Square Enix is bringing back what many consider the best Final Fantasy spin-off franchise of all time, but this time it looks very different. A trailer thumbnail and images on the official website point to a mobile-focused release, and a full reveal is scheduled for October 14. That matters because Dissidia earned its reputation on tight 1v1 fighting and an over-the-top crossover story, not mobile boss raids.
The original Dissidia entries were proper fighting games with sprawling, multiverse-spanning narratives that brought heroes and villains together. The later entry, Dissidia NT, turned the series toward team-based multiplayer and, critics argue, killed the franchise for those who loved the classic formula.
The publisher uploaded a trailer for a new entry to the official channel and populated the site with photos that look less like floating continents and more like street corners. The early material suggests this is a Team Boss Battle Arena for iOS and Android rather than a traditional fighter.
The New Dissidia Final Fantasy Is A Mobile Multiplayer Game
Text and screenshots on the site depict real-world locations and group encounters, rather than arenas filled with summoned monsters. The presentation resembles location-based multiplayer games where players meet in person to tackle raid bosses, a setup closely associated with Pokemon Go-style experiences. Given how many rivals of Pokémon Go have folded, some observers warn that the move doesn’t spell good things for Dissidia.
What annoys longtime fans is the name. Using Dissidia for a itle that appears to ditch the series’ fighting-game DNA feels like bringing the brand into a territory it never earned. Critics called out the decision as a case of bringing back the Dissidia name for something that is not a fighting game, and that sentiment is everywhere on social channels this morning.
The developer will have its full reveal on October 14. For now the announcement is enough to make old-school Dissidia fans grind their teeth and wonder if nostalgia was ever truly consulted.
