Final Fantasy 14's producer and director, Naoki Yoshida, has recently addressed the swirling rumors about a potential Final Fantasy 9 remake. Dive into the details of his statements and what they mean for fans eagerly awaiting news on this beloved classic.
FF14’s Yoshi-P Shuts Down FF9 Remake Rumors
No Connection Between FF14 Collaboration and FF9 Remake, Said Yoshida
Naoki Yoshida, the renowned producer and director of Final Fantasy 14, has put an end to the speculation linking the recent FF14 collaboration event with a potential Final Fantasy 9 remake. The event, which included nods to the cherished 1999 JRPG, sparked theories that it might be a precursor to a remake announcement. However, Yoshida clarified the situation in a recent interview with JPGames.
"The original concept that we had for Final Fantasy XIV is that it serves as a theme park for the Final Fantasy franchise," Yoshida explained. "We wanted to incorporate Final Fantasy IX because of that." He emphasized that the timing of the collaboration was not influenced by any plans for a remake. "We had never thought about doing Final Fantasy IX in relation to any sort of Final Fantasy IX Remake—we had never thought about it in that commercial sense," he added, acknowledging the marketing logic behind the speculation but firmly denying any connection.
Despite debunking the remake rumors, Yoshida's passion for Final Fantasy 9 was evident. "But of course in our development team as well, we have a lot of staff who are huge fans of Final Fantasy IX," he shared. He highlighted the game's extensive content, stating, "as you know—Final Fantasy IX has [a] huge volume, it’s a big game. If we were to wait for any sort of Remake project, we would just be waiting and waiting and we would be thinking: ‘When would we be able to incorporate that essence of Final Fantasy IX and make our homage?’" This sentiment resonated with fans who appreciated the homage to FF9 within FF14 through its numerous references.
While the interview may have dashed hopes for an immediate remake announcement, Yoshida's closing remarks offered a glimmer of hope. "I think potentially if any team was to take on doing a remake for Final Fantasy IX," he said with a chuckle, "I would wish them the best of luck."
Rumors of an upcoming Final Fantasy 9 remake remain just that—rumors. Fans hoping for a remake will need to find satisfaction in the many references within Final Fantasy 14: Dawntrail or continue to wait patiently for any official announcements.
