Please consider this regarding Battle Challenge shirts

I don't really frequent the forums. But I figured it was probably the best place to share my thoughts and feelings on this matter. The Mountain Dew collaboration went live just a little while ago and it wasn't log before I noticed they got a Battle Challenge t-shirt design. Clearly it's meant to be a bit tongue-in-cheek. However to me it just ended up reinforcing something that really stood out from Las Vegas Fan Fest 2023. The fact that those of us who attended it and were among the first to ever clear that trial before it even came to the game didn't get shirts of our own to commemorate that moment.

The shirts did make a return at PAX and I'm happy that FFXIV fans who attended that got the opportunity. But I just can't help feeling like coming out with a "Battle Challenge" shirt for a drink promo over having made shirts for their own Fan Fest events is almost hurtful. I adore this game and this community. I felt incredibly fortunate to have been able to secure a ticket to Fan Fest and see the Dawntrail reveal live in front of that magnificent stage. So even if some people may feel like the shirts are such a small and immaterial thing to be concerned about I think it's the gesture that matters. Having those for the Battle Challenge is meant to be like a way of expressing gratitude to the players who came and participated.

I get that it's probably highly unlikely to be able to retroactively give the shirts to anyone that went to the Fan Festivals. But if anyone from SQEX happens to read this and understands where I'm coming from, please do right by the players. Have them next time. Keep them to just being a Battle Challenge thing like they're meant to be. Don't diminish the accomplishment that it represents by turning it into a joke item for a corporate partnership.

Nah they won’t even read this and money is more important.

It’s cute you think it’s an actually accomplishment especially one that deserves a shirt.