“So, the last update I had on it was that the game is still on ice,” he alleged in a new podcast episode with ModernVintageGamer. However, that doesn’t mean it’s cancelled. “Now, ‘on ice’ with Square Enix could mean they may return to it one day, but as far as I’ve heard, there’s been no new movement with it. Hopefully, one day Square Enix returns to it, and we may see a Final Fantasy 9 remake come to light.”

Rumors first emerged in 2023 courtesy of Bloomberg’s Jason Schreier and Giant Bomb’s Jeff Grubb. It was alleged around the same time as Final Fantasy Tactics Remaster, which became Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles (and won extensive critical acclaim while selling one million copies). However, an announcement for Final Fantasy 9 Remake is pending.

Whether it’s on the scale of Final Fantasy 7 Remake/Rebirth or something far less grand remains unknown, but there’s no denying fan interest. After all, Final Fantasy 9 launched in 2000 for PlayStation One, and is widely beloved by fans thanks to its characters, storytelling, and return to a more “traditional” format for the series. It even sold 8.9 million copies as of 2025.

With its character designer Toshiyuki Itahana departing Square Enix earlier this year, the project’s future is anyone’s guess. Regardless, stay tuned for updates.

Final Fantasy 9 is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year (July 7 being its original Japanese launch date), and Square Enix has launched a website to commemorate the same. Interestingly, on the website, the company also says it is “preparing various projects” to celebrate the classic RPG’s release.

Earlier this year, prominent leaker NateTheHate claimed Final Fantasy 9 Remake was in active development, and could be targeting a 2026 release. Whether that means we can expect an announcement anytime soon remains to be seen. A Nintendo Switch 2-focused Direct is scheduled for later this week- perhaps we’ll hear something then? We can keep our fingers crossed, if nothing else. Stay tuned for more updates.

In fact, prominent leaker NateTheHate recently threw his weight behind those claims again. Spotted by VGC, in the lead-up to last week’s State of Play presentation, the leaker claimed that both titles were still very much in “active development”. As per the leaker, neither will is expected to release in 2025, but he claims Final Fantasy 9 Remake in particular could release sometime in 2026.

What that means for when Square Enix will choose to announce these titles is anyone’s guess. A Nintendo Direct presentation focused on the Switch 2 is scheduled for April 2, which might presumably serve as a suitable stage for such reveals- though that’s purely speculation at this point.

Both remain in active development. FFIXR isn’t expected to see release in 2025. Maybe we’ll see it launch in 2026.

— NateTheHate2 (@NateTheHate2) February 9, 2025

Not that I’ve heard.

— NateTheHate2 (@NateTheHate2) February 10, 2025

For starters, if you were hoping that Final Fantasy 9 Remake would change the original game’s combat to the extent that, say, Final Fantasy 7 Remake did, you might be disappointed, with Midori alleging that it is going to be a turn-based game similar to the original.

Meanwhile, the leaker also claims that though the Final Fantasy 9 Remake is a little bit more ambitious than 2020’s Trials of Mana remake in terms of its scope as a project, it’s going to be roughly in the same ballpark nonetheless, having been “similar in style to Trials of mana in many different ways for a period of time,” as per the leaker. Either way, it’s not going to be as ambitious as something like Final Fantasy 7 Remake, while the leaker also says that it’s not going to be an HD-2D game.

Midori has additionally also claimed that Final Fantasy 9 Remake is “very far along” in development and is planned as a multiplatform game. Read more on that through here.

The gameplay is turn-based.

— みどり (@MbKKssTBhz5) June 4, 2024

It was similar in style to Trials of Mana in many different ways for a period of time.

It is a remake that is a little higher than a Mana remake. It is not HD-2D style but it’s also not FF7R style.

— みどり (@MbKKssTBhz5) June 4, 2024

Interestingly enough, it was “originally outsourced to another developer.” Square Enix wasn’t happy with the result, however, and development shifted (not unlike what happened with Final Fantasy 7 Remake).

“Development of this title is now very far along,” she revealed in a follow-up tweet, but a lot is unknown. “I do not have any firm information on the scope of this title or a firm release period right now. This title could release before the end of this fiscal year, but I am not certain right now.”

Square Enix reportedly plans to reveal new details on some of its titles at the upcoming Xbox Games Showcase (which could include Visions of Mana’s release date). However, Midori doesn’t know if Final Fantasy 9 Remake will be present. On the bright side, it is planned for multiple platforms, reflecting the publisher’s recent shift.

The Xbox Games Showcase will take place on June 9th at 10 AM PT, but we can expect further updates and “deep dives” on the titles that appear from June 10th via the Official Xbox Podcast. Stay tuned in the meantime.

The Final Fantasy IX remake is still in development. It is a title that was not cancelled in the restructure of SQEX during this fiscal year.

According to conversations, the title was originally outsourced to another developer. But SQEX was not satisfied and development shifted.

— みどり (@MbKKssTBhz5) June 4, 2024

Development of this title is now very far along.

But I do not have any firm information on the scope of this title or a firm release period right now.

This title could release before the end of this fiscal year, but I am not certain right now.

— みどり (@MbKKssTBhz5) June 4, 2024

There are plans for new information on some SQEX titles at the Xbox Showcase. I don’t know if this title will be at the showcase. So it is good to keep expectations low right now.

And this is a title that is currently planned for release on multiple platforms.

— みどり (@MbKKssTBhz5) June 4, 2024

As per prominent leaker Midori, only half of the aforementioned rumour is true. Responding to a question on Twitter, Midori recently claimed that though Square Enix does indeed have Final Fantasy remakes in the works, a remake of Final Fantasy 10, contrary to past reports, doesn’t exist. That said, the leaker also claims that the long-rumoured Final Fantasy 9 Remake is indeed real and in the works.

When the rumoured remake will be officially unveiled remains to be seen, though fans of Final Fantasy 10 will be disappointed to know that it isn’t being brought back as some may have anticipated, if Midori’s claims are indeed accurate.

Recently, a remake of Final Fantasy 9 was seemingly teased by Naoki Yoshida, director and producer of Final Fantasy 14 and producer of Final Fantasy 16. Read more on that through here.

Stay tuned for more updates in the coming weeks and months.

Yes.
But there is not a FFX remake title in development.

— みどり (@MbKKssTBhz5) May 21, 2024

This is correct information.

— みどり (@MbKKssTBhz5) May 21, 2024

During Final Fantasy 14’s recent PAX East panel, it was revealed that the Collector’s Edition for its upcoming Dawntrail expansion will include Final Fantasy 9-themed bonus items. Interestingly, Yoshida pointedly called attention to the same, saying that the reason for their inclusion is “a secret”.

“You may have noticed a lot of Final Fantasy 9 references here… but the reason is a secret,” he said (via Gematsu).

Interestingly enough, this isn’t the first time Final Fantasy 9 references have emerged in an official capacity in recent months. In November last year, Square Enix hosted a Final Fantasy 9 crossover event in mobile title Final Fantasy 7: Ever Crisis.

Interestingly enough, leaks have claimed that a remake of Final Fantasy 10 is also in development. Read more on that through here.

While Bloomberg’s Jason Schreier said that the latter is indeed “coming,” the former has been more mysterious. Giant Bomb’s Jeff Grubb shined more light on it in the recent Game Mess Mornings stream. “Most of the Square-Enix games on that list have been confirmed or even came out by now, except for Final Fantasy 9 Remake and Final Fantasy Tactics Remaster…I will say, I heard very recently, once again, Final Fantasy 9 Remake is real. That is real and happening.”

Of course, there’s the question of what kind of remake it will be. Will it follow Final Fantasy 7 Remake and update the combat to be more real-time with pause? Is it akin to Crisis Core: Final Fantasy 7 Reunion with the same gameplay but ground-up remade visuals? Time will tell, but hopefully, Square Enix won’t go the Final Fantasy 8 Remastered route.

If an announcement for either title is in the works, a reveal could be coming at the Summer Game Fest Showcase on June 8th. Stay tuned for more details in the meantime.