have to share? Grab the book, tune in, and find out!

How to Listen

Our podcast is available via Apple Podcasts, or you can pop the direct RSS feed into the program of your choice. You can also listen to this episode by directly downloading the MP3 or by streaming it on Spotify or YouTube. We invite you discuss this episode on our forum.

 

Referenced Sites:

Published by 09 May 2025, 2:29 PM EDTComment

Originally announced back in December in conjunction with Jump Festa and again with the final 40th Anniversary Tribute “Dragon Ball Super Gallery” entry, Shueisha has confirmed a new “Dragon Ball Complete 42-Volume Set Double Cover Box” releasing 04 February 2026 in Japan for ¥31,800.

The new set covers the original, full, 42-volume tankōbon run of the Dragon Ball manga with two versions of its cover art: the dust jacket portrays the 40th Anniversary Tribute “Dragon Ball Super Gallery” submissions by various artists used for the back covers of Shueisha’s Saikyō Jump between 2021 and 2024, while the book itself is printed with the updated version of the original tankōbon cover art that Shueisha began printing in 2009.

The new books come in a four-part box that features both the original and 2009-updated spine art. The box also comes packed with eight dividers and a 42-card set of postcards with both the original and tribute artwork.

Though the original gallery pieces were not printed in any sort of chronological order, the list of artists that correspond to the actual run of 42 volumes in order includes:

  1. Masakazu Katsura
  2. Tatsuki Fujimoto
  3. Kōji Inada
  4. Akira Amano
  5. Yoshihiro Togashi
  6. Hiroshi Shiibashi
  7. Mikio Ikemoto
  8. Sui Ishida
  9. Kenta Shinohara
  10. Shun Saeki
  11. Masashi Kishimoto
  12. Yusuke Murata
  13. Kōhei Horikoshi
  14. Tadatoshi Fujimaki
  15. Tatsuya Endō
  16. Hideaki Sorachi
  17. Takehiko Inoue
  18. Naho Ooishi
  19. Mitsutoshi Shimabukuro
  20. Yūsei Matsui
  21. Yoshifumi Tozuka
  22. Posuka Demizu
  23. Kyosuke Usuta
  24. Masanori Morita
  25. Kazue Kato
  26. Boichi
  27. Tite Kubo
  28. Osamu Akimoto
  29. Takeshi Obata
  30. Nobuhiro Watsuki
  31. Kentarō Yabuki
  32. Koyoharu Gotōge
  33. Hirohiko Araki
  34. Yasuhisa Hara
  35. Hiroyuki Asada
  36. Katsura Hoshino
  37. Shuichi Asao
  38. Ryūhei Tamura
  39. Toyotarō
  40. Yuki Tabata
  41. Gege Akutami
  42. Eiichiro Oda

Pre-orders for the new set are open now through 03 August 2025, including at major Japanese book retailers, as well as Amazon Japan.

Published by 09 May 2025, 11:38 AM EDTComment

Following up on the previously-announced “Summer 2025” timeframe, Bandai Namco has announced that the first pack of the two-part Dragon Ball Daima DLC expansion for Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot will hit 17 July 2025:

The release date applies to all major territories, including North America and Japan.

Unlike past DLC expansions, the title for this pack remains largely the same between its original Japanese (魔界の大冒険! or “Great Adventure in the Demon Realm!”) and its official English title (“Adventure Through The Demon Realm”). The new trailer also reiterates that a “Daima Edition” of Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot will be released, which itself includes access to the two-part expansion. Access to just the Daima pack (covering both parts) is priced at $34.99.

Per the game’s Steam listings, “Part 2” is listed for release sometime between January and March 2026.

Developed by CyberConnect2 for Bandai Namco, the action role-playing game released 16 January 2020 in Japan and 17 January 2020 internationally on the PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC (via Steam). A Nintendo Switch edition came later in September 2021.

Two season passes worth of content — with six individual packs in total — have come out since the game’s release. In the first season pass, the Battle of Gods and Resurrection ‘F’ DLC entries were much shorter with a focus on boss fights and level increases, while the third entry — that of Trunks’ future timeline — told a comprehensive, multi-part story. The second season pass includes entries for the original 1990 Bardock television special, the 23rd Tenka’ichi Budōkai, and the 28th Tenka’ichi Budōkai.

Reviews of the base game, Trunks DLC, Bardock DLC, 23rd Tenka’ichi Budōkai DLC, and 28th Tenka’ichi Budōkai DLC can be found on episodes #0481, #0490, #0497, #0505, and #0509, respectively, of our podcast.

Dragon Ball Daima — whose broadcast concluded back in February with 20 total episodes — was first revealed at New York Comic Con in October 2023 by way of a trailer and comment from original franchise creator Akira Toriyama. The “Daima” in the series’ title is a made-up term, though the individual kanji that make up its spelling would be 大魔; in Toriyama’s own words, …”in English would be something like ‘Evil.'” The series debuted 11 October 2024 on Fuji TV in Japan (with multiple worldwide streaming options), and features an original story by series creator Akira Toriyama, character designs by Katsuyoshi Nakatsuru, script/composition by Yūko Kakihara, and series co-direction by Yoshitaka Yashima and Aya Komaki.

Published by 04 May 2025, 9:12 AM EDT1 Comment

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Episode #0521! Mike speaks with Von from France about the Made in Asia convention from March 2025, which had Katsuyoshi Nakatsuru and Chikashi Kubota in attendance. We get the scoop on some behind-the-scenes production tidbits, pressing fan questions, and a whole lot of great chat about artwork over the years!

How to Listen

Our podcast is available via Apple Podcasts, or you can pop the direct RSS feed into the program of your choice. You can also listen to this episode by directly downloading the MP3 or by streaming it on Spotify or YouTube. We invite you discuss this episode on our forum.

 

Referenced Sites:

Published by 24 April 2025, 1:46 PM EDTComment

Roughly every month, Toyotarō provides a drawing of a Dragon Ball (or related…!) character — as well as an accompanying comment — on the official Japanese Dragon Ball website. Following up on the wealth of characters already drawn, for his April 2025 entry, Toyotarō has drawn the Turtle Hermit:

Kame-Sen’nin (Muten-Rōshi)

We all have in our heads this image of the Bankoku-Bikkuri-Shō being a Jackie Chun move, but in the animated series version of the Tournament of Power, the Turtle Hermit used it against The Priccio, so that’s who I’m drawing here!

During episode 101 of the Dragon Ball Super television series, the Turtle Hermit uses the Bankoku-Bikkuri-Shō against Universe 3’s The Priccio, who is then knocked out of the ring by Tenshinhan’s Shin Kikōhō.

In the Dragon Ball Super manga by Toyotarō, The Priccio is knocked out of the ring sometime after battling Cabba in chapter 37; Universe 3 is eliminated as a whole after a berserk Kale knocks Anilaza out of the ring in the following chapter.

This drawing and comment set has been added to the respective page in our “Translations” archive.

Published by 24 April 2025, 1:11 PM EDTComment

Roughly every month, Toyotarō provides a drawing of a Dragon Ball (or related…!) character — as well as an accompanying comment — on the official Japanese Dragon Ball website. Following up on the wealth of characters already drawn, for his March 2025 entry, Toyotarō has drawn Great Saiyaman #2 (with Great Saiyaman No. 1 himself in the background!):

Great Saiyaman #2

In the animated series, Videl also previously worked as a Saiyaman! They may snark about it, but in the end, everyone loves super heroes!

Videl takes on the mantle of Great Saiyaman #2 following the defeat of Boo, with perhaps her most notable appearance coming in Dragon Ball Z Movie 13:

This drawing and comment set has been added to the respective page in our “Translations” archive.

Published by 21 April 2025, 12:42 PM EDTComment

After an announcement misfire last week via the Humble Bundle retailer website, Bandai Namco has formally unveiled the second paid downloadable content pack for Dragon Ball: Sparking! ZERO: the “DAIMA Character Pack 1” set with eight new playable characters from the respective (and recently-concluded) television series.

The new playable characters in this first Dragon Ball Daima pack include:

  • Son Goku (Mini) — Super Saiyan
  • Vegeta (Mini)
  • Vegeta (Mini) — Super Saiyan
  • Vegeta (Mini) — Super Saiyan 2
  • Vegeta (Mini) — Super Saiyan 3
  • Glorio
  • Panzy
  • Majin Koo

“Son Goku (Mini)” was previously a pre-order bonus character; as part of this new pack, Bandai Namco clarifies:

*This alternative version of Goku (Mini) can transform into Super Saiyan and use Aura Impact.

If you own Goku (Mini) from the Pre-Order Pack DLC you can use the alternative version by equipping an outfit. If you do not own it, it will appear as a new character in the character select screen.

The “Season Pass” for Sparking! ZERO is set to contain the previously-released “Hero of Justice Pack” (featuring characters and transformations from the 2022 theatrical film Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero), and two Dragon Ball Daima character packs (with the final pack tentatively due Q3 2025). The full “Season Pass” retails for $34.99; the previous “Hero of Justice Pack” is separately available by itself for $17.99.

“DAIMA Character Pack 1” will release for separate public sale 24 April 2025, though anyone who has purchased the existing “Season Pass” can access its content starting today (21 April 2025), in line with their “three days early” scheme for ongoing content releases.

Dragon Ball: Sparking! ZERO released on the PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC (via Steam) 10 October 2024 in Japan, and 11 October 2024 internationally. As opposed to the completely separate Dragon Ball Z (“Budokai”) series developed by Dimps which came before it, the Sparking! series — developed instead by Spike — featured 3D arenas with an over-the-shoulder camera angle. The new game’s title of Dragon Ball: Sparking! ZERO falls more in line with the original trilogy’s naming scheme in Japanese. The three Sparking! games — the original, NEO!, and METEOR — hit the PlayStation 2 over the course of 2005 to 2007, with the Nintendo Wii also receiving ports of the second and third games. The game series was released numerically under the “Budokai Tenkaichi” moniker internationally. A fourth games — Tag Vs. in Japan; Tenkaichi Tag Team internationally — was released on the PlayStation Portable in 2010. Spike (as Spike Chunsoft) later went on to also develop the crossover fighting games J-Stars Victory VS in 2014 and Jump Force in 2019.

Published by 20 April 2025, 8:12 AM EDT1 Comment

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Episode #0520! Mike and Ajay revisit “Dragon Ball Z: Resurrection ‘F'” for its 10th anniversary. Often looked back upon as the black sheep of the revival-era animated products, what does it have to offer audiences these days, particularly in light of its re-adaptation into the “Dragon Ball Super” television series?

How to Listen

Our podcast is available via Apple Podcasts, or you can pop the direct RSS feed into the program of your choice. You can also listen to this episode by directly downloading the MP3 or by streaming it on Spotify or YouTube. We invite you discuss this episode on our forum.

 

Referenced Sites: