We lost one of the world’s greatest creative minds earlier this month, asDragon Ball creator and Dragon Quest character designer Akira Toriyama sadly passed awayat the age of 68. His work on the likes ofDragon Ball,Dragon Quest,Chrono Trigger, and Blue Dragon has inspired millions across his entire career, and many have been paying their respects to the legend on social media.
Dragon Ball fans will be feeling Toriyama’s passing most of all today, and to celebrate the man’s life and his work that has had such a colossal impact on the world, many have flocked to Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2 to pay tribute. Earlier today, Twitter user AuroraeMaricalled on Dragon Ball fansto boot up Xenoverse 2 at 5PM ET and use the Spirit Bomb emote next to the Dragon Ball Pedestal dressed in one of Goku’s gis from Dragon Ball Z, Dragon Ball Super, or Dragon Ball GT.
It didn’t take long for images of people using the Spirit Bomb emote to make their way to social media, withseemingly hundreds of people paying tributeto Toriyama’s legacy. Unfortunately, Xenoverse 2 lobbies have a fairly limited capacity, but that hasn’t stopped multiple groups from paying tribute, all of which are posting imagesfrom various different platforms, all with the joint goal of paying their respects to the creator of the characters they love so much. Just looking down AuroraeMari’s Twitter feed really drives homehow many people have turnedup.
Toriyama and his work is so influential that even other communities have been using their respective games to celebrate his legacy. For example, there was a huge turnout ofFinal Fantasy 14players earlier today, all paying tribute to Toriyama by dressing up in their best Goku glamours and lining the streets of Uldah, with a campfire minion equipped as a lovely gesture.
While Toriyama’s loss is a massive blow to so many, it’s incredibly heartwarming to see so many going out of their way to pay their respects, no matter the community they’re involved in. It serves as a testament to just how many people’s lives were improved by Toriyama’s work, and the world is much less creative place without him in it.
