Dragon Ball Xenoverse 3: New Races Confirmed But Still Unnamed - What We Actually Know

After nearly a decade of support for Xenoverse 2, Bandai Namco has officially confirmed that Dragon Ball Xenoverse 3 will feature more playable races than ever before.

But here's the catch: executive producer Masayuki Hirano has stated the specific new races are "still TBD," directly contradicting premature reports that have already named Bio-Android and Kaioshin as done deals. With a 2027 release date, an all-new Age 1000 setting designed by the late Akira Toriyama, and a major leak about mysterious "Time Gods of Destruction," the question of which races actually make the cut is shaping up to be one of the most hotly debated topics in Dragon Ball gaming. This article separates official confirmation from rampant speculation and examines what's truly at stake for the franchise.

The Official Word, What Bandai Namco Has Actually Said

Bandai Namco's official announcement on June 23, 2026, confirmed five returning races from Xenoverse 2: Earthlings, Saiyans, Namekians, Majins, and the Frieza race. These were visible in demos shown at Summer Game Fest, though the demo build itself only allowed players to select Earthlings and Saiyans. Multiple reputable preview outlets reported seeing the other races in NPC or character select screens, but they were not playable in that early build.

Note: With a 2027 release window, fans should expect official race reveals no earlier than late 2026. This timeline explains why Bandai Namco has kept details under wraps, they are saving the full roster announcement for a more strategic marketing push.

What matters is what Bandai Namco has said about future content. No official press release, no post on the official Dragon Ball site, and no statement from the developers has ever named a single new race beyond the returning five. When executive producer Masayuki Hirano sat down with MonsterVine for an interview, he was explicit: new races are "still TBD." He also confirmed that character customization will be "deeper and wider" than before, but the identities of any additional races remain undecided. This is the highest-authority confirmation of uncertainty we have, and it directly undermines reports that have treated Bio-Android and Kaioshin as confirmed.

The official Dragon Ball site, which published a preview of the demo, only mentions Earthlings and Saiyans as playable. That gap between what was shown and what's coming is by design. Bandai Namco is evidently saving the full roster reveal for a later date, likely closer to the 2027 launch.

The Speculative Shortlist, Bio-Android, Kaioshin, and Why They Might (or Might Not) Appear

Despite the official silence, some outlets have prematurely reported Bio-Android (think Cell's lineage) and Kaioshin (god-type beings) as "announced" or "newly added" races. These claims lack any supporting evidence from Bandai Namco's official channels. The most accurate reporting on this matter comes from Game Rant, which correctly hedges that these races are "believed to be" new additions and explicitly notes they are not confirmed.

Why are these two races such fan favorites? Bio-Android offers unique cosmetic potential through absorption mechanics, and Kaioshin would bring divine powers straight from the canon. Both would open up entirely new build possibilities: think Cell-style regeneration, absorption-based transformations, or Kaioshin's mystical healing and telepathy. But feasibility and fan desire are two different things. Hirano's "still TBD" statement suggests that the development team is still weighing which races to include, and nothing is locked in.

The risk of reporting rumors as fact is real. When lower-credibility outlets publish speculation as confirmation, fans get misled. We've seen it happen with previous Dragon Ball games, where unsubstantiated leaks caused disappointment when the final product didn't match expectations. Bandai Namco's silence before 2027 is likely a strategic decision to preserve surprises, not a sign of confusion.

The Leak That Could Change Everything, Time Gods of Destruction and Toriyama's Last Designs

Important: This claim is entirely unverified by Bandai Namco and should be treated as speculative until official confirmation.

Now for the wildcard. Dragon Ball insider Geekdom101 claims that Xenoverse 3 will introduce "Time Gods of Destruction", dinosaur-esque beings designed by the late Akira Toriyama. These are said to have two forms: a chibi-like appearance and an anthropomorphic, more humanoid form. The leak has been reported by multiple outlets, but none have obtained official Bandai Namco verification. It remains unverified rumor, but the claim carries weight because of Toriyama's confirmed involvement in the Age 1000 setting.

According to Hirano's interview and corroborated by IGN and Kotaku, Toriyama was deeply involved in creating the Age 1000 lore, character designs, and worldbuilding before his passing in 2024. This makes any leaked design, especially one tied to a new god-tier faction, a historically significant possibility. If true, the Time Gods of Destruction would represent the first major new divine force introduced since Beerus and Whis in 2013's Battle of Gods. Their dinosaur motif would also be a fitting tribute to Toriyama's love of creature design, seen in series like Sand Land and Dragon Quest.

The video below, widely shared in Dragon Ball circles, discusses the implications of this leak in more detail:

Should the Time Gods of Destruction be a playable race, they would fundamentally reshape the game's power scale. Their time-manipulation abilities could tie directly into the new Soul Switch mechanic, allowing players to slow, speed up, or rewind brief moments in combat. That's pure speculation, but it's the kind of creative possibility that has the community buzzing.

Why Races Matter More in Xenoverse 3, Soul Switch and Deeper Customization

Even if we don't know which new races are coming, we know they will matter more than ever. Xenoverse 3 introduces the Soul Switch mechanic, which lets players temporarily take control of iconic Dragon Ball characters in the middle of battle. This means race selection now affects team synergy, ability loadouts, and tactical options. A Saiyan's transformation bonuses might combo differently with a Namekian's regeneration, and a potential new race like the Time Gods could offer unique abilities that no existing race can mimic.

Hirano's promise of "deeper and wider" customization suggests each race will receive more distinct animation sets, stat distributions, and transformation mechanics. In Xenoverse 2, some races felt similar in execution. The sequel appears intent on making each race feel radically different. If Bio-Android and Kaioshin were to appear, their gameplay could revolve around absorption and divine abilities respectively, creating fresh playstyles that go beyond the Saiyan's Super Saiyan power fantasies.

And if the Time Gods of Destruction leak is accurate, the race might be tied to a time-manipulation gimmick that alters how the Soul Switch even functions. That would be a bold design choice, and one that only Toriyama's final creative burst could have inspired.

The Strategic Uncertainty Behind Xenoverse 3's Races

The uncertainty around Dragon Ball Xenoverse 3's new races is not a sign of confusion. It is a sign of careful, deliberate planning by Bandai Namco, and perhaps a desire to preserve surprises until closer to the 2027 launch. While Bio-Android and Kaioshin remain unconfirmed wishful thinking, the Time Gods of Destruction leak offers a tantalizing glimpse of what Toriyama's final creative burst might have produced. For now, players should treat any race name as speculative until Bandai Namco officially speaks. But one thing is certain: race selection will matter more in Xenoverse 3 than in any previous Dragon Ball game, and the wait for answers will only build anticipation. To stay informed, fans should follow official Dragon Ball channels, such as the Bandai Namco website and the Dragon Ball Games Twitter account, for verified updates as the 2027 release approaches.