An unverified claim has surfaced, alleging a strained relationship between the developer of Dragon Ball FighterZ, Arc System Works, and its publisher, Bandai Namco. The recent game update for Dragon Ball FighterZ debuted in late February, bringing in rollback netcode to enhance the online gameplay experience, along with new versions for PS5 and Xbox Series X/S. However, fan-recorded gameplay snippets reveal that the update has inadvertently introduced several game-breaking flaws.
Online clips showcasing Dragon Ball FighterZ highlight severe glitches, like characters freezing in place despite ongoing animations or odd visual anomalies such as character duplication during matches. Responses from the gaming community vary from annoyance at the technical issues to intrigue in displaying them. Speculations suggest that the update's instability may be attributed to Bandai Namco assuming control of development post a reported split with Arc System Works.
This unconfirmed rumor was brought to light by Creeps, a prominent modder and avid Dragon Ball game enthusiast on Twitter. According to their source, Bandai Namco's alleged cost-cutting measures during the creation of titles like Xenoverse 2, Kakarot, and FighterZ soured the partnership between the two companies. Creeps hinted that Bandai Namco's insufficient funding for FighterZ and its downloadable content, among other issues, led to this rift.
Alleged Underfunding of Dragon Ball FighterZ by Bandai Namco
Although Creeps refrained from sharing full specifics due to legal concerns, they mentioned that Bandai Namco aimed to replicate the DLC strategy used in Xenoverse 2 and Kakarot with FighterZ. Allegedly, Arc System Works declined this approach due to challenges faced while collaborating with Bandai Namco on game development. Consequently, the reported game-breaking bugs and compromised visual quality in Dragon Ball FighterZ might be a result of internal development by Bandai Namco or potential outsourcing to a third party without Arc System Works' involvement. Nevertheless, fans are advised to treat this information with caution.
Creeps expressed optimism that the upcoming Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero will receive adequate attention and avoid any compromises to ensure it lives up to its predecessors. Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero presents a 3D arena fighting game with aesthetics reminiscent of FighterZ, featuring a sleek anime-inspired art style. The title serves as the anticipated fourth installment in the mainline Budokai Tenkaichi series, maintaining the original Sparking branding, and has garnered significant anticipation from the fan base.