Dragon Ball may be over 40 years old, but it’s kicking off 2026 with serious momentum. The franchise just dropped news about a brand-new game that’s taking things in a completely fresh direction, and this one’s special.
During the Dragon Ball Genkidamatsuri event, producers unveiled AGE 1000, a game that goes way beyond the usual fighting game formula.
This isn’t just another retelling of familiar arcs. We’re talking original story, original characters, and designs from the late Akira Toriyama himself that have never been seen before.
A journey to Dragon Ball’s distant future
Executive producer Akio Iyoku and Bandai Namco’s Masayuki Hirano shared a reveal trailer showing the game takes place in, you guessed it, the year 1000 of the Dragon Ball timeline.
To put that in perspective, the original series starts around year 749, and Dragon Ball Super wraps up near 780. That’s a massive time jump, meaning we’re potentially looking at descendants of Goku and the gang.
The trailer shows the main character training in a Capsule Corporation simulation facility. Things get interesting when a mysterious figure appears, triggering flashbacks featuring iconic Dragon Ball characters that culminate with Goku himself.
Then boom, the protagonist transforms into a Super Saiyan, heavily hinting at some direct connection to our favorite warrior.
Toriyama’s final gift to Dragon Ball gaming
Here’s what makes this truly special: Toriyama didn’t just sketch a character and call it a day. According to Iyoku, the legendary creator was deeply involved in AGE 1000’s lore and development. The project has been cooking for six to seven years, giving Toriyama plenty of time to shape it alongside the production team before his passing in 2024.
The game appears to lean more toward story-driven gameplay like Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot rather than competitive fighting like FighterZ.
Producers teased it’ll feature “more elements and scenarios” than any previous Dragon Ball game, which is saying something.
AGE 1000 is still a working title, the final name drops later. Toei Animation and Bandai Namco are targeting a 2027 release, with more details coming at Dragon Ball Games Battle Hour 2026 this April 18-19.
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