The excitement surrounding the much-discussed Final Fantasy 9 remake has surged once again following Square Enix's launch of an official Final Fantasy 9 25th Anniversary website. The website, presented in Japanese, highlights the game's original release date of July 7, 2000, and celebrates its 25th anniversary this year. It teases fans with the promise of "various projects, including merchandise and collaborations" to commemorate the milestone, sparking speculation about a potential remake announcement.
The timing of the website's launch has not gone unnoticed, especially with Nintendo's upcoming Switch 2-focused Direct scheduled for April 2. This has led some fans to speculate that Square Enix might unveil the Final Fantasy 9 remake for the Switch 2 at the event. While the website's mention of merchandise and collaborations might seem innocuous, the phrase "various projects" has fueled rumors and anticipation among the fanbase.
Last year, Naoki 'Yoshi-P' Yoshida, the producer of Final Fantasy 14, discussed the challenges of remaking Final Fantasy 9. He noted the game's extensive content, suggesting that it might be too large to fit into a single title. Yoshi-P hinted that a Final Fantasy 9 remake could follow the model of the Final Fantasy 7 Remake, which is being released as a planned 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 iconic Ark summon as a mount and a wind-up Princess Garnet minion, with pre-orders offering a wind-up Zidane minion. During PAX East, Yoshi-P playfully hinted at the abundance of Final Fantasy 9 references, adding to the speculation about a possible remake.
Final Fantasy XIV Dawntrail Final Fantasy 9 Bonuses
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Rumors about a Final Fantasy 9 remake have been circulating since the game appeared in a 2021 Nvidia leak of upcoming titles. Although Nvidia confirmed the list's authenticity, it may be outdated. Several games on the list, such as the Chrono Cross remaster, Kingdom Hearts 4, and the Final Fantasy 7 remake for PC, have since been announced or released. However, both Final Fantasy 9 remake and Final Fantasy Tactics, also mentioned in the leak, have yet to be officially confirmed. Additionally, a Final Fantasy 9 animated series was reported to be in development in June 2021, but no further updates have been provided since then.
