Square Enix has made a big reveal for its new mobile game, Dissidia Duellum Final Fantasy, which is set to release on the mobile platform in 2026. The reception from the players? Well, let’s just say it is a very mixed bag of emotions. The company made the announcement via a teaser trailer and opened closed beta registrations till October 28, but instead of overwhelming excitement, the announcement triggered a flood of mixed emotions and opinions on social media.
So, what is really Dissidia Duellum? It is the latest edition of the series that, until then, had always turned Final Fantasy characters into fighters. But with this, it is completely versatile for mobile use, that’s why the confusion. So, gamers caught on to this very quickly that it was the console experience they were not expecting, especially as the feedback on Dissidia NT was not very positive and the end of Opera Omnia was also in fact, unfavorable.
Players have been expressing their feelings all over the internet and it is nothing less than a mixed bag that is unpredictable. One of the players, @AskrSMNBrandon was very frank and he said “Amazing you people saw player discontent with NT and wish OO was not canceled, and you went ahead with the mobile version of NT which delay the whole gacha.” Ouch. That is surely a very hurt and disappointed player.
The choice of platform is a hot topic and not the sole one among the arguments sparked off by the announcement. Players seem to be split over the game’s visuals as well. @hypellopotion outright called it “Looks a hot fvcking mess!!” accompanied by a crying emoji to emphasize his opinion. In contrast, @KazeShinsei posted a meme that depicts the contrast between the fun of just reading the title and the actual watching of the trailer, implying that the hype and the event were not equal.
It is very surprising that the negatives are not the only things that are being talked about! Some gamers are in fact very happy to see their favorite characters once again. @SHYSHYNOSE went to the extent of writing “LIGHTNING OH MY WIFE IM CRYING” in bold letters because of the very high anticipation he has for the return of the character. Such pure joy from the followers of Final Fantasy is indeed very praiseworthy.
The character selection has generated so much intrigue and discussion it has become one of the most interesting aspects of the affair so far. Fans have their eyes peeled on the trailer to identify all the characters that appear. For instance, @trueblue2432 and @waititsbotcoffe are having a lively discussion about the identity of the mystery characters among them. According to the conclusions, one of those characters is been identified as Gaia from the FFXIV Shadowbringers story arc, while the other is quite likely to be Krile from FFV. This kind of amateur sleuthing is characteristically done by the Final Fantasy communities.
Moreover, discontent is being revealed that is by regions. @QueenLolipopo is one of the players who expressed their discontentment with possible limitations of “global” release and she went ahead to ask, “What is your region? I really hate this call for global when it’s just a few eras, it’s so stupid.” Another player, @SamEmilio99 whose tirade was in Spanish mentioned about the non-existence of Spanish translation and the move to mobile only and then logically concluded that Square Enix should just make a proper console version.
It is a natural thing to compare with other titles, and players are quoting the critics right on the spot. For example, @bigtree1898398 quickly referred to a comment made on the game comparing it to Genshin Impact saying that “It’s not even as good as the Genshin Impact” thus making the comparison with that already vast game a heavy burden to bear. In contrast, @Lucis_Valentine named the Chinese mobile game companies that are doing great work and wondered why Square Enix can’t be up to their game as well?
Some players are just not sure of the direction the game is taking. @nicomegadrive made a suggestion, “At this point, just make a Final Fantasy dating simulator anyhow?” What about that? The way people are getting all heated over these characters, that proposal can be deemed a pretty valid one. Also, @yuna3611 is calling for a Switch version since for her/him mobile does not seem adequate any longer.
The closed beta being given out only for Android has also led to player protests. One of them, @natcat_7, expressed their disagreement by saying “Mobile game?! Again??? And the beta is only for android smh.” The ‘smh’ truly gives away a lot in this case.
On top of that, this announcement has attracted a broader audience unhappy with the mobile strategy of Square Enix. Players remember how frustrated they were when they learned about the limitations of Dissidia NT and the cancellation of Opera Omnia. So they fear the same thing might happen all over again. @SDagger02, for example, puts it in a very straightforward manner “let’s see if it really gets released” – and he/she is indeed capturing the skeptical, almost cynical attitude that has formed due to the previous disappointments.
In spite of all of the criticisms, the topic does continue to attract people’s interest. They are even going through the trailer as if it was a hurricane, there are character disputes, and yes, there is still complaining but the good thing is that it shows they are still interested. The Dissidia brand is still very strong among the Final Fantasy fanbase though it might not be the most enthusiastic towards the current representation.
To be honest, in the mobile game industry, competition is very tough and Square Enix is having ups and downs there. Gamers want quality and they make no secret about it when it comes to pointing out something that does not measure up to their standards. The date in 2026 for this release means they can have a lot of time for developers to hear the audience and take care of their concerns. But it also means that the hype cycle will be very long.
At last, Dissidia Duellum is not merely another mobile game but something greater. It encompasses Square Enix’s association with the gamers, expectations vs. reality, and what will occur when a beloved franchise attempts to adapt to the changing gaming habits. The closed beta will probably provide hints as to whether it will be able to win over the skeptics or join the growing ranks of mobile failures.
The question still lingers if Dissidia Duellum will be able to reverse the initial anger and deliver a product that is worthy of the Final Fantasy legacy. The conversation is still very much alive, memes are still being created, and players are still intrigued to see if Square Enix can manage to get through these troubled waters before 2026.
