In 2016, developer Dimps and publisher Bandai Namco Entertainment released Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2, which combined the fighting game mechanics of the Budokai series with some MMORPG elements and was mostly successful in doing so. Years later, Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2 has found its way to Google's new Stadia platform, and while it's still a decent game, the Stadia version is clearly the inferior version.
Of course, a lot that we praised about the game in our original Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2 review holds true with the Stadia version. The game still has great character creation tools, a huge roster of Dragon Ball Z fighters, and an engaging story that attempts to do something a little different instead of just retelling the plot of the anime for the umpteenth time. Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2 has a ton of content no matter what version of the game players decide to get, but the Stadia version has one huge flaw that brings the entire experience down considerably.
Simply put, Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2 is a ghost town. The game's online multiplayer elements are certainly not required to enjoy it, but being able to see other players walking around the hub world or jump into an online multiplayer match definitely enhances the experience. We saw just two user-created characters in the hub world, and were never able to get into any online multiplayer matches. Xenoverse 2 is a four year old game that many fans have already played elsewhere, so it's not surprising that finding online matches was virtually impossible, but the seemingly low player population means that the online content is basically a non-factor for Stadia players.
Other players were nowhere to be found in Xenoverse 2's co-op matchmaking or versus matchmaking, and sitting in lobbies didn't yield any results either. It should be noted that this is a common problem for Stadia, as Destiny 2's player population is also declining rapidly on the platform. When it comes to older games that have been available on other platforms for years, it seems Stadia users will just have to risk not being able to get into multiplayer matches, which begs the question why they would bother with the Stadia version anyway.
One advantage to getting the Stadia version of a game like Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2 is being able to play it on the go wherever. However, Xenoverse 2 has been on the Switch for years, so portability isn't as big of a selling point as it would be for other games available on the platform. Being able to play Xenoverse 2 on virtually any piece of hardware that can access Google Chrome is neat, but it seems unlikely to convince fans to double dip. And with no cross-save functionality that we could find, those who have already put significant time into their Xenoverse 2 characters elsewhere may have to start over, which is not an appealing prospect whatsoever.
As far as how Xenoverse 2 runs on Stadia, it performs just as well as any other game. That is to say, those playing with a wired connection will likely have a flawless experience, but those on wi-fi will have a rougher time. Xenoverse 2 over a wi-fi connection has the occasional lag or stuttering that plagues many Stadia games. Audio will sometimes cut out as well, so players have to decide between playing a version of the game that has these kinds of issues or a version of the game that will run much better.
Players getting Xenoverse 2 on Stadia will also have to be content with a version of the game that is missing its post-launch DLC. The Stadia Store is currently missing all of the Xenoverse 2 DLC add-on packs. Players can still play as pre-order bonus Goku Black, but the recently released Ultra Pack 2 DLC, for example, is missing in action. This is another unfortunate trend with Stadia, as some may recall that the Borderlands 3 Stadia port was an outdated version of that game as well.
One area where the Xenoverse 2 Stadia version is actually superior is when it comes to load times. Xenoverse 2 on other platforms loaded too long and too frequently, which sometimes ruined the pacing of the game. Xenoverse 2 on Stadia still has a lot of load times, but they appear to be far quicker than other versions of the game. This isn't a game-changing incentive at all, but it's one of the only advantages that the Stadia version has on its counterparts.
There is one other advantage when it comes to getting Xenoverse 2 on Stadia, and that's the game's price. If one visits the Xbox Live Marketplace right now, they'll find Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2 still selling at full price, $59.99. Those that want to buy the disc version can likely get the game for $19.99 or less, but digital-only players will likely get the best deal on Stadia. Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2 on Stadia costs $49.99 compared to the $59.99 price of other versions, which may not be a big deal for everyone, but budget-minded gamers will want to take the price into account as well.
There are some pros and some cons when it comes to the Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2 Stadia port, but setting all that aside, the game still does deliver a ton of content for players. It's also a generally well-made game, and should keep Dragon Ball Z fans entertained for hours. Those who have never played the game before elsewhere and don't care about online features may very well get their money's worth with Xenoverse 2 on Stadia.
However, the lack of cross-save, cross-play, or an online multiplayer population combined with the game being somewhat outdated compared to other versions makes Xenoverse 2 on Stadia difficult to recommend, even to someone who has never played the game before. Those who want to play Xenoverse 2 will have a much better experience with any other version of the game, as they're all just more fully-featured than the Stadia version, especially when taking the DLC into account, like the Dragon Ball FighterZ crossover content. Dragon Ball Z fans hurting for a new video game to play will be better off saving their money for something like Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot or maybe waiting for a potential Xenoverse 3.
Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2 is out now for PC, PS4, Stadia, Switch, and Xbox One. Game Rant reviewed the Stadia version of the game.