A recent update on the development of Dragon Ball Z Budokai Tenkaichi 4 has been shared by an insider, and voice actor Sonny Strait.
Bandai Namco and Toei Animation made a big reveal back in March during a Dragon Ball Battle Hour event, announcing a fresh addition to the Dragon Ball Z game series with Budokai Tenkaichi. However, since then, there’s been a notable silence regarding the game’s progress.
While the official word from the publisher remains missing, a well-known voice actor from the Dragon Ball series might have inadvertently shed some light on the game’s development.
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Dragon Ball Z Budokai Tenkaichi 4 development update shared by an insider
The much-loved DBZ fighting game series is gearing up for its return with Budokai Tenkaichi 4. While a specific release date for the game is still elusive, a recent leak suggests that the development process is going on rather well.
The initial whispers about this began when Sonny Strait, the voice behind characters Krillin and Goku’s father Bardock, posted a TikTok video. In the video, he mentioned having a strenuous recording day for a game that involved a lot of shouting.
Sonny Strait has lent his voice to Krillin and Bardock in the English versions of various Dragon Ball releases, including Dragon Ball Z and the Dragon Ball Z: Battle of Gods movie, not to mention several video games. His TikTok video ignited a wave of speculation that he was contributing to Budokai Tenkaichi 4, though he couldn’t outright mention it due to contractual obligations.
While the exact game remained under wraps in Sonny’s video, many fans are leaning towards the assumption that it’s indeed Budokai Tenkaichi 4. Also, renowned insider Geekdom101 has also shown confidence in validating this speculation, hinting that the game’s release might be drawing nearer.
According to Geekdom101, Sonny’s revelations were substantial enough for him to affirm that English voice recordings had begun for BT4. He mentioned, “I found out last week that they were recording BT4 lines in English, but I kept my mouth shut because… well… Dragon Ball ‘leaks’ on Twitter have become a bit of a joke.”
The insider, known for credible leaks in the movies and anime community, reiterated that the game is still far from being completed. He compared the timeline with that of Kakarot, revealing that dub lines were recorded the previous May, underscoring that BT4 is a more extensive project. He tentatively guessed a release window around the summer or fall of 2024.
Well, this Dragon Ball Z Budokai Tenkaichi 4 development leak is an encouraging sign, sparking hope for an official update on the game’s progress in the near future.
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Potential Dragon Ball Z Budokai Tenkaichi 4 Characters
Let’s speculate a bit about the potential roster of Dragon Ball Z Budokai Tenkaichi 4.
Considering the “lot of screaming” remark made by Sonny Strait, it’s reasonable to link this to a Dragon Ball game, given that intense shouting is characteristic of the characters’ in-game battles. He indicated voicing three different characters, and if this pertains to the new Budokai Tenkaichi 4 game, one can safely assume that Bardock and Krillin might be two of those characters.
Sonny Strait voiced these characters, along with General Blue, in Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi 3, released back in 2007. While it’s quite likely that Bardock and Krillin will find their place in the new game, the identity of the third character remains uncertain.
Some fans speculate that this might offer a hint about the sagas included in the game. Krillin/Bardock Z saga and General Blue for OG, combined with Goku from the Super Saga from the teaser. This configuration could potentially represent OG, Z, and Super sagas at launch, promising a diverse and expansive roster that could even encompass the story mode for all three sagas.
However, others have voiced concerns that if it is indeed Budokai Tenkaichi 4, “it’s unusual for dubbing for the game to start so early, especially when just five months ago it was stated that the game was in a ‘very early’ development stage. Conventionally, dub voiceovers occur much later in the game’s development process.”
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While fans have colloquially referred to the new game as Budokai Tenkaichi 4, it’s essential to note that Bandai Namco hasn’t officially given a title to the game yet. Thus, there’s a possibility that the title could deviate from this convention in favor of a fresh direction for the series.
The official Twitter account for the Dragon Ball Games Battle Hour event did share an authentic version of the trailer. And while the YouTube version refers to the series by its Western moniker, “Budokai Tenkaichi,” the event’s shared version uses the Japanese title, “Sparking!”
Hence, it is best to wait for the official reveals and more information on the next Dragon Ball Z Budokai Tenkaichi game.
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