Dragon Ball: Sparking! ZERO looks like a return to form when it comes to fanservice, as this new game goes back to the Budokai Tenkaichi formula. While this game will bring back huge arenas and hundreds of characters, we won’t be getting local split-screen multiplayer, for some reason.
In an interview with Laun Le Mal (transcribed by ShonenGames), the game’s developers said that there won’t be split-screen for local multiplayer due to issues with Sony and Microsoft. The devs are hoping to include it by the time this game comes out, but it looks like Sony and Microsoft’s focus on online gaming is preventing that.
“The local split-screen mode will ultimately not be available, not due to the developers, but because of issues related to Sony and Microsoft, making split-screen adaptation complicated,” said the devs. “They are trying to find a solution, but for now, there won't be split-screen, possibly due to Sony and Microsoft policies favoring the sale of more consoles.”
Considering how popular the multiplayer was in the other Budokai Tenkaichi games, not having that feature in Dragon Ball: Sparking! ZERO is a huge shame. Knowing that it’s a decision from Sony and Microsoft feels a bit scummy, especially since they do charge players just so they can use online multiplayer.
Aside from that, it was also mentioned that developing Sparking! ZERO for Xbox has been a bit difficult. Not just because of the split-screen restrictions but due to how they have to port the game down to Xbox Series S. That’s not too surprising as several devs have complained about porting down to that console, but that seems to be a common burden these days.
We do hope that everything works out and we eventually get local split-screen multiplayer for Dragon Ball: Sparking! ZERO. After all, we want to challenge all of our friends as all the versions of Goku and Vegeta.
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No release date for Dragon Ball: Sparking! ZERO has been announced but it is coming to PS5, Xbox Series, and PC.