Final Fantasy 9 25th Anniversary Site Hints at Switch 2 Remake Reveal

The excitement surrounding the long-awaited Final Fantasy 9 remake has been reignited following the launch of an official Final Fantasy 9 25th Anniversary website by Square Enix. The site, available only in Japanese, commemorates the game's release on July 7, 2000, and highlights that this year marks its 25th anniversary. The website teases fans with a message stating, “We are preparing various projects, including merchandise and collaborations to commemorate the 25th anniversary, so please look forward to it!" This seemingly innocuous statement, coupled with the website's existence, has fueled speculation that Square Enix might finally unveil the much-anticipated 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. Fans are buzzing with hope that Square Enix could announce the Final Fantasy 9 remake for the Switch 2 during this event. However, it's important to temper expectations, as the website's mention of "various projects" could simply refer to merchandise and collaborations rather than a full-fledged game remake.

Last year, Naoki 'Yoshi-P' Yoshida, the producer of Final Fantasy 14, offered insights into what a Final Fantasy 9 remake might entail. He expressed concerns about the game's substantial content, suggesting that fitting everything into a single title could be challenging. Yoshi-P hinted that a remake might follow the model of the Final Fantasy 7 Remake, which is being released as a trilogy.

Earlier in 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 from Final Fantasy 9 as a mount in Final Fantasy 14, and a wind-up Princess Garnet minion. Garnet, also known as Dagger, is a main character in Final Fantasy 9. Those who pre-ordered Dawntrail received a wind-up Zidane minion, with Zidane being the protagonist of Final Fantasy 9. During 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 mouth shut.

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 leak's authenticity, the list may be outdated. It included several Square Enix games that have since been released or announced, such as the Chrono Cross remaster, Kingdom Hearts 4, and the Final Fantasy 7 remake for PC. However, both the Final Fantasy 9 remake and Final Fantasy Tactics, mentioned in the leak, have yet to be officially announced. Additionally, just a few months before the Nvidia leak, in June 2021, reports surfaced about a Final Fantasy 9 animated series in development, though no updates have been provided since then.