Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero registers record number of peak players amidst rising craze

The much-anticipated Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero has stormed onto the scene, cementing its position as a top-tier fighting game with an impressive player count. Following its explosive early access launch, the successor to Dragon Ball Z Budokai Tenkaichi 3 has attracted an overwhelming number of players eager to showcase their fighting prowess.

In its early access phase, available only to those who pre-ordered the Deluxe or Ultimate Editions, Sparking Zero saw a peak concurrent player count of over 91,000. This staggering figure already surpassed the previous high set by Street Fighter 6, which boasted over 70,000 players last year, but that was just the beginning.

With the full release now available to the public, Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero has raised the bar even higher, achieving a peak of 122,554 concurrent players on SteamDB. While this number was slightly below expectations, it still marks a significant milestone for the game, placing it ahead of almost every other fighting title on PC. The record-breaking player count has been attributed not only to the game’s nostalgic appeal but also to its ability to attract a wide range of players—both hardcore fans of the series and casual gamers alike.

Why Sparking Zero enjoying the success?

One of the most remarkable aspects of Sparking Zero's success is that it nearly tripled the peak player count of Dragon Ball FighterZ, which had been the largest Dragon Ball game on Steam until now. The game’s frenetic action, coupled with fanservice from the beloved anime series, has drawn players in droves. It has even outshone other anime arena fighters like Naruto, Jump Force, Jujutsu Kaisen, Demon Slayer, My Hero Academia, and One Punch Man.

While Sparking Zero dominates the paid fighting game landscape, there is still one title that holds a higher peak player record. MultiVersus, the free-to-play platform fighter, set an unparalleled high of 153,000 concurrent players during its 2022 beta release. Despite coming close with its official launch, which reached 114,000 players, MultiVersus remains the only game Sparking Zero hasn't yet surpassed.

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Nevertheless, with over 100,000 active players currently on PC and more expected on consoles, Sparking Zero is well on its way to becoming a multi-million seller for Bandai Namco. The developer’s strategic marketing, combined with the game’s high-quality production from Spike Chunsoft, seems to have paid off immensely. Sparking Zero's launch may well inspire a new wave of anime arena fighters, potentially revitalizing interest in other subgenres of fighting games.