Dragon Ball’s 40th anniversary was a statement about the franchise’s future. At a major event held at Makuhari Messe in Japan, Bandai Namco, Toei Animation, and Dragon Ball’s leadership unveiled a slate of new anime projects, games, and expansions that signal a new chapter for the series following the death of creator Akira Toriyama in 2024.
Branded as Dragon Ball Genkidamatsuri, the event combined tribute and transition. Alongside emotional homages to Toriyama’s legacy, the companies used the milestone to lay out what comes next across television, gaming, and long-term franchise planning.
Between two new anime series, a major new game project tied to Toriyama’s final work, and large-scale DLC for Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero, the message was clear: Dragon Ball is moving forward, and in a big way.
Emmanuel Umahi
A New Dragon Ball Super Anime Is Coming in 2027
The headline announcement was the confirmation of a new anime series titled Dragon Ball Super: The Galactic Patrol. Revealed on stage by Masako Nozawa, Goku’s longtime Japanese voice actor, and Dragon Ball executive producer Akio Iyoku, the series will adapt the Moro Arc from the Dragon Ball Super manga, also known as the Galactic Patrol Prisoner Saga.
The anime will continue directly from the Universe Survival Arc, which ended in 2018, finally bringing one of the manga’s most popular storylines to television. The Moro Arc follows Goku and Vegeta as they face an ancient energy-absorbing sorcerer whose threat level surpasses previous villains in scale and strategy. The series is scheduled to premiere in 2027, making it the first full continuation of Dragon Ball Super’s main storyline in nearly a decade.
For fans, this fills a long-standing gap between the manga and anime. For Toei, it reactivates one of the franchise’s most valuable TV properties at a moment when Dragon Ball is redefining itself post-Toriyama.
Age 1000: A New Game Built on Toriyama’s Final Work
One of the most significant reveals wasn’t an anime at all, but a new game project currently titled Age 1000. Dragon Ball Games producer Masayuki Hirano confirmed that development on the project began nearly seven years ago and that Akira Toriyama was directly involved in creating the story concepts, worldbuilding, and new characters before his death.
That makes Age 1000 one of the last major Dragon Ball projects shaped by Toriyama himself. The reveal trailer introduced a new protagonist designed by Toriyama, sparking speculation about how the game fits into Dragon Ball’s timeline. The title strongly references the same era as Dragon Ball Online, a future setting where new generations emerge after the age of Goku and Vegeta.
Bandai Namco confirmed that more details will be revealed at Dragon Ball Games Battle Hour 2026 in Los Angeles on April 18–19. The game is targeting a 2027 release, with platforms to be announced later. From a franchise perspective, Age 1000 signals a possible narrative expansion beyond the traditional Goku-centric structure, something Dragon Ball has historically been cautious about.
Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero Gets Major DLC and New Mode
The event also focused on near-term support for Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero. Producer Jun Furutani announced a massive DLC expansion coming in summer 2026, adding new playable characters, stages, costumes, super attacks, and modes. The teaser confirmed characters like Super Android 17 and Demon King Piccolo, alongside new content for Goku and Vegeta.
The DLC will also include an original theme song titled “Zero,” performed by longtime Dragon Ball singer Hironobu Kageyama, who debuted the track live at the event.
Ahead of that, a free update launches January 26 on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC (Steam), adding the long-requested Mission 100 single-player mode, last seen in Budokai Tenkaichi 3. Nintendo Switch and Switch 2 versions will receive the update later. This reinforces Bandai Namco’s intent to treat Sparking! Zero as a long-term platform rather than a one-and-done release.
Dragon Ball Super: Beerus Remake Arrives in 2026
In another major anime reveal, Toei confirmed Dragon Ball Super: Beerus, a full remake of the Battle of Gods arc. Set to premiere in Fall 2026 on Fuji TV in Japan, the series will reimagine Dragon Ball Super’s opening storyline with updated visuals, expanded scenes, and closer alignment with Toriyama’s original manga designs.
Executive producer Akio Iyoku described the project as an “enhanced version” of the arc, aiming to present Beerus less as a comedic figure and more as the terrifying cosmic force he represents. This remake serves both as nostalgia and recalibration, giving one of modern Dragon Ball’s most important arcs a higher-budget, more definitive treatment.
Why This Event Matters for Dragon Ball’s Future
Beyond the individual announcements, the 40th anniversary event carried broader significance. This was the first major Dragon Ball roadmap revealed since Akira Toriyama’s passing. The mix of projects reflects a franchise trying to balance honoring its creator’s legacy while building a future that can stand without him.
The new Super anime continues unfinished storylines. Age 1000 extends Toriyama’s final creative input into the future. The Beerus remake reasserts foundational modern lore. And Sparking! Zero’s ongoing support keeps the games ecosystem active.
Taken together, the event wasn’t just a celebration of Dragon Ball’s past. It was a carefully structured transition moment. Dragon Ball is no longer just preserving history. It’s actively defining what the next era looks like.
