Is Dragon Ball Sparking Zero Crossplay?
Are you a Dragon Ball fan ready to dive into the explosive action of Sparking! Zero?
With stunning visuals, huge energy attacks, and an insane roster of characters, this game is bringing back the magic of Budokai Tenkaichi in a modern way. But before jumping in, there’s one burning question on everyone’s mind:
Is Sparking! Zero crossplay? Can you fight friends on other platforms?
Let’s break it down clearly, honestly, and with all the details you need.
So… Is Sparking! Zero Crossplay?
The short answer: No, Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero does not support crossplay at launch.
That means if you’re playing on PlayStation 5, you can only battle other PS5 players. Xbox Series X players can only fight others on Xbox. And PC players? They’ll have to stick with fellow PC users.
It doesn’t matter how much you want to fight your best friend who owns a different system—you’re locked to your platform for now.
This has been confirmed by the developers themselves. It’s not a rumor, and it’s not something you can toggle on or off. Cross-platform matchmaking simply isn’t available in any form when the game launches.
Why Isn’t Crossplay in Sparking! Zero?
You might be wondering, “It’s 2025. Why doesn’t it have crossplay? Every big game does now!”
That’s a fair question and one a lot of players are asking.
There are a few possible reasons:
1. Technical Complexity
Fighting games, especially 3D arena fighters like Sparking! Zero, are extremely sensitive to input timing, frame rate, and latency. A small delay or hiccup can ruin a fight. When you mix different systems (like PS5 vs. PC), things get more complicated.
Different platforms have different performance levels, internet setups, and controller inputs. Trying to balance all that for fair, smooth gameplay is tough.
2. Competitive Fairness
In ranked matches, it’s crucial that everyone is on equal ground. If crossplay introduces lag or performance gaps, it could affect competitive balance. The developers may have chosen to keep things separated to ensure high-quality, fair fights.
3. Development Limitations
Sometimes, game engines just aren’t ready for cross-platform play. Adding it in would require a lot of extra work rewriting code, testing network features, and getting approval from different console companies. It’s possible the team just didn’t have time to do it before launch.
Is Crossplay Coming Later?
Right now, there’s no promise of that.
The developers have said they might look into adding crossplay in the future, but they haven’t guaranteed anything. That means you shouldn’t expect it anytime soon. It could happen in a future update—or it might never happen at all.
That’s frustrating, especially when so many other games are embracing cross-platform play. But for now, we have to take the developers at their word: crossplay is not part of the plan.
Online Modes in Sparking! Zero
Even without crossplay, Sparking! Zero has a lot to offer when it comes to online play—just within your platform.
Here are the main online modes you can enjoy:
1. Custom Battle
This mode lets you set up your own rules. Want a fight with only low-tier characters? Want to make a 5-on-5 chaos match? You can tweak the rules and share your creations with others. It’s a fun way to get creative and play the way you want.
2. Ranked Match
This is for the competitive warriors. You’ll fight against players with similar skill levels and climb the leaderboard. But there’s a twist each team is built using a 15-point limit.
Some powerful characters like SSJ4 Gogeta might cost 10 points, while weaker fighters like Krillin might cost 2. That forces players to think strategically and avoid just stacking teams with overpowered characters.
3. Casual Match
These are your standard online fights with no pressure. Win or lose, it doesn’t affect your ranking. Great for practice or just having a chill time with random players.
4. Tournament Mode
You can join or create your own bracket-style tournaments online. Perfect for hosting little community events or testing your skills against groups of fighters.
And yes—if you and your friend are on the same console you can play together. The game even supports local split-screen play, added after fan demand. You’ll need to select the Hyperbolic Time Chamber stage for it to work, but it’s a nice addition that lets two friends enjoy couch play on the same system.
How Does Sparking! Zero Compare to Other Games?
Let’s look at a couple other games that handle crossplay better—just for comparison.
Phasmophobia
This horror game lets PC, Xbox, and PlayStation players join together in ghost-hunting co-op mode. You can team up across platforms with no issue. If a smaller studio can do it for a co-op game, it’s fair to ask why a big fighting game like Sparking! Zero can’t.
Forza Horizon 5
This racing game has full cross-platform support. Whether you’re on PC, Xbox, or the new PlayStation release, you can race together. The game even gives players a toggle option to turn crossplay on or off.
Games like these show that crossplay is not just possible—it’s expected. That’s why so many fans feel disappointed that Sparking! Zero missed the mark.
Fan Reactions
The Dragon Ball community is thrilled about the return of Budokai-style battles. But the lack of crossplay? That’s been a real downer.
You’ll see lots of posts online from players upset that they can’t fight their friends on other platforms. Some call it outdated. Others say it’s a deal-breaker. And many are pleading with the developers to add it in a future update.
Still, many players are choosing to buy the game anyway just on the same platform as their friends.
Final Thoughts: A Great Game With One Big Missing Piece
Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero looks like a dream come true for fans of big anime battles. The characters, visuals, and combat are shaping up to be fantastic.
But the lack of crossplay is a major letdown.
In 2025, when most major games support playing with friends across platforms, it feels like a step backward. Fighting games can be tricky, sure—but many in the community expected more.
If playing online with friends on different systems is important to you, this might be a deal-breaker.
If you and your friends are all on the same console, though, there’s still plenty to enjoy. The online modes are strong, the character roster is huge, and the action is everything you’d expect from a Dragon Ball showdown.
So no, Sparking! Zero is not crossplay… not yet. But there’s still hope.
