41 Years Later, Dragon Ball Z Has Officially Replaced Goku

Published Oct 9, 2026, 2:00 AM EDT Known as 'Cyberpunk 2077's' biggest fan, Angharad is a Welsh games writer who thrives in anything related to digital storytelling. If a video game explores the intricacies and horrors of womanhood, she is there. Thanks to previous work at GAMINGbible, GameByte, The Loadout, Game Luster, Angharad has built a strong understanding of both the digital world and what fans want from it and is eager to share her thoughts and expertise with readers. Serving as the direct sequel to 1986's Dragon Ball, Dragon Ball Z ran from 1989 to 1996, giving fans of the anime television show a whopping 291 episodes to enjoy. Continuing the adventures of Son Goku in his adult life, the series sees him and his allies fight to defend the Earth against a series of formidable villains such as androids, magical beings, and a warrior race headed by Vegeta. On top of that, Goku must learn to become a father to his son, Gohan. No pressure. Now considered one of the greatest anime of all time, with Goku himself becoming an iconic figure in the anime world, it is no wonder that the franchise is still going strong over four decades on from its initial release. However, in one upcoming release, it seems as though Goku has finally been replaced as the figurehead for the franchise. A New Protagonist Has Entered the Fray Courtesy of Bandai Namco Entertainment, Dragon Ball Xenoverse 3 is an upcoming action-adventure RPG and the third entry in the Xenoverse series. As the official synopsis reads: "DRAGON BALL XENOVERSE 3 is a completely new Dragon Ball experience, where you decide the hero you want to be in an unexplored future of the Dragon Ball world." With players able to battle alongside iconic characters from the franchise, as well as creating their very own, the next installment in the franchise has introduced a brand-new protagonist who will lead the charge in West City in futuristic AGE 1000. However, fear not, as you will still get to see some of the franchise's most iconic characters created by late great Dragon Ball franchise creator Akira Toriyama as the Great Saiyan Squad navigate a whole new world. First announced back in April 2025, those excited for Dragon Ball Xenoverse 3 have now received their first proper look at the upcoming title courtesy of a 7-minute-long gameplay presentation. This included our first look at a brand-new default protagonist. Make Your Own Protagonist Or Try Out a New Face Whilst players will still be able to create their own custom protagonist, they can also choose to select a default option and in Dragon Ball Xenoverse 3, the default Saiyan protagonist is a white-haired character by the name of J-Age. In the brand-new gameplay presentation, we can see J-Age teaming up with three other members of the Great Saiyan Squad, and thanks to the Soul Assist/Soul Switch ability, our brand-new protagonist is able to call upon other iconic Dragon Ball characters for help, including the likes of Future Trunks and Vegeta. By doing so, you will be able to transform into the new addition and adopt their abilities, giving you the edge in certain fights as you explore the world and fight in 3D arenas. Dragon Ball Xenoverse 3 launches in 2027 for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S, and it seems as though it will be as action-packed as its predecessors. Now, we can only hope that J-Age will live up to those who came before him. Systems Released 2027 ESRB Rating Pending Developer(s) Dimps Publisher(s) Bandai Namco Entertainment Prequel(s) Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2, Dragon Ball Xenoverse Franchise Dragon Ball , Dragon Ball Z Number of Players Single-player