July 7th is the 25th Anniversary of Final Fantasy 9, which debuted on the PS1 in 2000. Often considered the best entry in the RPG franchise, Square Enix has been celebrating the occasion with videos, artwork, and merchandise. Many gamers had anticipated that the publisher would also announce a Final Fantasy 9 remake. However, the reliable insider NateTheHate has thrown cold water on that possibility.
NateTheHate shared the disappointing update on the ResetEra forums. According to the prominent leaker, “As of last check it remains in development, to my knowledge; but I need to a do a fresh check & see what a more current status is- as I did hear a month or so ago that it was in trouble & possibly cancelled.” While he didn’t dismiss any chance of an announcement, plans for the remake could at least be on hold.
Final Fantasy 9 ports are already available on PCs and modern consoles, including PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo. Even with some jankiness, players can experience how the series returned to its fantasy origins. Still, other gamers had hoped for a full-fledged remake like Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth. The highly-rated release added open-world elements while modernizing graphics and gameplay mechanics.
Rumors of a Final Fantasy 9 remake date back to a 2021 Nvidia GeForce Now leak. Most Square Enix games on the list have become a reality, with Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles the latest example. Unfortunately, the company hasn’t confirmed a remake of the 9th game in the series.
It’s likely only a matter of time before supporters see Final Fantasy 9 reemerge in some form. Like many publishers, Square Enix has found remakes and remasters of classic titles to be profitable endeavors. Nevertheless, gamers may have to wait a bit longer than expected.
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