The arrival of Dragon Ball Sparking! Zero on Steam has already made fighting game history. Even before the official launch of the Standard Edition, scheduled for October 11th, Bandai Namco's new title recorded a peak of 91,000 concurrent players. Players who pre-ordered the special editions secured early access and, in just three days, helped reach this impressive number.
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The impressive success places Dragon Ball Sparking! Zero at the top of the list of most popular fighting games on the platform, surpassing heavyweight titles like Street Fighter 6 , which reached 70,000 concurrent players, and Tekken 8 , with 50,000 at its peak.
Furthermore, the fact that these numbers were achieved only with special edition players reinforces the expectation of growth with the Standard version. This could lead to the record set at the beginning being quickly surpassed.
Expectations and high demand drive the release of Dragon Ball Sparking! Zero
Dragon Ball Sparking! Zero 's performance isn't an isolated incident. The game marks the return of the popular Budokai Tenkaichi , which last launched in 2007, over a decade ago. Since then, fans have been waiting for a new game that maintains the essence of the series, known for its intense battles and the vast cast of characters from the Dragon Ball .
This prolonged hiatus, combined with fans' affection for the original series, created pent-up demand, which explains the high number of players upon launch. Nostalgia, combined with new content and graphical improvements, made Dragon Ball Sparking! Zero one of the most anticipated releases of the year.
Comparison with other fighting titles
Comparison with other major titles in the genre further highlights the magnitude of Dragon Ball Sparking! Zero's . Games like Street Fighter 6 , Tekken 8 , and Mortal Kombat 1 , with major marketing campaigns, failed to achieve the same number of concurrent players. While Street Fighter 6 led with 70,000 players, Tekken 8 and Mortal Kombat 1 registered 50,000 and 38,000, respectively.
This result places the game in a prominent position among fighting games, opening the possibility of a new chapter of success for the franchise in the competitive scene and in the hearts of fans.
Over 180 playable characters
Another aspect that sets the game apart is the number of playable characters available from launch. There are 182 fighters in total, an impressive number that includes every stage in the Dragon Ball universe. From classic characters to more recent additions, such as the protagonists of Dragon Ball Super, and even the new version of Goku who will appear in the upcoming anime, Dragon Ball Daima, set to premiere this year.
This diversity of characters not only expands gameplay possibilities but also appeals to different generations of fans of the franchise, from those who followed the first sagas of the anime to those who became familiar with the series in its more recent phases. Furthermore, the refined gameplay and new combat mechanics make Dragon Ball Sparking! Zero a natural evolution of the previous titles, offering players an intense and varied fighting experience.
Expectations for the official release of Dragon Ball Sparking! Zero
With the release of the Standard version on October 11th, the number of simultaneous players is expected to increase even further. The arrival of new players, who haven't yet had access to the game, will drive this growth, either because they were waiting for a more accessible edition or because they play on other platforms, such as PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series.
