Dragon Ball‘s influence is undeniable, whether it’s in anime, manga, or the gaming industry. From its iconic Budokai and Tenkaichi series to the massively popular Dragon Ball FighterZ, Bandai Namco has successfully launched games that captivated fans of the Dragon Ball franchise worldwide. Yet, Bandai Namco’s effort in the One Piece game has been lax despite the series’ overwhelming popularity.
The decision by Bandai Namco to halt production on many anime-related games, including one based on One Piece, has recently incited controversy among the fan base. The cancellation of One Piece projects has particularly raised eyebrows, especially when fans believe that the series has the potential to rival Dragon Ball Z in the gaming sphere; if only it followed the same successful formula.
According to Bloomberg reports, Bandai Namco has recently canceled multiple anime-related games, including those for One Piece and Naruto, as part of a broader restructuring effort. This restructuring includes not only the cancellation of future projects but also a reduction in staff, by placing employees in “idle rooms” to pressure them into quitting.
Fans of One Piece are particularly disappointed by this news. It seems absurd that One Piece, the manga series with the highest sales in history, isn’t getting the same attention in the video game industry as Dragon Ball Z. However, the cancellation exposes a deeper problem: Bandai Namco’s track record of producing lackluster One Piece games.
A lot of the earlier One Piece games fell short of capturing the spirit of the series. Reviews for games like One Piece: World Seeker and One Piece: Burning Blood were mixed; they were often criticized for having flimsy gaming mechanics, poor narratives, and lacking the capacity to really bring the One Piece universe to life.
On the other hand, Dragon Ball Z video games have always featured intense fighting, large-scale storylines, and an accurate portrayal of the popular characters and scenes from the anime.
Simply put, the frustration with Bandai Namco’s handling of the series in the video game industry is what led to the cancellation of the One Piece game. Although One Piece fans know the game has the potential to be just as successful as Dragon Ball Z, they keep getting poor releases that fall short of their expectations.
Despite the fact that One Piece has an even larger and more devoted fan base than Dragon Ball Z, Bandai Namco appears hesitant to fully invest in the series.
One Piece has all the ingredients needed to make a blockbuster video game franchise. With a sprawling world, a diverse and colorful cast of characters, and intense action sequences, the series offers endless possibilities for a successful video game adaptation. Yet, Bandai Namco has consistently fallen short in delivering a One Piece game that meets fan expectations.
It is now up to Bandai Namco to realize One Piece‘s unrealized potential and create a game deserving of its legendary reputation. What One Piece fans want is a game that embodies the magic, adventure, and friendship of the anime, not just the bare minimum. If Bandai Namco succeeds in doing so, the series may eventually ascend to the same gaming heights as Dragon Ball Z.
Dragon Ball Z games are currently available on Steam.
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