The excitement surrounding the potential remake of Final Fantasy 9 has been reignited following the launch of an official 25th Anniversary website by Square Enix. The site, which is entirely in Japanese, commemorates the game's original release date of July 7, 2000, and teases fans with promises of "various projects, including merchandise and collaborations" to celebrate this significant milestone.
This seemingly innocuous statement has fueled speculation that Square Enix might finally unveil the long-awaited Final Fantasy 9 remake. The timing of the website's launch has not gone unnoticed, especially with Nintendo's upcoming Switch 2-focused Direct scheduled for April 2. Many fans are hopeful that Square Enix will use this platform to announce the Final Fantasy 9 remake for the Switch 2.
Despite the buzz, it's possible that the excitement could be premature. The website's focus on merchandise and collaborations might not necessarily indicate a remake. However, the phrase "various projects" has certainly set the rumor mill into overdrive.
Last year, Naoki 'Yoshi-P' Yoshida, the producer of Final Fantasy 14, hinted at the challenges of remaking Final Fantasy 9. He acknowledged the fan demand but highlighted the game's substantial content, suggesting that a remake might not fit into a single title. Yoshi-P's comments drew comparisons to the Final Fantasy 7 Remake, which is being released in a planned trilogy.
In early 2024, Yoshi-P further stoked the flames by announcing Final Fantasy 9-themed bonuses for the Collector’s Edition and Digital Collector’s Edition of the Final Fantasy 14 expansion, Dawntrail. These include the iconic Ark summon as a mount and a wind-up Princess Garnet minion. Pre-orders of Dawntrail also came with a wind-up Zidane minion. During a presentation at PAX East, Yoshi-P playfully hinted at the significance of these Final Fantasy 9 references, saying, "You may have noticed a lot of Final Fantasy 9 references here, but the reason is a secret," before zipping his lips shut.
Final Fantasy XIV Dawntrail Final Fantasy 9 Bonuses
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Rumors about a Final Fantasy 9 remake have been circulating since a 2021 Nvidia leak that listed upcoming titles, including several Square Enix projects that have since been announced or released. However, the Final Fantasy 9 remake and Final Fantasy Tactics remain unconfirmed. Just months before the Nvidia leak, a Final Fantasy 9 animated series was reported to be in development, though no further updates have been provided since.
As fans eagerly await more news, the 25th Anniversary website and Yoshi-P's teasing remarks continue to fuel hope and speculation about what Square Enix has in store for Final Fantasy 9.
