During the “Dragon Ball Genkidamatsuri” 40th Anniversary event held on January 25, 2026, Bandai Namco and series producer Masayuki Hirano officially unveiled a brand-new game titled Project: AGE 1000. This ambitious project has reportedly been in development for approximately seven years, with significant creative input from series creator Akira Toriyama prior to his passing in 2024. The game is currently slated for a 2027 release. While a specific genre and platforms have not yet been confirmed, early trailers showcase high-fidelity animation and a focus on a “never-before-seen world” that expands the franchise’s lore beyond the standard retelling of the Z-warriors’ history.
Exploring the Future
The title “AGE 1000” refers to the chronological year within the Dragon Ball timeline, placing the story far into the future, roughly 216 years after the conclusion of Dragon Ball Z. This setting mirrors the era of the classic Dragon Ball Online MMO, sparking fan speculation that this project could be a spiritual successor or a complete reimagining of that world’s concepts. Key features revealed so far include:
- Original Characters: The teaser introduced a mysterious new protagonist designed by Toriyama, featuring a unique outfit adorned with Capsule Corp branding and the number “7.”
- Advanced Technology: The trailer depicts virtual training environments and modern technology, suggesting a world where the legacy of the original fighters is studied or simulated.
- Scale and Scope: Developers stated that AGE 1000 will feature more settings and gameplay elements than any previous Dragon Ball title, aiming to be the largest project in the franchise’s history.
Major Announcements at Genkidamatsuri
The reveal of AGE 1000 was part of a massive wave of news for the 40th anniversary. Alongside the new game, Bandai Namco confirmed that Dragon Ball: Sparking! ZERO will receive a major “Mission 100” DLC update starting January 26, 2026, and the Dragon Ball Super anime will return with an adaptation of the “Galactic Patrol” arc later this year. Fans eager for more details on AGE 1000 won’t have to wait long; the next major update is scheduled to be unveiled at the Dragon Ball Games Battle Hour 2026 in the United States on April 18–19.
