By Sagar V. Mankar 
Bandai Namco has announced its ambitious plans for Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero’s competitive scene with the launch of the first-ever world championship, titled the “Dramatic Showdown Tournament (DST).”
This event will include both online and on-site qualifiers and will culminate in the grand finals during the Dragon Ball Games Battle Hour in Los Angeles in 2025.
Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero, released on October 11, 2024, is the latest entry in the popular Dragon Ball fighting game series. Despite being new, the decision to host this major championship highlights Bandai Namco’s strong commitment to developing its esports potential.
The Dragon Ball franchise already holds a respected position in the fighting game community (FGC), with Dragon Ball FighterZ, launched in 2018, still being a notable presence at major events, including EVO France 2025.
Tournament Structure and Schedule
The championship is structured similarly to other major esports events. It begins with online qualifiers followed by a set of last-chance tournaments:
- 9 Online national tournaments/qualifiers (November-December 2024)
- 7 additional slots available through 7 last-chance “Battle Hour Qualifier” tournaments (January 18, 2025)
- 16 players will compete in the Grand Finals at Dragon Ball Games Battle Hour in Los Angeles (January 19, 2025)
The Battle Hour event will span two days, showcasing not only Sparking Zero but also other Dragon Ball game titles.
When and Where Are the Qualifiers?
The online qualifiers will take place across nine regions, exclusively on the PlayStation 5 platform. Here’s a breakdown of the schedule:
- Mexico: November 16, 2024 (2:00 PM PST)
- Germany: November 17, 2024 (9:30 AM PST)
- UK: November 23, 2024 (10:30 AM PST)
- France: November 24, 2024 (9:30 AM PST)
- Japan: November 30, 2024 (7:00 PM PST)
- Spain: November 30, 2024 (9:30 AM PST)
- Italy: December 1, 2024 (9:30 AM PST)
- USA West: December 7, 2024 (3:00 PM PST)
- USA East: December 8, 2024 (3:00 PM PST)
The top player from each region will secure a spot in the grand finals, while other high-ranking players will have a chance to compete in the last-chance qualifiers for the remaining seven slots.
Registration for the online qualifiers is now open through start.gg. The Battle Hour qualifiers registration will open at a later date.
Tournament Rules
Both the online and on-site qualifiers will follow the same rules:
- Match Format: Best of 3 games (First to 2 wins), Single Elimination
- Mode: DP Battle with a 15-point cap for character selection
- Gameplay Rule: Winners must continue with the same character lineup, while losers can change theirs
- Time Limit: 600 seconds
- Stage Selection: Free choice, with items allowed as per character DP ratings
Which Characters Are Assigned to Each Region?
A unique aspect of this tournament is its character representation format. Unlike most other fighting game tournaments, each player in the Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero World Tournament will represent a specific character from the game.
This format ensures that the 16 competitors will showcase 16 different characters in the finals.
Additionally, the finalist will have a choice from a roster of 40 characters to select their second fighter, adding depth to the gameplay and strategy.
In the announcement video below, Furutani randomly chooses country names from a box to assign characters to finalists from their respective countries.
The character assignments for 9 qualifiers include:
- France: Ultra Instinct Goku
- Germany: Super Baby 2
- USA West: Gogeta
- USA East: Gohan
- Japan: Gotenks
- Mexico: Golden Frieza
- UK: Gogeta
- Italy: Broly
- Spain: Trunks
The character assignments for the 7 Battle Hour Qualifier include:
- Kefla
- Vegeta
- Jiren
- Goku Black
- Super Janemba
- Vegito
- Perfect Cell
To maintain balance, in-game items will be assigned by the organizers as needed.
How Can Fans Watch the Tournament?
The event will be streamed live on:
- YouTube: @BandaiNamcoAmerica and @dbgbh
- Twitch: BandaiNamcoUS
- Free spectator registration available for in-person attendance
For more information visit the official website. And Remember to subscribe to Gaming Foodle for more news!