Square Enix Celebrates FF9; Remake Remains Absent

Square Enix is celebrating the 25th anniversary of Final Fantasy IX, but the celebration did not come with the long-awaited announcement of the game's remake. Despite persistent rumors and fan expectations, the company chose to acknowledge the milestone of a quarter of a century of one of its most beloved RPGs, without providing any updates on a remade version. This lack of news about the remake raises doubts about its status and Square Enix's strategy for the franchise.

The community has been speculating about a remake of Final Fantasy IX for years, especially after the success of the remake of Final Fantasy VII and the various remasters of other titles in the series. The anniversary celebration without the announcement is a disappointment for many.

Rumors about a remake of Final Fantasy IX gained traction in September 2021, when the game was listed as part of a massive leak from Nvidia Geforce Now. This leak, which proved accurate regarding several other titles that were later announced, generated great excitement among fans. Additionally, Square Enix has shown interest in remakes and remasters of its older properties, such as the recent Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, released in February 2024, and the Pixel Remaster series.

Final Fantasy IX was originally released on July 7, 2000, for the PlayStation. The game is acclaimed for its captivating story, memorable characters like Zidane Tribal and Garnet Til Alexandros XVII, its return to the franchise's medieval fantasy roots after the more futuristic settings of FFVII and FFVIII, and its iconic soundtrack composed by Nobuo Uematsu. The game is often cited by fans as one of the best in the series, which only increases the demand for an updated version with modern graphics and gameplay improvements.

Despite the popularity and rumors, Square Enix has been discreet about unannounced projects. The company may be waiting for a strategic moment to reveal the remake, perhaps at a major event like the Tokyo Game Show or Gamescom, or may be facing internal development challenges that have delayed the announcement.

Square Enix has a mixed history with its remakes. While the remake of Final Fantasy VII was a commercial and critical success, the episodic development (with Rebirth being the second part) and changes to the original narrative divided some fans' opinions. If a remake of Final Fantasy IX is indeed in development, Square Enix will need to decide whether to stay faithful to the original story or take creative liberties, as it did with FFVII.

The absence of the announcement on such a significant milestone as the 25th anniversary may frustrate fans, but it also serves as a reminder that leaks and rumors do not always translate into immediate announcements. Square Enix continues to invest in its main franchises, and the popularity of Final Fantasy IX suggests that a remake will eventually arrive, but the wait may be longer than fans expect.