In 2018, Bandai Namco and Arc System Works teamed up to release Dragon Ball FighterZ, a 2D fighting game inspired by Akira Toriyama's iconic manga series that has since gone on to become one of the most successful fighting games of the last decade. The game is still supported today, and after its most recent tournament at EVO 2022, Bandai Namco and Arc System Works have announced that Dragon Ball FighterZ will receive new, next-gen versions that will include the much requested rollback netcode integration.

Dragon Ball FighterZ first launched in January 2018 for PC, PS4, and Xbox One as a 3v3 2D fighting game in which players can switch out characters mid-fight similar to titles like Marvel vs. Capcom 2. The game launched with a roster of 21 playable characters, with a further 20 releasing between its initial launch and August 2022. A Nintendo Switch version of the game released in September 2018.

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One of the major criticisms for the game since its launch was its implementation of delay-based netcode, which many players felt led to a compromised online experience. This is why the game was not included in events such as EVO Online 2021, ultimately leaving the game's competitive scene uneventful during COVID-19 lockdowns. It appears Bandai Namco has finally heard these players' criticisms, as it has announced that the upcoming PS5 and Xbox Series X/S releases will include rollback netcode on top of an improved PC re-release.

These re-releases will include free upgrade paths for previous owners of the PC, PS4, and Xbox One versions. The announcement was made by Dragon Ball FighterZ producer Tomoko Hiroki during the game's grand finals at EVO 2022. No further information was released for the new versions, such as a release timeframe or other new improvements, however it is likely that this information will come sooner rather than later considering that the game is entering its 2022 World Championship competitive tour.

With Dragon Ball FighterZ being one of the most successful fighting games in recent years, selling over 8 million units as of 2021 and appearing on Microsoft's Xbox Game Pass subscription service, this move from Bandai Namco and Arc System Works feels long overdue, especially as it initially appeared that support for the game was dwindling. The implementation of rollback netcode to Dragon Ball FighterZ should breathe new life into the game, reigniting its competitive scene and hopefully compelling Arc System Works to continue supporting it with further DLC. This also comes after Arc System Works has implemented rollback netcode into its recent games such as Guilty Gear Strive, Blazblue Cross-Tag Battle, and Persona 4 Arena Ultimax.

Dragon Ball FighterZ is available now for PC, PS4, and Xbox One. The release date for the PS5 and Xbox Series X/S versions is yet to be announced.

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