With the announcement of a brand new Final Fantasy 14 expansion that’s giving everyone massive Final Fantasy X vibes, fans are clamoring for the addition of Final Fantasy’s favorite sport: Blitzball. Unfortunately, game director Naoki Yoshida (Yoshi-P) has a message to everyone begging for the weird, underwater soccer game: “No Blitzball!”
That’s what Yoshi-P told fans during today’s Final Fantasy Fan Fest 2023, when while discussing updates to the Golden Saucer in upcoming patches, fans began to eagerly shout “Blitzball” from the audience. Nope, sorry! No Blitzball!
The audience in Las Vegas wasn’t alone in wanting Blitzball, either. Online, the Final Fantasy 14 community has reacted dramatically to Yoshi-P’s dismissal of their sport of choice:
THE STATE OF BLITZBALL WANTERS pic.twitter.com/jsAAF1pEmN
— Ray @ Deryk fanclub (@ONTHEBIGBRIDGE) July 28, 2023
One fan referred to Blitzball’s somewhat checkered reputation, which has split fans since it’s introduction in Final Fantasy X.
Hoping my days of using this are limited but because no blitzball, I gotta keep spreading it pic.twitter.com/rz8gTLVcQq
— Local Man Too Angry To Die 🐝 (@SwervoT3k) July 28, 2023
And other fans are just sad.
Yoshi P. “No blitzball”
Me: pic.twitter.com/2hK2wEtAC6
— Dravion #FFXVI spoilers (@Umbral_Ice) July 28, 2023
Yoshida: We will be updating The Gold Saucer.
Audience: Its Blitzball! pic.twitter.com/dGlMEqzxCz
— Zimeization (@Zimeization) July 28, 2023
Blitzball was first introduced in Final Fantasy X, dividing fans with its deep but sometimes confusing take on water sports. It supporters cheered its roster recruitment, league play, and varied strategies, but its detractors derided it as clunky and difficult to learn. Still, it’s an indelible part of Final Fantasy X’s legacy — the ultimate expression of Final Fantasy’s many PS2-era minigames.
While this sounds like a bunch of fans being goofy, it’s not entirely without precedent for fans to expect Blitzball might be on the horizon. Final Fantasy XIV has a rich history of grabbing content, ideas, and references from other Final Fantasy titles, so including Blitzball would hardly be unprecedented. But during today’s reveal of the new Dawntrail expansion, we also got a look at a new allied race, the Pelupelu, which appeared in Final Fantasy X and X-2. The Pelupelu reveal, combined with the new region Tural being very beach-forward, led many to expect that Blitzball might make an appearance. Sadly, no.
It’s been a big day for Final Fantasy 14 fans. The robust new expansion reveal today gives them plenty to chew on for a while, but we also learned that the MMO is finally coming to Xbox consoles next spring after years of fan requests. Sadly, Blitzball won’t be there to welcome it, but there’s always next expansion, Warriors.
Rebekah Valentine is a senior reporter for IGN. Got a story tip? Send it to rvalentine@ign.com.