If you were stuck before:
Load a save just before the fight, not mid-battle.
Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot update v1.04 is a significant, early-stage patch for the game (released in early 2020) that primarily focused on improving performance and resolving quest-breaking bugs.
Here is the complete guide to the improvements, fixes, and changes in this version, based on the official Bandai Namco Patch Notes Key Improvements in v1.04 Reduced Loading Times: Significantly reduced, particularly during fast travel. Quest Progression Fixes:
Addressed issues in "Telekinesis Training" (Tien fight), "The Longest Three Hours" (missing main story icon), and "Goten's Growth" (Chi-Chi not appearing). Enemy/NPC Spawns:
Fixed a bug where essential NPCs for quests would not appear if a "Villainous Enemy" was on the field. System Fixes:
Resolved an issue on Xbox One where the opening movie did not play. Bandai Namco How to Update
Ensure the game is updated to v1.04 via the PlayStation Options menu, Xbox "Manage game & add-ons," or automatically through the Steam client.
Note: This 2020 patch laid the groundwork for further improvements, with many later updates expanding on performance, especially for next-gen consoles. AI responses may include mistakes. Learn more DRAGON BALL Z: KAKAROT 1.04 Patch Notes
Update Report: Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot The Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot v1.04 update
, released on January 30, 2020, significantly improved the player experience by addressing critical technical hurdles that were present at launch. The most notable "better" aspect of this version is the substantial reduction in wait times and the resolution of progress-blocking bugs. Performance: Reduced Load Times
One of the primary goals of this update was to shorten the long loading sequences when traveling between areas.
Area Transitions: Players reported noticeably faster travel between different map locations.
Platform Variability: While users on high-end hardware like the Xbox One X with an SSD saw load times drop from roughly 15 seconds to just 2–3 seconds, players on standard consoles also reported improvements, such as a drop from 45 seconds to about 35 seconds. Critical Bug Fixes
Version 1.04 addressed several issues that previously prevented players from completing stories or finding key characters:
"Telekinesis Training" (Saiyan Arc Episode 3): Fixed a bug where players could not accept this sub-story if they saved and loaded after fighting Tien. dragon ball z kakarot update v104 better
"The Longest Three Hours" (Saiyan Arc Episode 5): Resolved an issue where the main story icon would disappear after saving and loading upon clearing this mission.
Character Visibility: Fixed a bug where characters related to main or sub-stories would not appear if they were already present on the field as "Villainous Enemies".
"Goten's Growth" (Buu Arc Episode 1): Corrected an issue where Chi-Chi would not appear on the field if the main story was cleared without finishing this sub-story first. Platform-Specific Enhancements
Xbox One: This update specifically fixed an issue where the game would skip the opening cinematic and go directly to the title screen.
General Stability: The update laid the groundwork for future content, though it did not yet include the highly anticipated "Time Machine" feature (which arrived in v1.06).
For a visual breakdown of these patch notes and how they impact gameplay:
Here’s a helpful, balanced review for the Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot v1.04 update (assuming you meant v1.04—common version numbers for the game), written as if for a Steam, Reddit, or forum post.
Title: v1.04 Update – Small but Smart Improvements (Performance & QoL)
Rating: 👍 Good / Recommended
Platform Tested: PC (Steam) / PS5 (backward compatibility)
Review:
Just installed the v1.04 update for Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot, and while it’s not a massive content drop, it fixes several annoying issues and makes the game feel noticeably smoother. Here’s what’s better:
✅ The Good:
⚠️ The Neutral:
❌ The Bad:
Verdict:
If you already own the game, install this update. It makes exploration and boss fights less technically annoying. If you’re waiting for a major content drop, this isn’t it, but for a free patch, it’s a solid step toward a more polished experience.
Best for:
Skip if: You’re only looking for new story episodes or transformations.
Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot v1.04 update significantly improved the player experience by focusing on performance optimization and critical progression fixes. Released shortly after the game's launch, its primary goal was to address community feedback regarding slow transitions and broken side quests. Key Improvements in v1.04 Reduced Loading Times
: This was the standout feature of the update. Players reported substantial improvements when travelling between map areas. Xbox One S , loading times reportedly dropped from 45–75 seconds 10–20 seconds Players using external saw transitions as fast as 2–3 seconds Sub-Story Progression Fixes
: Multiple "soft-locks" that prevented players from completing or starting side missions were resolved. "Telekinesis Training" (Saiyan Arc)
: Fixed an issue where the quest could not be accepted if you saved/loaded after fighting Tien. "Goten’s Growth" (Buu Arc)
: Resolved a bug where Chi-Chi would disappear from the field if the main story was cleared without finishing this sub-story first. Character Visibility & Icon Fixes Villainous Enemies
: Fixed a bug where characters required for a story mission would not appear if they were already present on the map as a "Villainous Enemy". Main Story Icons
: Addressed a glitch where the main story icon would fail to display after clearing "The Longest Three Hours". Platform Specific Fixes
: Fixed a bug where the game would skip the opening cinematic and go straight to the title screen. Comparison: Is v1.04 "Better"?
Update v1.04 for Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot , released in early 2020, was a technical milestone that aimed to smooth out the player's journey through the iconic Z-Fighter sagas. While it didn't add new narrative arcs, it fundamentally "bettered" the experience by fixing critical immersion-breaking bugs and streamlining exploration. Major Technical Improvements The headline feature of v1.04 was the significant reduction in load times
. Players traveling between different areas of the world map saw load screens drop from nearly a minute down to roughly 10–20 seconds on standard consoles, and even faster for those using external SSDs. Substory and Progression Fixes
The update acted as a "cleanup crew" for several bugs that had previously blocked players from completing 100% of the game's content: Saiyan Arc (Episode 3):
Resolved a bug where the "Telekinesis Training" substory became impossible to accept if a player saved and loaded data after fighting Tien. Saiyan Arc (Episode 5): If you were stuck before:
Fixed a disappearing Main Story icon that occurred after clearing "The Longest Three Hours" if players saved and reloaded their game. Majin Buu Arc (Episode 1):
Addressed an issue where Chi-Chi would vanish from the field, preventing completion of the "Goten's Growth" substory if certain main story conditions were met first. Character Spawns:
Fixed a conflict where story-related characters wouldn't appear if they were already present on the field as a "Villainous Enemy". Platform-Specific Fixes
Corrected an issue where the game would skip the opening cinematic and go straight to the title screen, restoring the intended "opening movie" experience for players on that console. While many fans at the time were eagerly awaiting the Time Machine
feature (to revisit old missions), this specific update focused purely on stabilizing and speeding up the core game. or a specific DLC storyline A New Power Awakens
Since Update v1.04 was the major "Next-Gen" patch (released alongside the PS5/Series X versions), this guide focuses on utilizing the new graphical modes, quality-of-life fixes, and how to optimize your playstyle for the smoothest gameplay.
Kakarot is beautiful, but v1.04 fixed specific graphical bugs that broke immersion.
The inventory menu loads faster. This is crucial because swapping Healing Items mid-battle (especially against Kid Buu) used to be a death sentence due to lag. Now, it’s nearly instant.
The 1.04 update improved collision detection and animation blending. To take advantage of this, adjust your playstyle:
Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot was always a game built on nostalgia. Update v1.04 doesn't reinvent the wheel, but it sands down the roughest edges. The fact that Bandai Namco is still optimizing a game released several years ago—especially for last-gen hardware—shows commitment.
Is it better? Undoubtedly. The Super Saiyan fix alone elevates the game from a frustrating RPG to an empowering power fantasy. If you own Kakarot, download v1.04. If you don’t, this is the perfect time to pick it up on a sale.
Because finally, going Super Saiyan feels good again.
Have you noticed other changes in Dragon Ball Z Kakarot Update v1.04? Share your experience in the comments below. And for more Dragon Ball gaming news, including Kakarot DLC 5 leaks, stay tuned.
Here’s a concise player-friendly guide to getting the most out of Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot Update v1.04 (often labeled v1.04, but sometimes referred to as v104 in community posts).
This update focused on stability, loading improvements, and DLC compatibility (mainly for A New Power Awakens). Load a save just before the fight, not mid-battle