Dragon Ball Age 1000: the mysterious forgotten game of Akira Toriyama before his final breath

Dragon Ball Age 1000 now reveals a brand-new universe set far in the future of the famous Dragon Ball timeline, precisely in the year 1000. This project, announced by Bandai Namco in January 2026, stands out for its mysterious aspect and unique legacy: it is not only an innovative video game but also a creation in which Akira Toriyama left his final artistic breath before his passing. In it, we find:

• An original timeline, set 226 years after the Buu arc.
• Original characters designed by Toriyama himself, new to the saga.
• An official announcement with a CGI visual teaser, continuing the aesthetic of Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero.
• A long development process started about 7 years ago.
• A release planned for 2027, with many mysteries still surrounding the gameplay and platforms.

This window offers a glimpse of a new immersive adventure that should captivate both fans and experts of the franchise. Let’s explore together how this game marks a unique turning point, driven by Akira Toriyama’s creative vision, while bringing a fresh breath to the Dragon Ball universe.

Dragon Ball Age 1000: a unique universe created for an imaginary future

Dragon Ball Age 1000 transports us to a very distant future from the official timeline, precisely in the year 1000. This bold temporal choice places the story 226 years after Goku’s famous victory over Majin Buu in the year 774. By moving away from traditional narrative arcs, the game offers a blank slate to redefine the saga’s codes and craft a radically different world.

This decision brings a true narrative break that allows the creators to invent new societies, new stakes, and a renewed geography without recycling classic elements. Rather than sticking to the format imposed by previous episodes or tournament sequences, the game commits to building an unprecedented setting where time has transformed the forces at play and the power dynamics.

The teaser revealed during the Genkidamatsuri event in January 2026 clearly illustrates this intention. The presented world appears both familiar and disorienting, reinforcing an atmosphere of exploration and mystery. Everything seems to suggest that Dragon Ball Age 1000 will favor an ambiance where every detail — settings, technologies, factions — will lay the foundations of an era never before explored in the anime or manga.

A good parallel can be drawn with some science fiction works that use a major time leap to imagine a society deeply changed by time. Here, the Dragon Ball universe opens to a wide range of possibilities, from redefining battles to renewing alliances, without being trapped in the narrative repetitions of the past.

At the lore level, this distancing of over two centuries after Buu allows for a natural evolution of the life force and Saiyan mythology. We can imagine characters surpassing known power limits, evolving in a universe where classic notions of combat and rivalry would have taken on a new dimension. This positioning opens fascinating narrative prospects for seasoned fans and a vast playground for developers.

The year 1000 thus appears as a fertile narrative space where the franchise can reinvent itself while staying true to its DNA, under Akira Toriyama’s benevolent gaze. This creative return promises us an adventure at the crossroads of the known and the novel, a true feat for those who have followed the saga from its beginnings.

Akira Toriyama’s legacy in Dragon Ball Age 1000: an indelible signature

Akira Toriyama’s contribution to Dragon Ball Age 1000 goes beyond mere endorsement. It is a deep and defining collaboration encompassing several key aspects of the project. Toriyama notably supervised the world concept, designed the original characters, and shaped the game’s visual identity. This involvement so close to his final artistic breath gives the title a very special aura.

Over the decades, Toriyama’s reputation rests on his instantly recognizable graphic style and the coherence of his compositions in the Dragon Ball universe. Few projects bear his personal imprint as strongly, which makes Age 1000 a kind of symbolic testament. The teaser shows that every invented character was thought out in the smallest detail to fit within the aesthetic lineage of the classics while representing an exciting novelty.

Bandai Namco has repeatedly confirmed that these new characters are not mere additions to expand a roster but the cornerstone of an original and immersive story. The artist probably nourished these creations with his unique vision of storytelling, blending humor, power, and emotional complexity.

This approach contrasts with some recent Dragon Ball games, where original characters were often less integrated narratively. Here, Toriyama’s personal direction of the design guarantees a consistency that reassures fans about the artistic and narrative quality of the project.

Another essential aspect is the visual continuity evoked by the chosen CGI style, inspired by Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero. This animation technique not only pays tribute to the franchise’s modern aesthetic but also maintains a clear link with the current universe while opening the door to a more ambitious graphical evolution.

This fusion of heritage and innovation is also a strong message to players. It shows that Dragon Ball Age 1000 is not a simple spin-off or commercial game but a major creative act inscribed in the manga and anime trajectory.

What do we know about the gameplay and mechanics planned for Dragon Ball Age 1000?

The mystery still surrounds the precise details of Dragon Ball Age 1000’s gameplay. Bandai Namco has not yet revealed the official platforms, the exact genre, or the offered modes, which naturally fuels curiosity and speculation.

The teaser has only provided visual clues and a universe to discover, but no excerpts of combat or exploration sequences have yet been shared. This restraint suggests the studio wants to reveal this information gradually, with a next appointment planned at Dragon Ball Games Battle Hour in April 2026. That will likely be when the gameplay and features become clearer.

Although rumors speak of a combat-focused game, they remain unofficial. The extended care in sound design, visual identity, and especially the narrative universe suggests the overall experience aims to be rich, varied, and immersive.

Here are some leads considered by the community, based on the clues provided:

• An adventure RPG allowing exploration of this new year 1000 universe.
• A possible mix between strategic combat and dynamic storytelling.
• Mechanics integrating original characters with a central role and their own arcs.
• A graphical orientation combining CGI and traditional animation to enrich the visual feeling.

The developers’ silence on these key points might also mean the project is at an important finishing stage, preferring to reveal features progressively to maintain a surprise effect and build anticipation around quality.

We will thus be able to specifically assess how Dragon Ball Age 1000 exceeds current expectations at the April conference, relying on a gaming experience worthy of the franchise’s reputation and Toriyama’s creative legacy.

A long and careful development: the genesis of a cult game

The Dragon Ball Age 1000 project was born about seven years before its official announcement, a sign of a deep and meticulous development process. Bandai Namco, acting both as publisher and developer, decided to invest time and resources to ensure an exceptionally high-quality final product.

This longevity behind the scenes is especially appreciable in a sector where rushed launches or announcements concurrent with rapid releases of concerned titles sometimes occur. This maturation period reflects a willingness to thoroughly explore the narrative and visual potential of Dragon Ball Age 1000.

The fact that Akira Toriyama was involved very early in the project illustrates that the approach was never limited to a mere commercial exploitation of the license. His influence on development touches the universe, character mastery, and the construction of a strong visual identity, all incarnated in every stage of production.

The official schedule is organized around multiple milestones. After the reveal in January 2026, the public now awaits gameplay details and platform information in April. The release is planned for 2027, leaving time to finalize an adventure that promises to be full of emotions and novelties.

This extended development is particularly reassuring for fans who sometimes fear overly formulaic or soulless products. It suggests that Dragon Ball Age 1000 could become a major reference in the field of video games adapted from anime and manga, alongside acclaimed titles like Dragon Ball Saga Mythique.

Here is a summary table of the known key phases:

Year	Stage	Details
2019	Project launch	Design and creation phase involving Akira Toriyama
2026 (January)	Official announcement	First teaser shown at Genkidamatsuri
2026 (April)	First gameplay revelations	Dragon Ball Games Battle Hour in the USA
2027	Planned release	Worldwide game launch on various platforms (not specified)

The future of Dragon Ball Age 1000: expectations and perspectives for fans and manga enthusiasts

Dragon Ball Age 1000 already raises great anticipation thanks to its promise of substantial renewal, driven by Toriyama’s work and the care given to the created world. This approach should attract both connoisseurs of the franchise and curious players interested in a content-rich adventure video game.

Fans expect an experience where storytelling, character design, and gameplay harmonize to create a coherent whole. The project also comes at the right time in the video game ecosystem, as manga adaptations continue to improve in quality and popularity, notably with renewed cult sagas like One Piece or the new trends observed in must-see modern animes.

On a broader level, Dragon Ball Age 1000 illustrates the franchise’s ability to evolve without sacrificing its identity. This ability to project into an imagined future and create new stories and heroes opens many avenues for future audiovisual and literary productions, in direct connection with the manga and anime.

Moreover, this secret game by Akira Toriyama before his final breath reinforces the work’s value as a cultural heritage now immortalized across different media, in a context where fans increasingly seek authenticity and immersion in their favorite universes.

To stay informed of progress related to Dragon Ball Age 1000 and other manga and anime news, we recommend regularly reading resources like Animes, Stories and Emotions, which push the boundaries of geek culture with passion and expertise.