Unveiling the Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero Bug Crisis
A destructive bug has become the bane of Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero players, jeopardizing hours of gameplay if consoles are powered down incorrectly. This game, celebrated for its extensive roster of Dragon Ball universe characters, intriguing storylines, and top-notch fighting mechanics, has been well-received by both Budokai Tenkaichi veterans and new players. However, these technical glitches are casting a shadow over the initial positive reception.
The Bug’s Threat: Disappearing Save Files
According to a post on X (previously known as Twitter) from an unofficial account, Sparking! ZERO News, a critical bug affecting PS5, Xbox consoles, and potentially certain PCs, can wipe a player’s entire save file upon console shutdown. Various players have reported encountering this issue, with the trigger conditions varying widely. Simply closing the game while the console remains powered on has led to vanished saves for some.
Currently, there is no official fix for this bug. While some players have managed to recover their progress by syncing local files with cloud backups via PS Plus or Xbox Live, this method isn’t foolproof. Not all systems automatically back up or sync files, leaving many players vulnerable.
Massive Bug Deletes Save Files After Hours Of Progress
Sparking! Zero Players Upset: “I Lost Everything”
The loss of saved game progress has left many players disheartened, prompting them to voice their frustrations online. For instance, a Reddit user named QuickAirSpeed reported losing a staggering 52 hours of gameplay, covering Sparking! Zero’s main storyline and additional content.
Players have shared varying degrees of success in resolving the issue. Some PC users have restored their files through complex methods involving file relocation and disabling Steam Cloud saves, as explained by Reddit user Frosty-Monk-7202. Meanwhile, other players, wary of encountering the bug themselves, have paused their gameplay, awaiting an official resolution. Some, like @BigK1427 on X, have chosen to shelve the game until a fix is provided.
Despite efforts to resolve the situation, including contacting console manufacturers and the game’s publisher, Bandai Namco, no substantial progress has been made. The corrupted save files appear to stem from a deeper issue, potentially without a straightforward solution.
Our Take: Is This A Bug Or Player Error?
Corrupted Saves May Be Related To Hasty Quitting
Among the numerous demands for Bandai to address the problem, a Reddit comment by IansChonkyCats stood out. It suggested that the corrupted save files might not be purely the result of a bug, but rather a consequence of players abruptly closing Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero.
The game autosaves frequently, often uploading these saves to online leaderboards. If a player exits the game suddenly—perhaps in frustration after a tough loss—while a save is being created or uploaded, the file might be corrupted. Without a recent backup, the player would be forced to restart their progress.
As of now, neither the developers nor the publisher have officially acknowledged the issue, hinting that it might be more of a player error than a technical fault.
Preventing Progress Loss in Sparking! Zero
Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero's First DLC Pack May Have Already Leaked
To safeguard your progress in Sparking! Zero, it’s advisable to always exit the game properly, returning to the main menu before shutting down your system. Though slightly inconvenient, this precaution is far better than losing all your progress. Until an official statement is made regarding this critical issue, this method remains a prudent measure.
Sources: Sparking! ZERO News/X, QuickAirSpeed/Reddit, Frosty-Monk-7202/Reddit, @BigK1427/X, IansChonkyCats/Reddit
