What is Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot?
Developed by CyberConnect2 for Bandai Namco, the action role-playing video game Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot — somewhat hilariously called a “Goku Experience Action RPG” on its official Japanese website! — was released back in January 2020 internationally on the PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC (via Steam). A Nintendo Switch edition came later in September 2021. Updated native PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S versions came in 2024.
“Kakarot” in the game’s title comes from the original Saiyan name for the main character of Dragon Ball, Son Goku.
The game was originally announced back in January 2019 under the code name “Dragon Ball Game Project Z”.
How do I access the DLC packs in Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot?
Once actually in control of your character in-game, pressing the equivalent of your controller’s “Start” button brings up the game’s main menu. DLC is accessed by selecting the “Add-ons” item:
From a fresh “New Game” play session, you do actually have to proceed through a tutorial fight and several brief cutscenes before being able to access the main menu — by skipping all cutscenes, this can be achieved in roughly three minutes of real life time (and obviously slightly longer if you actually do watch all of the cutscenes).
What DLC is available for Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot?
While the base game covers the Saiyan, Freeza, Cell, and Boo arcs of the story (roughly the full “Dragon Ball Z” portion of the television series), there are currently two season passes worth of content — with six individual packs in total (three in each season pass) — that have come out since the game’s release, all of which are played as separate instances from the base game.
Buying any given season pass gives you access to all three individual DLC packs that comprise it. If you happen to purchase a season pass for content that is still actively coming out, you will automatically receive that content “for free” (since you already paid for it!) upon its actual release.
Season Pass 1
The first season pass for Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot contains what later ended up being categorized as two “story episode” entries (themselves sub-packaged together as one purchase) and one “story arc” entry:
- DLC #1 — A New Power Awakens – Part 1
(新たなる覚醒·前編 / “New Awakening – Part 1”)
The first “story episode” DLC is a condensed and loose adaptation of the 2013 theatrical film, Dragon Ball Z: Battle of Gods. Its primary purpose is to let the player “level up” their Goku character from the base game. This DLC pack is played independently of the base game, but progress for Goku — including transformations and leveling — carries back over to the main scenario. This DLC pack was released in April 2020, and was included with the base game on Nintendo Switch. - DLC #2 — A New Power Awakens – Part 2
(新たなる覚醒·後編 / “New Awakening – Part 2”)
The second “story episode” DLC is a condensed and loose adaptation of the 2015 theatrical film, Dragon Ball Z: Resurrection ‘F’. This DLC pack is played independently of the base game, and requires the player to have finished the base game as well as the first DLC pack. This DLC pack was released in November 2020, and was included with the base game on Nintendo Switch. - DLC #3 — Trunks – The Warrior of Hope
(-TRUNKS- 希望の戦士 / “Trunks – Warrior of Hope”)
The third DLC is a “story arc” entry (the first of this type, and setting the stage for all future DLC releases), adapting and expanding upon the 1993 Trunks TV special. This DLC pack is played independently of the base game, but does not require any specific progress be made other than getting to the respective menu. This DLC pack was released in June 2021.
Season Pass 2
The second season pass for Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot contains three “story arc” entries:
- DLC #4 — Bardock: Alone Against Fate
(-BARDOCK- たったひとりの最終決戦 / “Bardock: A Final, Solitary Battle”)
The fourth DLC is a “story episode” entry adapting and expanding upon the 1990 Bardock TV special. This DLC pack is played independently of the base game, but does not require any specific progress be made other than getting to the respective menu. This DLC pack was released in January 2023. - DLC #5 — The 23rd World Tournament
(波乱の天下一武道会 / “Troubles at the Tenka’ichi Budokai“)
The fourth DLC is a “story episode” entry adapting and expanding upon the 23rd Tenka’ichi Budokai, a story arc from the original manga and television series. This DLC pack is played independently of the base game, but does not require any specific progress be made other than getting to the respective menu. This DLC pack was released in August 2023. - DLC #6 — Goku’s Next Journey
(そして１０年後 / “And So, After 10 Years”)
The sixth DLC is a “story episode” entry adapting and expanding upon the 28th Tenka’ichi Budokai, a story arc from the very end of the original manga and television series. This DLC pack is played independently of the base game, but does not require any specific progress be made other than getting to the respective menu. This DLC pack was released in February 2024.
Other DLC Packs
There are other pieces of downloadable content that are not story-focused. Some of these include the “Music Compilation Pack” (the same batch of songs also separately made available in Dragon Ball XENOVERSE 2 and Dragon Ball FighterZ) and the “Bonus Item Pack” which includes access to what were originally pre-order bonus items (including a small sub-quest and early access to battle Bonyu in the battle simulator — more on that below).
Will there be a third season pass?
In March 2024, the official Dragon Ball video games Twitter account confirmed that Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot will continue to receive additional development support.
At New York Comic Con in October 2024, this additional content was revealed to be be Dragon Ball Daima-focused, with an all new “Daima: Adventure Through the Demon Realm” expansion coming across two packs. A release date has not yet been announced for these new packs.
How much do the DLC packs and Season Passes cost?
Season Pass 1 costs $24.99 and nets you access to DLC Packs #1, #2, and #3. Individually, DLC Packs #1 and #2 (their own combined sub-pack) costs $9.99, while DLC Pack #3 (Trunks) costs $19.99. Therefore, buying the season pass is roughly a $5 savings over buying the three DLC packs piecemeal.
Season Pass 2 costs $39.99 and nets you access to DLC Packs #4, #5, and #6. Individually, DLC Pack #4 (Bardock) costs $19.99, while DLC Packs #5 (23rd Tenka’ichi Budokai) and #6 (28th Tenka’ichi Budokai) cost $13.99 each. Therefore, buying the season pass is roughly an $8 savings over buying the three DLC packs piecemeal.
Beyond story content, do the DLC packs come with anything else?
Players are able to unlock new special attacks for characters in the DLC packs, though these are generally relegated to just those specific versions of the characters within that specific DLC pack.
Beyond this, however, new Soul Emblems can be unlocked, which are accessible on the main Community Board across the full game.
What is the Bonyu DLC?
The “The Mystical Member of the Ginyu Force” DLC pack was originally a pre-order/first-printing bonus inclusion. It is not available for sale separately, but the content it grants early access to is accessible in the normal, base game through standard unlock means for all players.
In this battle simulator challenge, players can fight against Bonyu, a new character designed by Akira Toriyama, said to be of the same race as Jheece and was once part of the Ginyu Special-Squad… but left because she hated “that pose”…?!
Players without early access via the pre-order bonus can unlock this fight against Bonyu by chatting with the Capsule Corporation research assistant (who should be familiar as No. 21 to Dragon Ball FighterZ players!) beginning in the Cell arc.
What is the difference between the “Deluxe” and “Legendary” editions?
The “Deluxe” digital edition of the game ($84.99 MSRP) comes packed with the base game and the first season pass; it does not include the second season pass.
The “Legendary” digital edition of the game ($119.99 MSRP) comes packed with the base game and both the first and second season passes.
Additional Resources
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