Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero

Gaming

Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero is an absolute blast

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When I was a lot younger, I really, really wanted to become a Super Saiyan. While I still haven’t completely given up, I’m glad BANDAI NAMCO keeps putting out games where I can live this power fantasy. The latest on the docket is Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero or DBSZ / Sparking as many of the game’s community has started calling out. 

Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero is the sequel to the Budokai Tenkaichi series. It’s a 3D Arena fighting game that feels like it’s built specifically for Dragon Ball and its many earth-shaking and heaven-breaking characters. 

To get you properly hyped, here’s the opening sequence of the game featuring the opening theme of Dragon Ball Super during the Tournament of Power Arc. 

Shake the Earth

Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero has a massive roster featuring 182 characters. Even if you take out the transformed characters, you still end up at around 80 which is still a lot. 

The game features two primary modes: Episode Battle and Custom Battle. 

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In Episode Battle, players will be able to relive some of the epic battles from the anime with 8 different characters available, Goku, Vegeta, Gohan, Piccolo, Jiren, Future Trunks, Goku Black and Frieza. They will all have different lengths with Goku being the biggest with events starting from the Saiyan invasion on Earth, up until the Tournament of Power in Dragon Ball Super.

In Custom Battle, players will not only discover some of the original scenarios created by the development team, but they can also create their own dream scenarios with pre-battle and post-battle cutscenes or specific effects and the characters they want, before sharing it with the world!

Sparking! Episodes

What many of the early marketing releases don’t tell you is that the Episode Battles contain Sparking! Episodes. These are What If scenarios providing you with alternate storylines during key moments of the many arcs of Dragon Ball.

If you start playing through Son Goku’s episodes, you’ll encounter a potential What If scenario immediately right before and during the battle against Raditz. The possible diverging path is marked as broken blue lines on the progress screen. 

As I’ve been extremely excited over the game, I’ve really seen plenty of these What If scenarios uploaded online. I personally don’t mind spoilers that much, so I wasn’t too peeved. But I’ve already seen one regarding my favorite character, Gohan, and I can’t wait to play through his Sparking Episodes. 

Break the Heavens

Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero’s bread and butter is its relatively simple but extremely flashy combat. The game offers two types of controls to start: Standard and Classic. 

Veterans of the Budokai Tenkaichi might opt for Classic controls. Since I’m technically a newbie, I went with the Standard one. 

Combos, movement, and super finishes are generally easy to pick-up. However, I still suggest quickly going through the Tutorial Training featuring Gohan, Piccolo, and Goten for a more precise grasp of the controls. 

This is especially true if you’re going for the transformation and fusion routes in matches. Transformations and fusions require a certain number of Skill Points before they can be accessed. The skill point meter builds up naturally through battle. 

Why not just pick an already transformed character? Well, DBSF is lore accurate. That means it is not concerned with keeping the game balanced unlike most other fighting games. When you start off with an already transformed character, you get fewer health bars vs doing the transformation in-game. 

In certain matches, you’re also only limited to 15 Destruction Points for your team. There are point totals assigned to each character. This is where the game applies the balance. By giving higher DPs to stronger characters. 

The presentation during battles is where DBSF truly shines. While the controls are the same, each character has their own unique animations. And all of them are fairly faithful to their anime/manga counterparts. Yes, there are certain movesets here that are present in the manga but not in the anime. 

Battles are as tense, fast-paced, and bombastic as the anime. If, like yours truly, you spent some of your childhood pitting Dragon Ball action figures against each other, DBSF is the ultimate recreation of that in game form. 

Fillers

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Elsewhere in the game you’ll find many interesting things too. For instance, there’s a character gallery screen where you can have main Dragon Ball ladies Bulma, Chi-Chi, and Videl talk about the characters displayed on the screen. 

The one featuring Future Gohan was particularly heartwarming while many of the rest are an absolute laugh trip. The game carried over not only Dragon Ball’s action but also its humor.

These are also present in the intro dialogues between the characters right before they battle. Some are hilarious, some heartfelt, while others are just flat out badass. 

 

Another cool thing the game does is have some characters locked to start the game. By playing through the Episode Battles, you gain Zeni and Dragon Balls for three different dragons.

Characters can be unlocked just by completing certain stories. While the rest can be obtained through the store through the generous amounts of Zeni you get or by collecting the many dragon balls and wishing for them. 

For Dragon Ball die-hards

Dragon Ball is a beloved franchise and is loved by many. In fact, throughout the game’s early access period, my social feed has been bombarded with content about the game. So, I’m fairly certain those interested are already playing or have already ordered the game. 

Even if you’re new to the Budokai Tenkaichi series, Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero is still a worthy pick-up especially if, like me, you have an irrational attachment to the Dragon Ball franchise. 

While it’s not a perfect game, it truly Breaks the Earth and Shatters the Heavens.


Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero is now available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam.

Digital Editions

Deluxe Edition 

  • Base Game (Digital download edition)
  • 3 Days Early Access
  • Season Pass (DLC 1, 2 & 3 featuring over 20 playable characters)
  • Season Pass Bonus Content (Summon Shenron & Early Access to DLCs

Ultimate Edition

  • Base Game (Digital download edition)
  • 3 Days Early Access
  • Season Pass (DLC 1, 2 & 3 featuring over 20 playable characters)
  • Season Pass Bonus (Summon Shenron & 3-Day Early Access to DLC)
  • Ultimate Upgrade Pack (Goku (Super) Costume with Power Pole, Emote Voice Set, 2 player card backgrounds, 1 customisation item that increases a character’s fighting ability)
  • Ultimate Edition Bonus (Summon Super Shenron)

Sound Ultimate Edition

  • Base Game (Digital download edition)
  • 3 Days Early Access
  • Season Pass (DLC 1, 2 & 3 featuring over 20 playable characters)
  • Season Pass Bonus (Summon Shenron & Early Access to DLC)
  • Ultimate Upgrade Pack (Goku (Super) Costume with Power Pole, Emote Voice Set, 2 player card backgrounds, 1 customisation item that increases a character’s fighting ability)
  • Ultimate Edition Bonus Content (Summon Super Shenron)
  • Anime Songs & BGM Pack 1 (11 tracks)
  • Anime Songs & BGM Pack 2 (11 tracks)

Packaged Edition

Premium Collector’s Edition 

  • Base Game (package edition)
  • DRAGON BALL: Sparking! ZERO exclusive diorama
  • DRAGON BALL SUPER Card Game Fusion World (Card set exclusive to the DRAGON BALL: Sparking! ZERO Premium Collector’s Edition)
  • SteelBook®
  • Metallic Bookmark
  • Ultimate Upgrade Pack (Goku (Super) Costume with Power Pole, Emote Voice Set, 2 player card backgrounds, 1 customisation item that increases a character’s fighting ability)
  • Ultimate Edition Bonus (Summon Super Shenron)
  • Season Pass (DLC 1, 2 & 3 featuring over 20 playable characters)
  • Season Pass Bonus (Summon Shenron & 3-Day Early Access to DLC)

Pre-order Bonus

  • Playable characters early unlock
  • The below six characters will be available for use from the start of the game:
    • Gogeta
    • Gogeta, Super Saiyan
    • Gogeta, Super Saiyan God Super Saiyan
    • Broly
    • Broly, Super Saiyan
    • Broly, Super Saiyan (Full Power)
  • One playable character

Gaming

IKEA, Xbox launch nine-piece YXSTABY gaming collection

Gaming inspired furniture

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Gaming setups don’t have to look like dedicated gaming rooms. IKEA and Xbox are making that easier with their new YXSTABY collection.

The nine-piece collection combines IKEA’s furniture design expertise with Xbox’s understanding of gaming. It brings together functional furniture and playful accessories inspired by Xbox controllers.

IKEA launched the collection in the Philippines on November 4 at its Pasay showroom. The event featured interactive room setups that demonstrated how the furniture fits into everyday homes.

The launch also included a cosplay runway inspired by IKEA’s iconic blue and yellow FRAKTA bag. Guests explored immersive gaming stations and experienced the collection firsthand.

Gaming furniture designed for everyday homes

YXSTABY addresses the challenges of fitting gaming setups into shared living spaces. Its furniture supports different gaming positions while keeping accessories organized.

The gaming lounge chair accommodates both forward-leaning gameplay and relaxed reclining positions. A rolling side table keeps gaming accessories within reach.

The collection also includes flexible storage for cables and accessories. Its felt inserts protect stored items, while its foldable design doubles as a laptop stand.

Families can also move their gaming setups between rooms. A TV stand with castors makes it easier to relocate equipment without dedicating an entire room to gaming.

Xbox controller-inspired accessories

Xbox’s influence extends beyond the collection’s gaming furniture. Several accessories take inspiration from familiar controller elements.

The Gaming D-pad cushion recreates the controller’s distinctive directional button. A stainless steel platter also borrows its design from the D-pad.

Another standout is the tilting thumbstick stool, which takes inspiration from an Xbox controller’s analog stick. A mirrored display box gives collectors a dedicated space for controllers and other gaming memorabilia.

Bringing gaming into Filipino homes

IKEA Philippines Sales Leader May Castillo highlighted the collection’s relevance to local households.

She pointed to the Philippines’ strong gaming culture and the country’s high engagement with video games across different devices.

IKEA Philippines Selling Manager Sarah Cox said the collection draws inspiration from Xbox controllers and how gamers actually play. It also incorporates IKEA’s playful approach to furniture design.

The collaboration brings together two brands with different strengths. IKEA understands how people use their living spaces, while Xbox understands what players need from their gaming setups.

The result is furniture that makes gaming more convenient without making the rest of the home feel like a gaming room.

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The next Elder Scrolls game is called Sentinel

And it will be set in Hammerfell.

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Can you believe that it’s been over eight years since Bethesda announced The Elder Scrolls VI. Since then, we’ve seen neither hide nor hair of the upcoming title. Today, the studio has mercifully revealed a tiny bit more about the game including its title and setting.

Historically, the Elder Scrolls franchise is not known for its numbering. It’s not The Elder Scrolls III, IV, and V; it’s Morrowind, Oblivion, and Skyrim. Now, we know what The Elder Scrolls VI will be called — Sentinel.

The name is also a huge clue as to where the game will take place. Besides being the name of the game itself, Sentinel is also the capital of Hammerfell, a region in northwest Tamriel. The teaser, which shows a sword being uncovered from a pile of sand, confirms this. After all, the Alik’r Desert is one of the region’s highlights.

Now, Hammerfell is not a new region for players. The region, especially the titular Sentinel, was previously featured in The Elder Scrolls II: Daggerfall. Obviously, not a lot of gamers would have played this classic game before, so a return will introduce the region to a lot more modern players.

Unfortunately, despite throwing us a bone with the name and the setting, Bethesda did not reveal when the title is coming. Given that Grand Theft Auto VI is launching very soon, the time is ripe for the launch of another much-awaited title.

SEE ALSO: The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered is out now

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Wild Rift Patch 7.3, celebrates K/DA comeback

K/DA returns with FIRESTARTER

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Riot Games is celebrating the return of virtual K-pop group K/DA with new music, exclusive skins, and major gameplay updates in League of Legends: Wild Rift Patch 7.3.

After a six-year hiatus, K/DA returns with FIRESTARTER, the group’s newest track and the title track of an EP featuring three additional songs. The release marks a new chapter for the virtual group, which brings its latest musical era to the mobile MOBA through the new HEATBRINGER skinline.

To celebrate the comeback, Riot Games hosted FIRE IT UP: The K/DA Comeback Party in the Philippines. The event brought fans together for a listening party featuring music from across Riot Games’ virtual acts, live Wild Rift gameplay, community activities, and exclusive photo opportunities.

Attendees also experienced live AAA ARAM matches featuring gameplay disruptions and augments inspired by Riot Games’ musical universe, including HEARTSTEEL, Pentakill, and TRUE DAMAGE.

K/DA returns with new HEATBRINGER skins

The K/DA comeback introduces the HEATBRINGER skinline, featuring new looks for the group’s four original members: Ahri, Akali, Evelynn, and Kai’Sa.

The skins give the champions a new visual identity inspired by K/DA’s latest musical era, with fiery red and white elements that bring their stage presence to the Rift.

The collection also includes Prestige K/DA HEATBRINGER Evelynn.

The new skins are exclusive to Wild Rift and are scheduled to launch on November 4, 2026.

The comeback extends beyond the cosmetics. With FIRESTARTER and its accompanying EP now available on major music streaming platforms, K/DA’s return brings together Riot Games’ music and gaming communities.

Wild Rift Patch 7.3 overhauls marksmen and item builds

Beyond the K/DA celebration, Patch 7.3 introduces significant gameplay changes that reshape champion builds, jungle strategies, and objective control.

One of the biggest changes targets marksmen, giving critical-strike builds more room to scale. Base critical-strike damage increases from 175% to 200%, while the attack-speed cap rises from 2.5 to 3 attacks per second.

Several marksmen also receive individual adjustments, including Ezreal, Kai’Sa, Twitch, Lucian, Caitlyn, Draven, Miss Fortune, Samira, Zeri, Jinx, Vayne, and Ashe.

The item system gets an overhaul to support these changes. Players can explore new or redesigned options, including Hexoptics, Yun Tal Wildarrows, Fiendhuler Bolts, Stormrazor, Rapid Firecannon, and Immortal Shieldbow.

Lifesteal also receives changes intended to support basic attacks, on-hit damage, and abilities treated as basic attacks.

Support items are part of the update, too. Echoes of Helia is positioned toward offensive supports who want to convert damage into healing, while Ardent Censer, Staff of Flowing Water, and Harmonic Echo also receive changes.

Jungle changes reward efficient farming

Patch 7.3 also changes how junglers approach the early and mid-game.

The updated jungle system rewards consistent camp clearing with bonus gold and introduces a catch-up mechanic for junglers who fall behind. This reduces the pressure to constantly gank and encourages players to balance farming with opportunities to assist their teammates.

Clearing camps also progresses Ecosystem Protection stacks, allowing Smite to scale from 600 to 1,000 and eventually 1,400 true damage.

These changes make efficient farming more important when preparing to secure major objectives such as Baron Nashor, Rift Herald, and Dragons.

Epic monsters also adjust to the pace of each match, scaling according to the average player level rather than simply growing stronger as time passes.

Turrets receive substantial changes as well. Plating now extends to outer, inner, and inhibitor turrets and remains permanently. The new Crystalline Overgrowth mechanic lets turrets accumulate crystals that champions can detonate with their first basic attack.

Together, these changes place greater emphasis on lane pressure, defensive positioning, and coordinated pushes. Winning team fights remains important, but teams must also turn their advantages into meaningful objective damage.

Hwei, Sylas, and Rek’Sai join the roster

Patch 7.3 expands the champion roster with three additions: Hwei, Sylas, and Rek’Sai.

Hwei, the Visionary, brings a flexible set of abilities to the mid lane. His Subject: Disaster, Subject: Serenity, and Subject: Torment ability groups give him tools for dealing damage, supporting allies, and controlling opponents.

Sylas offers explosive damage and crowd control. His kit includes an ability that pulls enemies into a stun-to-knock-up combination, while Kingslayer restores health based on his missing health. His ultimate lets him steal an enemy champion’s ultimate ability.

Rek’Sai brings another approach to initiating team fights. Her Unburrow ability knocks up nearby champions, while her ultimate helps her track nearby enemies before striking.

These additions give players more options for adapting their team compositions and strategies.

Ranked play and game modes get updates

Competitive players also get changes to Ranked and Legendary Ranked.

The S/A and MVP scoring systems now evaluate performance according to a player’s lane and champion role instead of relying on a single universal metric. Strong performances can also yield more Ranked energy.

Legendary Ranked receives adjustments to its seasonal entry requirements for former Grand Masters, alongside a new trial format designed to help top performers advance from Legendary Commander Rank.

Players looking for something different can also try Rift Rumble, a new 3v3 mode played on a symmetrical map. Teams battle for kills and compete to capture ultimate stones that can change how their champions secure eliminations.

Meanwhile, AAA Realm continues to evolve with a music-themed season and new augment cards. These include Sonic Waves, which draws inspiration from Riot Games’ musical acts, including HEARTSTEEL, Pentakill, and TRUE DAMAGE.

A new era for K/DA and Wild Rift

With FIRESTARTER, the HEATBRINGER skins, and a sweeping gameplay update, Patch 7.3 connects Riot Games’ music and gaming communities through a shared celebration.

K/DA’s return gives fans a new soundtrack and fresh looks for their favorite champions, while the gameplay changes introduce new ways to approach champion builds, jungle farming, and map control.

Players can follow Wild Rift Philippines’ official social media channels for updates on the latest patch, champion releases, and in-game content.

K/DA returns with FIRESTARTER.

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