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

The excitement surrounding a potential Final Fantasy 9 remake has surged once again following Square Enix's launch of an official Final Fantasy 9 25th Anniversary website. The site, presented in Japanese, highlights the game's initial release on July 7, 2000, and celebrates its 25th anniversary this year.

"We are preparing various projects, including merchandise and collaborations to commemorate the 25th anniversary, so please look forward to it!" the website states. This seemingly simple announcement, along with the creation of the anniversary website, has fueled speculation among fans that Square Enix might soon unveil the long-awaited Final Fantasy 9 remake.

However, the website's mention of "various projects" could simply refer to the merchandise and collaborations already announced, and nothing more. Yet, the phrase has certainly sparked a wave of speculation and excitement.

Last year, Naoki 'Yoshi-P' Yoshida, the producer of Final Fantasy 14, discussed the potential for a Final Fantasy 9 remake. He highlighted the game's extensive content, suggesting that fitting everything into a single title might be challenging. "Of course, I do know there are requests for Final Fantasy 9 to be made, but when you think about Final Fantasy 9, it’s a game with huge volume," Yoshi-P explained. "When you think about all of that volume, I wonder if it’s possible to remake that as a single title. It’s a difficult one. It is a tough question."

Yoshi-P's comments hinted that a Final Fantasy 9 remake might follow the multi-part format of the Final Fantasy 7 Remake, which is currently being released as a trilogy.

In early 2024, Yoshi-P announced Final Fantasy 9-themed extras 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 one of the main characters in Final Fantasy 9. Additionally, those who pre-ordered Dawntrail received a wind-up Zidane minion, with Zidane being the protagonist of Final Fantasy 9.

Speaking on-stage during PAX East, alongside these announcements, Yoshi-P teased the audience: "You may have noticed a lot of Final Fantasy 9 references here, but the reason is a secret." He then mimed zipping his mouth shut, adding to the intrigue.

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3 ImagesRumors about a Final Fantasy 9 remake have been circulating since a 2021 Nvidia leak that included an unannounced list of upcoming titles. Nvidia confirmed the leak's legitimacy, though the list might be outdated. It included several Square Enix games that have since been announced or released, 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, also listed in the leak, have yet to be officially announced. Just months before the Nvidia leak, in June 2021, reports surfaced about a Final Fantasy 9 animated series in development, though no further updates have been provided since then.