At Gamescom 2019, Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot publisher Bandai Namco was incredibly forthcoming with information about the action RPG. Yet, there are a ton of questions still lingering about the game, such as how much Dragon Ball Z filler content made it into the game, how much original content there is, and how many hours players can expect to put into it. Perhaps the biggest question, however, is when does the game release?
Now, it's worth highlighting that neither publisher Bandai Namco nor developer CyberConnect2 has unveiled any official information as to Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot's release date. However, a few details suggest that a reveal for the game's release date could be announced in the coming weeks, barring any major or minor delays to the game's development.
First, Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot has been officially announced for early 2020. Early could be interpreted in a number of ways, but this likely suggests a Q1 release (January 1-March 31.) It wouldn't be surprising if it was slightly after, but considering Q2 comes at the end of June, that would be an incredibly loose take on "early." With this in mind, it would seem that the chances to announce the release date and give fans plenty of time to pre-order and get prepared for the game is dwindling.
In addition to the dwindling chances, there has already been a ton revealed about the game. While screenshots and a trailer for DBZ: Kakarot's Buu Saga are to be expected, there's very little beyond that which could be revealed without ruining the game. So, it would also seem that the next piece of big news related to the game would be tied to its release. There's always the chance that Bandai Namco just announces the release date randomly via press info or social media, but such news would likely come at a bigger stage.
And as it stands, there are three major stages where DBZ: Kakarot is confirmed to appear/or likely to appear at. These are The Game Awards, New York Comic-Con, and the Tokyo Game Show. Of these three, The Game Awards seem less likely. While the show is no stranger to major game announcements, it also occurs toward the end of the year, likely in December. This is so that every major game can have time to release and compete to see which game will take home Game of the Year.
Because of this timing, if Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot's release was to be announced there, that would likely suggest a delay in its release or the aforementioned loose definition of early. The game may still have some presence at the prestigious event, but any release info coming from there seems too late.
New York City Comic-Con seems like a much more likely than The Game Awards, as it is an event tied to all things pop culture, and Dragon Ball Z itself plays a major role in contemporary pop culture. Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot is not confirmed to be at the event, but it would be surprising if it wasn't. Therefore, if it's not revealed prior to the event on October 6, this seems like a safe bet, but not the best.
The best bet for a Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot release date announcement is actually the Tokyo Game Show, and since the event begins on September 11 and runs through September 15, that means fans won't have to wait much longer to know for a fact when it releases. This seems to be the best bet with how perfectly it lines up with currently known facts and marketing strategies.
For example, announcing the game's release date at the Tokyo Game Show gives players nearly 6 months (assuming it receives, say, a March release date) to pre-order and developers to continue highlighting the game. Considering that the Frieza Saga and the Cell Saga have already been shown off, there's a limited amount of time to reveal the Buu Saga as a wrap, unless DBZ: Kakarot's developers have something else hidden up its sleeves.
Then, there is the fact that not only is DBZ: Kakarot confirmed to be there, but it is a headliner for Bandai Namco. This means the game would get more attention here as opposed to the Game Awards or Comic-Con, and it's even been announced that it will receive a dedicated livestream, a new trailer, and a playable demo for the public. The aforementioned trailer would be the perfect opportunity to show more of the Cell Saga or even tease the Buu Saga, as well as revealing an official release date for the game.
As aforementioned, however, this is only speculation, but all signs point to an incoming announcement. Regardless, for those who are still weighing their decision on the game, here's every Dragon Ball Z Kakarot screenshot and trailer revealed so far.
Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot launches in early 2020 for PC, PS4, and Xbox One.