The excitement around the long-rumored Final Fantasy 9 remake has been reignited following the launch of an official 25th Anniversary website by Square Enix. This Japanese-language site commemorates the game's original release on July 7, 2000, and promises a variety of celebratory projects, including merchandise and collaborations.
The mention of "various projects" on the website has sparked speculation among fans that a Final Fantasy 9 remake might finally be announced. The timing of the website's launch coincides with Nintendo's upcoming Switch 2-focused Direct on April 2, leading some to hope for a reveal of the remake on this new platform.
However, these could be premature hopes, as the website itself focuses on merchandise and collaborations. Yet, the phrase "various projects" has certainly fueled discussions and anticipation.
Last year, Naoki 'Yoshi-P' Yoshida, the producer of Final Fantasy 14, discussed the potential challenges of remaking Final Fantasy 9. He highlighted the game's substantial content, suggesting that a remake might not fit into a single title, similar to the approach taken with the Final Fantasy 7 Remake, which is being released as a trilogy.
In early 2024, Yoshi-P announced 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 Ark summon as a mount and a wind-up Princess Garnet minion, with pre-orders of Dawntrail offering a wind-up Zidane minion. During PAX East, Yoshi-P hinted at the significance of these Final Fantasy 9 references but kept the reason a secret.
Rumors of a Final Fantasy 9 remake have been circulating since a 2021 Nvidia leak, which listed several unannounced Square Enix titles, including the Final Fantasy 9 remake and Final Fantasy Tactics. While some of the games on the list have since been announced or released, these two titles remain unconfirmed. Additionally, a Final Fantasy 9 animated series was reported to be in development around the same time, but there has been no further news on this front.
Final Fantasy XIV Dawntrail Final Fantasy 9 Bonuses
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