Dragon Ball: Sparking! ZERO is coming to the Switch 2

Bandai Namco has updated the official Sparking! ZERO website to reveal the Super Limit-Breaking NEO Edition, a new bundle packaging the 2024 fighting game with its latest expansion. The listing also confirms that the game and its new content are headed to the Nintendo Switch 2 at a later date.

The Super Limit-Breaking NEO expansion was previously announced and launches today for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. It costs $29.99 on its own. This new bundle is designed for players who have not yet picked up the base game and want everything in one package.

The expansion is the largest content drop since Spike Chunsoft revived the franchise. It adds a solo mode called Limit Breaker Journey, which allows players to raise stats and customize individual fighters for offline and select online play. It also includes four new arena stages and extra combat mechanics like the Linked Blast.

The character additions are the main draw. The DLC adds over 30 new playable fighters to the roster. These include original Dragon Ball and GT characters like Grandpa Gohan, General Blue, Zangya, and Bardock Super Saiyan. I think the inclusion of Grandpa Gohan alone justifies the expansion, but the sheer volume of characters Spike Chunsoft continues to model and balance is genuinely impressive.

17 years in the making

When Sparking! ZERO launched in October 2024, it ended a 17,year drought for the Budokai Tenkaichi series. The original PlayStation 2 and Wii games built a massive cult following because of their over-the-shoulder 3D combat and destructible environments. Spike Chunsoft managed to translate that exact feeling to modern hardware.

The combat relies on high-speed 3D battles with beam clashes, rush attacks, and planet-razing ultimate attacks. The arenas react to transformations and take permanent damage during a fight. The base game shipped with over 180 characters and broke Steam records for fighting games in the process.

Nintendo ports take time

The confirmation of a Switch 2 version is the real news buried in the edition announcement. Bandai Namco states the expansion will be available on the Switch 2 later. They have not provided an exact release window for the Nintendo port.

Fighting games of this scale are notoriously heavy on CPU and GPU resources. The staggered release makes sense. The Switch 2 hardware should have an easier time maintaining the necessary framerate for a fast-paced arena fighter.

Pick up DRAGON BALL: Sparking! ZERO on Humble Bundle.

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