Since its launch, Dragon Ball FighterZ has been arguably the best game to represent the iconic anime series, with over-the-top action and gorgeous visuals almost ripped straight from the original manga. Despite this, there have been little to no updates to this title, causing it to fade in popularity over time. However, a surprise announcement at EVO France finally adds something new to this beloved fighting game.

The last big update for Dragon Ball FighterZ was earlier this year, which saw the game finally receive rollback netcode for its online matchmaking. This was long overdue, as the original announcement for this change was back in 2022. EVO news gives way to the first drastic change to the game in 3–4 years, promising to add a new character in Spring 2026 and a major balance patch right away.

Dragon Ball FighterZ Receives A Surprise Update 7 Years After Its Release

Collaboration Introduces New Content Long After Player Expectations

EVO France saw the announcement of the Dragon Ball FighterZ Masters Showdown, an invitational event where players are invited to compete against some of the strongest tournament winners from the game’s history. However, in addition, a large balance patch was shown off for release as part of a surprise update that launched on October 12, 2025.

This balance change was only a dozen hours after the announcement, marking perhaps the most sudden and surprising update for the game yet. This patch adds new mechanics to the game and adjusts the abilities of some characters, buffing some to be stronger while toning down others to match the balance of the larger roster.

One of the most prominent changes shown off in the surprise announcement trailer is the ability to time a Z-Reflect, causing time to slow down during a match. This allows players to counterattack from a well-timed Reflect, punishing overagressive opponents.

This update also came with a promise that Spring 2026 would also see the release of a new character — Super Saiyan 4 Goku. This is incredibly reminiscent of the last character released for the game, a variant of Android 21 in FighterZ that was added suddenly without much warning.

SS4 Goku comes is the version of the character from Dragon Ball DAIMA, the latest Dragon Ball show that aired between late 2024 and early 2025. This show has collaborated with other Dragon Ball games too, adding new characters to Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero as DLC much like SS4 Goku for FighterZ.

Balance Changes & A New Character Breathe New Life Into An Iconic Dragon Ball Title

Dragon Ball FighterZ SS4 Goku from DAIMA series added as new character

Although SS4 Goku doesn’t have an exact release date yet, the fighting game community surrounding Dragon Ball FighterZ has responded incredibly well to this update. Numbers of players for the game have skyrocketed overnight, especially as exploration into the balance update has sparked new conversations.

The new mechanics and promise of additional content might inspire players to return to this 3v3 fighting game, or for new players to pick it up for a good price. This growth may even be foreshadowing more support for FighterZ beyond SS4 Goku’s release, especially if the update keeps players inspired to continue playing.

With disappointing Dragon Ball titles in recent years, this update brings back a lot of nostalgia for fighting game fans along with hope for the future. While this Dragon Ball FighterZ update may only be a collaboration, it is a great reminder of how well the game represents legendary figures from an iconic series.