Blitzball, the underwater sport featured in Final Fantasy X, was partly inspired by the podracing sequence in Star Wars: Episode I, according to the game’s director and producer, Yoshinori Kitase.
Kitase discussed the influence during an interview with IGN at the Lucca Comics & Games Festival 2026. He said he wanted to create a sport that would fit within a fantasy setting and drew on the idea of using a race as a sporting event in Star Wars: Episode I.
In Final Fantasy X, Blitzball is played inside a large sphere of water suspended in the air. Combining elements of soccer and rugby, players collide and use special kicks to send the ball toward a high-tech goal.
The sport also has a prominent place in the game’s story. Its opening cinematic features a Blitzball match, and protagonist Tidus is a player. Players can recruit characters they encounter to join their team, while winning the league is required to obtain a special late-game item.
Blitzball has also appeared as a reference in the Star Wars universe. Author Mike Chen included it in his novel Brotherhood and later said the name was a deliberate nod to Final Fantasy X, noting that he had spent hours playing the game’s league mode.
Sources: Kotaku.