Dragon Ball's Goku Replacement Is Officially The New Face Of The Series

For nearly four decades, Goku has stood at the heart of the Dragon Ball franchise, serving as its unmistakable hero through every major saga. From his humble beginnings as a carefree child with a monkey tail to his evolution into one of anime’s most powerful warriors, Goku has remained the constant driving force behind Dragon Ball‘s popularity.

While beloved characters like Vegeta, Gohan, Future Trunks, and Piccolo have all enjoyed moments in the spotlight, Goku is and always will be goated when it comes to main characters. From his iconic showdown with Frieza on Namek to unforgettable clashes with Cell, Majin Buu, Beerus, and Jiren, Goku has remained the driving force behind many of Dragon Ball‘s greatest moments.

However, after all these years, Dragon Ball is officially poised for a significant changing of the guard, introducing a brand-new protagonist to become the new face of the series (via GR).

Dragon Ball Xenoverse 3 is set to take the franchise in a bold new direction with J-Age’s official debut, the first entirely original lead protagonist to headline a major Dragon Ball game in place of Goku.

Designed by Akira Toriyama before his passing, J-Age serves as the player’s guide into the mysterious Age 1000 timeline, a futuristic era filled with unfamiliar allies, returning fan-favorite characters, and an all-new story that exists beyond the events of previous Dragon Ball adventures.

J-Age is by all means the face of the next generation of heroes tasked with protecting this original world while players forge a legacy of their own. The latest gameplay reveal offered the clearest look yet at how Xenoverse 3 will build on its predecessors. Players will once again have the choice to create a custom warrior and explore a sprawling futuristic West City before embarking on missions alongside other heroes.

Combat is still centered around the fast-paced action and combo-heavy gameplay the series is known for, but we’re getting much larger battles, enhanced cinematics, expanded customization, and unique race-specific transformation paths. The trailer also teased appearances from familiar faces like Vegeta, Piccolo, Future Trunks, Gamma 1, and Broly.

So while J-Age may be the franchise’s newest face, Dragon Ball‘s legendary cast will continue to play a major role throughout the adventure.