It’s official — Dissidia is back. Square Enix and NHN PlayArt have just lifted the curtain on Dissidia Duellum Final Fantasy, a brand-new entry in the Dissidia saga that reimagines our favorite Final Fantasy heroes in a modern-day Tokyo, fighting side-by-side in 3v3 boss battles that blend spectacle, style, and chaos.
It’s slated for release in 2026 on iOS and Android, and yes, it’s free-to-play.
A Crystal in Tokyo, and the Birth of “Ghosts”
The premise sounds exactly like the kind of poetic mystery only Final Fantasy can pull off.
A massive blue crystal suddenly appears in the heart of Tokyo. For a while, it simply becomes part of city life, a quiet monument glowing in the skyline, until a dark energy begins to corrupt it. Monsters spill forth, panic spreads, and hope fades fast.
But as the world teeters on the edge, mysterious warriors begin to emerge from the shadows — warriors who shouldn’t exist in this world at all. They fight, vanish, and leave no trace behind. The people begin to call them “Ghosts.”
From Duels to Teams
Instead of the traditional 1v1 or 2v2 arenas that defined past Dissidia titles, Duellum changes the formula with a 3v3 “Team Boss Battle Arena.” Here, two teams race to defeat massive, screen-filling bosses faster than their opponents while battling roaming monsters that power up their “Bravery” meter, a familiar mechanic from the series.
Combat is designed for mobile play: fast, intuitive, and doable with one hand, but still featuring the flashy, cinematic moves fans expect. Characters fall into four battle roles:
- Melee: Frontline bruisers built for raw damage
- Ranged: Keep enemies in check from afar
- Agile: Nimble fighters with mobility and quick strikes
- Support: Buffers, healers, and enablers of the squad
It’s clear Square Enix is aiming for accessibility — short sessions, quick action, and plenty of visual flair — but as someone who still dreams about the tactical precision of Dissidia 012’s duels, I’ll admit that part of me was hoping for a return to the franchise’s 1v1 roots. The thrill of reading your opponent, breaking their guard, and landing that Bravery to HP combo? That was peak Dissidia.
But I’m also curious. Duellum looks like it’s carving its own identity, and maybe, just maybe, there’s room for both heart and speed in this new format.
The Heroes Return, With a Modern Twist
The roster pulls from across Final Fantasy’s legacy, giving us ten confirmed heroes at launch:
- Warrior of Light (Final Fantasy I)
- Kain Highwind (Final Fantasy IV)
- Krile Mayer Baldesion (Final Fantasy V)
- Terra Branford (Final Fantasy VI)
- Cloud Strife (Final Fantasy VII)
- Rinoa Heartilly (Final Fantasy VIII)
- Zidane Tribal (Final Fantasy IX)
- Lightning (Final Fantasy XIII)
- Gaia (Final Fantasy XIV Online)
- Prompto Argentum (Final Fantasy XV)
What’s unique this time is the setting. Now taking place in modern Tokyo, each hero has been reimagined with stylish, contemporary redesigns, blending streetwear, tactical gear, and subtle nods to their original looks.
Still, classic costumes make appearances too, and there’s full customization for outfits, weapons, and even in-game artwork. You can bet there’ll be a mix of unlockables, events, and (probably) microtransactions for the collectors among us.
A Story with Heart — and Style
Duellum features fully voiced Japanese dialogue and a cinematic story mode, supported by cel-shaded visuals that feel halfway between anime and painting.
Between missions, you’ll also unlock short “slice-of-life” episodes showing what these displaced heroes do in Tokyo’s everyday world, like seeing Zidane in Shibuya or Lightning walking through a rainy street under the crystal’s glow.
Closed Beta Details
For those itching to dive in early, here’s what we know:
- iOS Beta: Ongoing until October 28, 2025
- Android Beta: November 7–14, 2025, limited to Japan, the U.S., and Canada
Players can sign up via the official website until October 28.
A New Crystal Age for Dissidia
The Dissidia series has always been about legacy — how every Final Fantasy hero and villain, no matter their world, shares the same mythic heartbeat. And while Duellum might not be the console 1v1 revival many of us hoped for, there’s still something magnetic about a modern reimagining that places our legends right in the middle of our own world.
If Opera Omnia was Dissidia’s storybook chapter, then Duellum feels like its urban legend: heroes turned ghosts, fighting under the glow of Tokyo’s crystal light. Maybe it’s not the Dissidia we expected, but it might just be the one we didn’t know we needed.
