‘We Know There’s a Lot of Eyes on Us After Our Game Awards Trailer’ — as Highguard Goes Live, Dev Insists ‘We’re in This for the Long Haul’

Highguard is out now following its high-profile showing at last month’s The Game Awards — and its developers have said a full year of post-launch content is already “deep in development.”

The free-to-play PvP raid shooter is live on PC, Xbox Series X and S, and PlayStation 5, with full crossplay. Development studio Wildlight is made up of former Apex Legends, Titanfall, and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare staff, and promises “a new competitive structure that blends siege warfare and territory control in an evolving match where power levels escalate until only one base is left standing.”

Here’s how Highguard works, according to Wildlight:

Players step into the boots of Wardens, arcane gunslingers sent to fight for control of a mythical continent where magic, gunfire, and siege warfare collide:

  • Teams of three select a unique base and fortify their defenses, then ride out across vast, uncharted lands to loot, harvest resources, and upgrade their gear while clashing with a rival Warden crew.
  • As magical storms roll in, teams battle over the Shieldbreaker, a powerful sword required to breach enemy defenses. Carrying the Shieldbreaker to the opposing base triggers a full raid — forcing teams to attack, defend, adapt, and escalate in power as the match continues.
  • Most of the time, victory doesn’t come with a single raid. When that happens, the enemy base shields repair, the siege tower dissipates, and the fight escalates as loot, gear, and weapons all upgrade in the field, and a new Shieldbreaker forms in a different location in the world. From there, the fight for control continues — until only one base is left standing.

Each Warden is built specifically for Highguard’s PvP Raid Mode. Wardens combine guns, raid tools, and arcane abilities, each designed to support raiding, destruction, defense, infiltration, resource acquisition, and open-world combat.

Mounts allow teams to move quickly across massive maps, fight on the move, and transport the Shieldbreaker. Magical abilities supplement combat, but Highguard is still a gun game at its core. Gunplay remains central, with abilities and tools adding tactical depth.

At launch, the game features a wide array of content: five large-scale maps, six distinct bases, eight Wardens, three mount types, ten weapons, three raid tools, eleven weapon and raid-tool mods, and a wide range of lootable items. More content will be added via seasonal updates.

Wildlight hadn’t said a word about Highguard since its announcement at The Game Awards, opting to launch it cold. Today, now the game is out in the wild, wildlight said it was built “with long-term play in mind.”

“Wildlight brings decades of experience operating live-service shooters at scale, applying those lessons to Highguard’s launch and beyond, with a full year of post-launch content already deep in development,” the developer said. “Highguard’s live service is built around Episodes — each lasting roughly two months and split into two parts — with new core content arriving each month throughout 2026, including content such as maps, bases, modes, Wardens, weapons, mounts, raid tools, and additional loot items.”

Core gameplay content — including new maps, bases, Wardens, and modes — will always be free, delivered through regular updates, with the first wave arriving in two weeks following launch, Wildlight insisted. The studio added that all in-game purchases are cosmetic only, direct purchase only, with no effect on gameplay and no loot boxes or RNG.

“Launch is a huge moment. But our team builds franchises that stand the test of time, and we’re in this for the long haul,” said Dusty Welch, co-founder and CEO of Wildlight. “Success for us is a healthy, growing global community that’s enjoying the game — and a team that’s energized by engaging with players and surprising them with new experiences over time.”

All players receive the Episode One War Chest free forever, featuring 44 items, including 11 legendary skins and emotes for Wardens, weapons, and mounts.

“We know there’s a lot of eyes on us after our Game Awards trailer debut, and today is finally the time to show the world what we mean by a PvP Raid Shooter. We built Highguard around a loop that doesn’t really exist anywhere else,” commented Chad Grenier, co-founder and game director at Wildlight. “Every match is about escalation: fortifying, venturing out, clashing, then mounting coordinated raids and defenses until only one base is left standing.”

Wesley is Director, News at IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.

Resident Evil Requiem Director Gives Definitive Response to Open World ‘Speculation’

Capcom has responded to ongoing fan speculation about Resident Evil Requiem being an open world game with a definitive-sounding response.

Fan discussion and leaks around the game have long pointed to Requiem featuring more open exploration than in previous Resident Evil titles. This suggestion was fuelled further earlier this month by the release of a fresh gameplay snippet that included a look at a bustling city street, complete with pedestrians and traffic.

Now, however, Resident Evil Requiem director Koshi Nakanishi has stepped in to set the record straight, having seen the discussion online. In short, anyone hoping for an open world Resident Evil should reset their expectations.

“[The development team] did just want to make clear one point,” Nakanishi told Game Informer. “They’ve seen some speculation of whether there’s any open world elements in the game, and they just want to set the record straight that this isn’t an open world game.

“The main concept behind this game is combining the very different gameplay of Grace and Leon into a cohesive package, and having those two gameplays represent the Resident Evil series, and I think when you play the game, you realize that, or you will find as well that the development team picked the best approach to do this.”

In other words, what you should expect from this game is for Grace and Leon’s portions to feel like how they’ve already been pitched, with Grace’s focus on horror and Leon’s focused on action, as an extension of the Resident Evil franchise’s existing games.

In IGN’s just-published Resident Evil Requiem final preview, we described Grace’s gameplay sections as familiar to anyone who has played Resident Evil 2 or 7. Leon’s gameplay sections, meanwhile, stirred up our muscle memory of playing Resident Evil 4. Neither of those games were open world, so it sounds like we shouldn’t expect Requiem to be open world either.

“This year is the 30th anniversary of the Resident Evil series, so it feels like no coincidence that 2026’s Resident Evil Requiem is combining the best ideas of the saga into what appears to be a fantastically constructed tribute to everything that makes the series so great,” IGN wrote. “Do you like tense survival horror? It’s here. Wanna go all guns blazing with intense action and a quip-obsessed hero? You get that too.”

Tom Phillips is IGN’s News Editor. You can reach Tom at tom_phillips@ign.com or find him on Bluesky @tomphillipseg.bsky.social

After Prince of Persia: Sands of Time Remake Cancelation, Actress Says She’s Lost 3 Years of Work and Found Out via the Internet

Actress Eman Ayaz has said she’s lost three years of work in a “life-changing role,” just days after Ubisoft canceled its long-awaited Prince of Persia: Sands of Time Remake.

“So hi, my name is Eman, I’m an actor, and last week I experienced the most devastating moment of my career,” Ayaz said in a video message posted online today. “I’m still under NDA so I’m going to try my best to speak as vaguely as possible about the details, and I hope you understand.”

At no point does Ayaz specifically say the game she worked on was Prince of Persia: Sands of Time Remake, but the actress has also retweeted comments from those who have linked her to the role of Farah in the game, seemingly making the connection clear.

“Three years ago I booked a life-changing role on a life-changing project,” Ayaz began. “It was a rigorous audition process, including a self-tape audition, an in-person callback, and a chemistry read that I had to fly out of the city for. When I got the role I remember crying my eyes out.

“I’ve spent the last three years getting to know the team which has become like a family to me. I’ve watched it grow through countless stages of development and I’ve waited and waited for it to finally be released so I could talk about it. And this week, I found out through the internet that the project was canceled.”

Ayaz says she was first contacted by her brother who had seen the news of the game’s cancelation via an online article. Ubisoft confirmed it had canned its Prince of Persia: The Sans of Time Remake last week, as part of a wider reorganization that featured layoffs at three development studios, the closure of two more, and the shutdown of five other game projects.

“I was in total shock,” Ayaz continued. “Just two months ago I filmed marketing for this project, everything had been running smoothly and that was the last I had heard. We were all looking forward to it being released this year, so it felt like an emotional whiplash to suddenly find this out in such a random way.”

Indeed, a report late last year suggested Ubisoft’s Prince of Persia: Sands of Time Remake was finally just a few months away, after first being announced in 2020. The project was then rebooted, with its most recent incarnation having been in development since early 2023.

“When I initially booked this role, what it said to me was that all the sacrifices I had made, going against my parents’ advice, pursuing my dreams, all the heartbreaks I’d had along the way, all the close calls, all the rejections, they finally had added up to something,” Ayaz added, discussing the personal toll the cancelation had taken.

Ayaz said she’d turned down other job oppurtunities during the process and worked on the job while recovering from an injury as she had been passionate about not missing out. “It was the best performance of my career, and now no one will ever see it.”

A Canadian citizen, Ayaz said she had planned to apply for a U.S. work visa based on having the game on her CV, something she can no longer do as she is unable to officially acknowledge her work on it. And as someone with Pakistani heritage, Ayaz said the cancelation had been yet another setback after working “twice as hard as non-marginalized actors to find space in the industry.” She added: “It’s an upward battle and it’s going to continue to be that way. It’s like you think you had your foot on a ledge, and it’s crumbled. And you have to start again, and it’s just as steep.”

For its part, Ubisoft told Prince of Persia fans that despite six years of work, the game was still too far away from being ready to fund any further. “We weren’t able to reach the level of quality you deserve,” the company said in a statement, “and continuing would have required more time and investment than we could responsibly commit.”

“Sadly the entertainment industry isn’t just about entertainment,” Ayaz concluded, “it’s about guaranteeing a cash flow. And that means making decisions that treat people’s lives as collateral damage, and art as disposable content… This project existed, even if the world never got to see it. So many talented artists devoted countless hours to make this happen. And that doesn’t just disappear, it’ll be in our hearts forever, as fricking corny as that sounds… The only way these stories survive is if the audience demands them.”

Tom Phillips is IGN’s News Editor. You can reach Tom at tom_phillips@ign.com or find him on Bluesky @tomphillipseg.bsky.social

Nintendo Direct Announced For This Week, Focused on Tomodachi Life: Living The Dream

Another Nintendo Direct is coming this Thursday, January 29, dedicated to the company’s upcoming social sim game Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream.

Coming just days after a Nintendo Direct focused on The Super Mario Galaxy Movie which debuted our first look at Yoshi, Birdo and more, the next scheduled broadcast from the company will instead return to its games.

You’ll be able to tune in for more details on the Nintendo Switch and Switch 2 life sim game this Thursday at 6am Pacific, 9am Eastern or 2pm UK time. The stream is set to run around 20 minutes.

Living the Dream will be the third game in Nintendo’s Tomodachi Life franchise, which lets you oversee a community of Mii characters. While a relatively niche series in the West compared to its bigger brands, Tomodachi Life enjoys a strong following among its fans, and particularly so in Japan.

Now, the franchise will be getting its first dedicated Nintendo Direct, similar to how Kirby Air Riders was treated to its own presentation (and then a second!) last year.

The series’ first game, Tomodachi Collection, launched in 2009 for Nintendo DS (albeit only in Japan). Its 3DS sequel, Tomodachi Life, was then released worldwide and went on to sell a very respectable 6.72 million units.

Memorably, Tomodachi Life experienced a backlash over its lack of same-sex relationships, something that Nintendo found itself having to comment on after rumors spread online that they were something that had been originally programmed into the game that was later removed. Nintendo denied this, though not before the controversy blew up to the point that it was parodied on late night TV by John Oliver, via a skit which featured crudely animated versions of Mario and Link snogging. Notably, Nintendo then promised that if it did make another Tomodachi Life game, it would make it “more inclusive, and [something that] better represents all players.”

While the status of same-sex relationships is yet to be confirmed (though may be this week), Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream is already notable for finally allowing Mii characters to have ears. It only took 20 years.

Tom Phillips is IGN’s News Editor. You can reach Tom at tom_phillips@ign.com or find him on Bluesky @tomphillipseg.bsky.social

Rayman 30th Anniversary Edition Leaked by Ratings Board

Surprise! It looks like a 30th Anniversary Edition of Rayman is on the way.

Though not formally confirmed by Ubisoft, the unannounced game has popped up on the Australian Classification website, and it’s apparently coming to both Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 5.

While the franchise is owned by Ubisoft, both the developer and publisher are listed as Atari, which has previously distributed physical editions of games and remakes. Sadly, the listing gives us very little detail on what to expect aside from confirmation that it has “very mild” violence (thanks, Gematsu).

We already knew that Ubisoft was set to celebrate all things Rayman as it got ready to mark the series’ 30th anniversary, promising last September that it was working on the “future” of the series. Though the official Rayman X/Twitter account had long been dormant, only resurfacing a handful of times in 2020, then once in 2021, in September it was resurrected to bring us up to speed on what’s happening in Rayman’s world.

“Rayman turns 30! Join us on our official channels to celebrate an incredible legacy,” the account exclaimed at the time, attaching a brief video. In the video, brand producer Loic Gounon — who has been working on the Rayman franchise since 2006 — revealed that “a very talented team at Ubisoft Montpellier and Ubisoft Milan are currently working together on the future of Rayman.”

We haven’t had a mainline Rayman game since 2013’s Rayman Legends. “Don’t expect news from us too soon,” Ubisoft said, “but rest assured, Rayman is in good hands.” Despite all the recent changes and cancellations at IP holder Ubisoft, including that Prince of Persia: Sands of Time Remake, Rayman appears to have survived the cull.

Vikki Blake is a reporter for IGN, as well as a critic, columnist, and consultant with 15+ years experience working with some of the world’s biggest gaming sites and publications. She’s also a Guardian, Spartan, Silent Hillian, Legend, and perpetually High Chaos. Find her at BlueSky.

Highguard Global Release Times Confirmed Ahead of Launch Showcase

Debuting at The Game Awards 2025 with an end-of-show reveal trailer, Highguard is a new free-to-play PvP raid shooter hailing from some of the creators of Respawn’s Apex Legends and Titanfall.

Though we’ve heard very little since, Highguard reemerged last week with the promise of a launch showcase that confirmed the January 26, 2026 release date. The showcase will offer a “full gameplay deep dive, year one plans, and much more.”

In Highguard, players will “ride, fight, and raid as Wardens, arcane gunslingers sent to fight for control of a mythic continent,” although it has suffered from a degree of negativity online since that The Game Awards reveal.

Highguard is set to launch across PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X and S. Confirmation of its release time comes from SteamDB, which of course relates only to the global Steam launch, but it is likely Highguard will go live simultaneously across all platforms.

Highguard global release times:

Depending on where you are in the world, Highguard is set to go live on:

Monday, January 26, 2026:

PST (San Francisco):

  • 10am

CST (Austin, Mexico City):

  • 12pm

EST (New York):

  • 1pm

GMT (London):

  • 6pm

CET (Paris):

  • 7pm

Tuesday, January 27, 2026

JST (Tokyo):

  • 3am

CST (Beijing):

  • 3am

AEST (Sydney):

  • 5am

NZST (Wellington):

  • 7am

Vikki Blake is a reporter for IGN, as well as a critic, columnist, and consultant with 15+ years experience working with some of the world’s biggest gaming sites and publications. She’s also a Guardian, Spartan, Silent Hillian, Legend, and perpetually High Chaos. Find her at BlueSky.

One of Sony’s PlayStation Plus Monthly Games for February Has Leaked

A reliable leaker has revealed Sony’s main PlayStation Plus Monthly offering for February, more than a week before it becomes available.

Boxing game Undisputed will headline next month’s lineup, according to Dealabs‘ billbil-kun, who says that the liscensed punchup title will be the month’s main game available. So, while other titles are expected, Undisputed will be February’s main addition.

Undisputed is expected to become available on February 3, for PlayStation Plus subscribers across all tiers from Essential upwards. As ever, it should remain available for a month, until March 3. We’ll follow up with February’s other PlayStation Plus Monthly games whenever Sony announces them.

January’s PlayStation Plus Monthly games are of course currently still available to claim, including Disney’s Epic Mickey: Rebrushed, Core Keeper and Need for Speed Unbound.

Originally launched in October 2024 for PC, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S, Undisputed is notable for being the first major licensed boxing video game in over a decade, since the EA-published Fight Night Champion.

“Developer Steel City Interactive’s approach to boxing in Undisputed is on the right track, but there’s a long road ahead of it,” IGN wrote in its Undisputed review, which returned a 6/10 score.

“Its emphasis on realism, preparing for fights using RPG-like mechanics, and creating an adrenaline-filled experience in the ring are significant building blocks. Still, the fluidity of its gameplay animations and reactiveness of its commentators don’t come close to living up to the high bar that was set by the Fight Night series back in the late 2000s, and its realistic fighting can be a little dull if you’re in the mood for a KO instead of a TKO.”

Tom Phillips is IGN’s News Editor. You can reach Tom at tom_phillips@ign.com or find him on Bluesky @tomphillipseg.bsky.social

Magic’s TMNT Preorders Crash to New Record Low Price on Amazon, Just Weeks After Its Last Big Discount

With Lorwyn Eclipsed now out, our attention will soon sharply be turning to the next Magic set of 2026, which is also the first “Universes Beyond” release of the year: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.

And, if you’re already sold on meeting up with cardboard versions of the Heroes in a Half Shell, their friends, and their foes, then good news – Amazon is once again discounting booster boxes, which are now down to their lowest ever price, and even lower than a previous best we saw just a couple of weeks ago.

Now down to just $124.99, and containing 30 of your finest Play Boosters (each containing 14 cards), this is a certified $84.71 in savings compared to its original $209.70 list price. That’s also just over $4 for each booster ($4.17, to be precise), which is more than a couple of bucks off what you’d usually pay when buying them individually.

In comparison, the market price for these is still sitting around $139, according to data at the trusted resale marketplace TCGplayer. While this will likely continue to drop (fallen 45.71% in the past three months), you’re certainly ahead of the trend if you pick up the preorder at Amazon right now.

Also, just a heads up, as it’s important for those looking to buy: Amazon doesn’t charge until dispatch (so your card won’t be charged until closer to release on March 6. Plus, the retailer also has a preorder price guarantee, so if it drops even further or somehow goes back up in price, you can be absolutely certain that you’re paying the lowest price possible.

This is also even better than the deal we saw just before Christmas, and now even lower than the next best price at Amazon from earlier this month ($148.20). Although it does make you think, is the discount indicative of Wizards of the Coast’s expectations for the set? Let’s hope not!

In December, the price dropped to $159.99, bringing the Universes Beyond box of Play Boosters to around the standard price of a Universes Within box, but dropping even further to just $125, this seems like a mighty good deal for what is already looking like a very popular set.

We saw similar drops for Spider-Man, which would be a little worrisome if Avatar hadn’t got the same treatment – and that set was great. For more on Magic: The Gathering, check out the wild ride that is the game’s 2026 set lineup, as well as our guide to buying the first set of the year, Lorwyn Eclipsed, which just launched, and already has some mighty impressive cards that are racking up a tidy price on resale.

Robert Anderson is Senior Commerce Editor, and IGN’s resident deals expert on games, collectibles, trading card games, and more. You can follow him @robertliam21 on Bluesky.

This article also contains contributions from Lloyd Coombes. Lloyd is an experienced freelancer in tech, gaming and fitness seen at Polygon, Eurogamer, Macworld, TechRadar and many more. He’s a big fan of Magic: The Gathering and other collectible card games, much to his wife’s dismay.

The Best Deals Today: Towa and the Guardians of the Sacred Tree, Tekken 8, Octopath Traveler 0, and More

We’ve rounded up the best deals for Sunday, January 25, below. Don’t miss your chance to save on these deals!

Towa and the Guardians of the Sacred Tree for $20.37

Towa and the Guardians of the Sacred Tree was a surprise hit from Bandai Namco in 2025, featuring a brand new cast of characters and world to discover. Dubbed as Bandai Namco’s first roguelite, this game features a unique mechanic where you constantly switch between two swords to replenish their sharpness. You can pick up a Nintendo Switch copy this weekend for only $20.37.

Octopath Traveler 0 for $40.61

Octopath Traveler 0 was easily one of the most overlooked RPGs of 2025. This massive game packs in a huge amount of content, with over 100 hours required to 100% the game. In our 9/10 review, we wrote, “Octopath Traveler 0 asks you to stick with a 100-hour journey, and it rewards you with the kinds of moments only lengthy RPGs can pull off with its overarching story, an intricate turn-based combat system, and a soundtrack that’ll leave you absolutely floored.”

Yakuza Kiwami 1+2 is $40.61

Yakuza Kiwami and Yakuza Kiwami 2 are remakes of the first two entries in the series, offering enhanced visuals and updated gameplay mechanics. Recently, SEGA went back and updated these releases for modern consoles, and the double-pack is discounted this weekend to $40.61. With over 80 hours of content available between the two, this is an excellent deal, especially for newcomers to the series.

Metroid Prime 4: Beyond – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition for $64.99

Metroid Prime 4: Beyond was only released in December, and today, you can save $5 off a physical copy of the Switch 2 Edition at Amazon. The latest adventure of Samus Aran takes place on the planet Viewros, and you’re given new psychic abilities to utilize in navigating the secrets of the planet. In our 8/10 review, we wrote, “Metroid Prime 4: Beyond is an excellent, if relatively uneven, revival that reaches heights worthy of the Metroid name in its best moments.”

Tekken 8 for $20

We’ve seen this deal before, but it’s a great one! Tekken 8 is on sale for Xbox Series X for $20 at Amazon. With two years of DLC down, this a great time to hop in and prepare for Year 3, which will likely be revealed soon.

Forza Horizon 6 Up for Pre-Order

Xbox and Playground Games finally revealed a first look at Forza Horizon 6 this week, and the game is set to launch this May for Xbox Series X|S and PC. Tokyo is Horizon’s biggest city ever, with over 550 cars to discover and all sorts of new mechanics to explore. Lock in your copy today at Amazon and prepare for the biggest Horizon Festival yet.

Super Mario Galaxy + Super Mario Galaxy 2 for $58.99

Super Mario Galaxy + Super Mario Galaxy 2 released for Nintendo Switch last Fall, and today, you can score this double pack for $58.99 at Woot! These two adventures are some of Mario’s greatest, making this a must-own game for any Switch owner. Plus, there’s a free update for Nintendo Switch 2 that enables 4K support.

Daemon X Machina: Titanic Scion for $40.61

As the sequel to 2019’s Daemon X Machina, Titanic Scion had plenty of room to expand. The combat has been overhauled with new armor, gameplay mechanics, and more. However, the real star of the show is Titanic Scion’s open world, which is much expanded from the original game. If you’re a mecha fan, don’t hesitate to grab a PS5 copy this weekend and take Daemon X Machina: Titanic Scion for a spin.

Return to Silent Hill 4K Steelbook Up for Pre-Order

If you watched Return to Silent Hill in theaters or are just waiting for the home release, Amazon has opened pre-orders for the 4K Steelbook this weekend. This exclusive edition also features a 4×6 lenticular of Pyramid Head, which you cannot get at any other retailer.

Super Mario Bros. Wonder – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Meetup in Bellabel Park up for Pre-Order

Finally, Super Mario Bros. Wonder’s Nintendo Switch 2 Edition is set to launch in late March. Pre-orders have opened up, and you can secure your copy today. If you’re wanting to save by grabbing the upgrade pack separately, you can pick up a Nintendo Switch copy at Woot for $46.99, which saves you $14.

Noah Hunter is a freelance writer and reviewer with a passion for games and technology. He co-founded Final Weapon, an outlet focused on nonsense-free Japanese gaming (in 2019) and has contributed to various publishers writing about the medium.

Dragon Ball 40th Anniversary Event: Everything Announced

2025 marks 40 years since Akira Toriyama’s ground-breaking Dragon Ball manga first hit shelves in Japan. The Dragon Ball Genkidamatsuri was held in Japan over the weekend to celebrate the global manga, anime and video game phenomenon. Taking up the huge Makuhari Messe event space near Tokyo, the event featured everything from exclusive merch, live game contests, and specially-curated exhibits of original artwork. The main stage was packed with exciting announcements about where the series is headed after the death of series creator Akira Toriyama, including two new anime TV series, a new game and a “massive” new DLC for Dragon Ball Sparking! Zero.

Dragon Ball Super: The Galactic Patrol Anime

The event kicked off with a brief talk between Son Goku’s Japanese VA Masako Nozawa and Dragon Ball series executive producer Akio Iyoku, followed by the premiere of a special video marking the 40th anniversary of Dragon Ball. Featuring music specially composed by Hans Zimmer, the film celebrates the evolution of Dragon Ball over the years, from Toriyama’s original manga drawings through to its various anime adaptations. The end of the video revealed a brand new anime series, Dragon Ball Super: The Galactic Patrol, prompting excited clapping from the audience.

Dragon Ball Super: The Galactic Patrol will adapt the Moro or Galactic Patrol Prisoner Arc (Chapters 42 to 67) of the Dragon Ball Super manga. It follows on from the Universe Survival Arc of the Dragon Ball Super anime, which aired between 2015 to 2018. Dragon Ball Super: The Galactic Patrol is currently in production, and fans will have to wait until 2027 to see Son Goku and Vegeta battle it out against Moro.

Age 1000 Game Project

Next, Iyoku was joined on stage by Dragon Ball Games producer Masayuki Hirano, who revealed a flashy trailer for a brand new game project, Age 1000. However, the game’s official title will be announced later.

The Age 1000 project is good news for fans who thought they would never see any new creations from Dragon Ball creator Akira Toriyama after his death in 2024. Apparently, Bandai Namco started developing Age 1000 around seven years ago, and Toriyama himself put a lot of work into the game’s worldbuilding and brand new characters. The trailer shows a mysterious grey-haired young man decked out in Capsule Corp gear, with Hirano revealing that “I asked Toriyama sensei to create this character especially for the game.” Although the new character seems like a new Super Saiyan, Hirano was tight-lipped about who he is. However, fans will have to wait for Dragon Ball Games Battle Hour 2026 (to be held on April 18-19 in LA) for further details.

The project’s name calls to mind Dragon Ball Online, which took place in the age 1000- so it seems the new game will also be exploring this time period. “We have spent a long time carefully crafting this project.” Iyoku explained. “I think this game will allow us to experience a brand new part of the Dragon Ball world.” Age 1000 is slated for a 2027 release.

Dragon Ball Sparking! ZERO to get “massive” new DLC

Dragon Ball Sparking! Zero producer Jun Furutani revealed that the fighting game will be getting a “massive” new DLC this summer. The trailer for the DLC teased even more playable characters (including Super Android 17 and Demon King Piccolo), new costumes, new super attacks for Vegeta and Goku, as well as new stages and modes.

The upcoming DLC will also have its own theme song, Zero, sung by series veteran Hironobu Kageyama- who is known for his many Dragon Ball Z theme songs. Kageyama performed the new song, saying he was honored to contribute to Dragon Ball again after 18 years. With Zero, he aimed to create a cheerful and powerful song that will energize anyone who hears it.

For those who can’t wait, producer Furutani also reminded PS5, Xbox Series X/S and Steam players that Dragon Ball Sparking! Zero is getting a free DLC on January 26, the Mission 100 single player mode (which longtime fans will remember from Dragon Ball Budokai Tenakichi 3). He announced that Nintendo Switch and Switch 2 versions of the game will be getting the DLC at a later date: “please bear with us a little longer.”

Dragon Ball Super: Beerus Anime

After lunch, Dragon Ball series executive producer Akio Iyoku and Son Goku VA Masako Nozawa returned to the stage alongside VA Koichi Yamadera for another new anime series announcement. Dragon Ball Super: Beerus, a remake of Dragon Ball Super’s first arc, is coming in Fall 2026.

Iyoku describes Dragon Ball Super: Beerus as an “enhanced version of the story.” The upcoming anime series is designed to be “more faithful to the original manga” created by Akira Toriyama. Dragon Ball Super: Beerus will feature enhanced visuals, redrawn and newly added cuts, narrative reworks, and promises to deliver “even more immersive battle scenes” than the original Dragon Ball Super anime.

Dragon Ball Super: Beerus also aims to show Beerus in a more serious light than the mischievous villain people are used to. “Beerus is a powerful enemy and a powerful character, so I wanted to make sure to bring that out this time.” Iyoku explained. Beerus’s voice actor Yamadera added, “You think he (Beerus) is just a weird uncle talking about food (…) but he’s actually the God of Destruction!”

Dragon Ball Super: Beerus will be airing on Japan’s Fuji TV in Fall 2026, with details about international distribution expected to be announced soon. For now, check out the trailer, below.

Despite Akira Toriyama’s passing, Dragon Ball fans have plenty to look forward to over the next two years. Which announcement are you most hyped about?

Image credit: Toei Animation.

Verity Townsend is a Japan-based freelance writer who previously served as editor, contributor and translator for the game news site Automaton West. She has also written about Japanese culture and movies for various publications.