New Dragon Ball Gekishin Squadra Update Will Turn It Into A Completely New Game
To celebrate its first anniversary, the free-to-play multiplayer online battle arena game Dragon Ball Gekishin Squadra is undergoing a massive transformation. Developers plan to shift the title into a third-person fighting game to bridge a severe skill gap between veterans and beginners, though the announcement has sparked significant backlash from the existing player community.
A major transformation is on the horizon for the free-to-play multiplayer online battle arena game Dragon Ball Gekishin Squadra. To mark its first year of service, the developers have announced plans to completely overhaul the title, shifting its core genre away from a MOBA and into a third-person fighting game. While the game will remain free to play, the upcoming months will introduce sweeping changes to its fundamental mechanics, effectively turning it into an entirely different experience.
According to a developer letter outlining the transition, the primary motivation behind this drastic redesign is a massive skill gap that has developed within the player base. The developers acknowledged that the game's steep learning curve has resulted in a poor experience for newcomers, many of whom ended up quitting. By restructuring the game, the studio hopes to retain the depth that appeals to veteran players while making the overall experience far more accessible to beginners.
To achieve this balance, the development team is targeting several core pillars of the game, starting with its visual presentation. Dragon Ball Gekishin Squadra will abandon its traditional top-down perspective, which has been a defining feature of its MOBA gameplay. In its place, players will experience the action through a closer, modified camera angle designed to fit the new third-person fighting format.
The developers also pointed to the game's strategic depth and knowledge-based mechanics as key factors that widened the gap between high- and low-skill players. In response, the rules of engagement and the battlefield maps are scheduled for a complete redesign. These adjustments aim to simplify the flow of combat and reduce the reliance on complex, pre-existing game knowledge that previously overwhelmed new users.
Furthermore, the character role system is set to be simplified. The developers want players to be able to select their favorite Dragon Ball characters without being restricted by rigid battlefield roles. While specific details remain sparse, this adjustment likely means that character roles will be selectable or that individual character statistics will have a less drastic impact on combat outcomes. Additionally, the update promises to streamline how players acquire characters, expand advanced gameplay elements, and improve customization features to deliver better visual effects and a more satisfying combat experience.
Despite the developers' intentions to improve the game, the announcement has met with intense resistance from the active community. On the social media platform X, the official announcement was met with a wave of negative replies from frustrated players urging the studio to halt the changes. Many fans expressed anger that the game they have supported over the past year is being completely erased and replaced with a different genre entirely.
The backlash has already led to tangible consequences, with numerous players claiming they have already uninstalled the game in protest. Although the full transition is not expected to be finalized until the end of the year, the community's hostile reaction has cast doubt on the update's future. It remains to be seen whether the developers will proceed with their ambitious overhaul or alter their plans in response to the widespread player dissatisfaction.
Source: Polygon — original reporting
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