Summary

  • The rumored Final Fantasy 9 remake is reportedly in an advanced stage of development.
  • A well-known leaker claims the game had switched developers at some point in the past.
  • Square Enix is reportedly planning to treat the Final Fantasy 9 remake to a multi-platform release.

The rumored Final Fantasy 9 remake has faced some development difficulties, a well-known leaker has claimed. Despite one notable setback, the reimagining of Final Fantasy 9 is reportedly not in danger of cancellation, and is said to be progressing well.

While not officially confirmed, the game itself has been considered as one of Square Enix's worst-kept secrets for a while now. The first piece of evidence pointing to its existence dates back to summer 2021, when a Final Fantasy 9 remake was mentioned in the Nvidia GeForce Now leak, which has repeatedly been proven accurate. Multiple insiders have reaffirmed its existence ever since.

Rumored Final Fantasy 9 Remake Switched Developers, Leaker Claims

Yet another update on the much-rumored project has now been provided by Midori, an established leaker with a long track record of gaming industry scoops. Taking to Twitter on June 4, Midori said that the Final Fantasy 9 remake is still in development, but has previously faced one not-everyday setback. Specifically, Square Enix originally outsourced the project to an external studio, but decided to reassign it to a different developer after not being "satisfied" with its first choice's results, the leaker claimed. When exactly this purported developer switch happened is unclear, but the move is possibly years old, not least because the insider insists that the development of the Final Fantasy 9 remake is "very far along" as of mid-2024.

Although the wording of the report implies that Square Enix may now be working on the Final Fantasy 9 remake in-house, Midori did not outright confirm that. What they did say is that the RPG survived Square Enix's recent restructuring, which saw the company admit to writing off ¥22.1 billion ($140.4 million) in "content abandonment" losses attributed to a variety of game cancellations.

Square Enix Rumored to Participate in Next Xbox Games Showcase

With the remake of the classic 2000 JRPG now supposedly being in an advanced stage of development, Midori believes that it could hit the market in the second half of 2024. However, the insider noted that they are not certain whether that will actually happen. If Square Enix were to release it by year's end, the Final Fantasy 9 remake would have to be announced in the immediate future if it's to have a marketing cycle of any substantial length. In that scenario, the upcoming Xbox Games Showcase would be the earliest high-profile opportunity for the publisher to unveil it. Midori claims that Square Enix will indeed have a presence at the June 9 event, but says that they are uncertain whether the Final Fantasy 9 remake will be part of its event lineup.

Final Fantasy 9 Remake Reportedly Won't be a PlayStation Exclusive

And while the insider advised fans to "keep expectations [about the June 9 showcase] low," they did offer another encouraging piece of news for non-PlayStation-owning JRPG aficionados. Namely, although the Final Fantasy 9 remake was previously rumored to be a PlayStation console exclusive, Midori says that Square Enix is currently planning to treat the game to a multi-platform release.

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Final Fantasy 9 Tag Page Cover Art
Final Fantasy 9
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Released
July 7, 2000
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WHERE TO PLAY

DIGITAL
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Zidane and the Tantalus Theater Troupe have kidnapped Princess Garnet, the heir of Alexandria. To their surprise, however, the princess herself yearned to escape the castle. Through a series of unusual circumstances, she and her personal guard, Steiner, fall in with Zidane and set out on an incredible journey.

Meeting unforgettable characters like Vivi and Quina along the way, they learn about themselves, the secrets of the Crystal, and a malevolent force that threatens to destroy their world.

Learn new abilities by equipping items. When fully mastered, these abilities can be used even without equipping items, allowing for nearly endless customization options.

Fill your Trance gauge as you sustain hits in battle. When fully charged, your characters will enter Trance mode, granting them powerful new skills!

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ESRB
T for Teen: Violence, Mild Language
Developer(s)
Square Enix
Publisher(s)
Square Enix
Franchise
Final Fantasy
Platform(s)
PS4, Xbox One, Switch, PS1, Android, iOS, PC
Genre(s)
JRPG