Dragon Ball: The Breakers Release Date, Trailer, And Gameplay - What We Know So Far

Anyone that grew up in the late 90s to early 2000s was likely exposed to "Dragon Ball" in one way or another. Over time, the story of "Dragon Ball" has been expanded into over seven different anime series and multiple films, but "Dragon Ball's" reach doesn't end there. "Dragon Ball" has seen a staggering number of video game adaptations starting way back in the retro NES era. And as with most things, quantity doesn't always mean quality. The latest "Dragon Ball" title, on the other hand, the RPG "Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot," was generally well received and was seen by many as a step in the right direction for "Dragon Ball" games.

Now, "Dragon Ball" is coming back into the gaming sphere with "Dragon Ball: The Breakers," but this time, the series is experimenting with a new type of gameplay never before seen in the series, borrowing heavily from other successful multiplayer games on the market. Here is everything you need to know about "Dragon Ball: The Breakers."

According to a recent tweet, "Dragon Ball: The Breakers" is launching in Japan on October 13, 2022, and on October 14 everywhere else. Additionally, the game will release on every major console, including the Switch, PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and PC. Preorders for "Dragon Ball: The Breakers" have already begun.

Currently, three editions of "Dragon Ball: The Breakers" are available for preorder. First up is the Standard Edition, which is simply the full game in digital format in addition to some preorder goodies. Then, one tier up is the Special Edition which includes an exclusive customizable costume, a two-handed thumbs-up Victory Pose, and a Yellow Dragon Vehicle Skin. The final tier is a Limited Edition version, which includes a 9x15 Cm Cell Shell Figure, a Steelbook, Stickers, and all of the previous rewards from the other editions.

Additionally, gamers can sign up on the Bandai Namco site for participation in a closed network test on August 5-6 that will give players a taste of what the game offers.

Gamers' first look at "Dragon Ball: The Breakers" came via an announcement trailer late last year. It's a cinematic trailer with the iconic "Dragon Ball" villain, Cell, wandering around a city on fire, hunting down anybody that survived his powerful laser attacks. But at the end of the trailer, a group of survivors decides to fight back against Cell instead of running and hiding. The trailer also showed a glimpse of gameplay that let gamers know what to expect from "Dragon Ball: The Breakers."

The most recent trailer revealed the fan favorite "Dragon Ball" villain Frieza, emperor of the universe, as a playable character. Regarding gameplay, the trailer showcases Frieza flying around in a capsule, aided by his trusty henchman while they attempt to squash the seven survivors. And the end of the trailer also highlighted that Majin Buu would be the third and final villain coming to the "Dragon Ball: The Breakers" roster as a villain at release.

"Dragon Ball: The Breakers" is a unique take on a "Dragon Ball" video game. Instead of being a 2D fighter or an RPG, "Dragon Ball: The Breakers" is an asymmetrical online multiplayer title similar to "Dead by Daylight" and "Evil Dead: The Game." According to Bandai Namco's website, seven ordinary citizens are trapped in a Temporal Seam and forced to take on a powerful "Dragon Ball" villain from another timeline. Seven players must work together to construct a time machine to break out of the Temporal Seam while avoiding the menacing Raider. The Raider will also be controlled by a player, with each variation having unique tracking abilities.

Additionally, the game will feature a progressions system where players gain XP to attain perks, skins, and items for their character. Some of these unique items include Vehicles, weapons, and grappling hooks. And from the trailer, it looks like some characters will have the ability to disguise themselves as an object to fool the Raider. 

Only time will tell if the unconventional gameplay of "Dragon Ball: The Breakers" will be a success or not, but the incredibly popular IP that is "Dragon Ball" won't likely have any issues getting players into the game, but keeping them there is another story.