“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.

In a recent note (translation via VGC), Itahana revealed that he had been planning to leave the company after the 25th anniversary celebration for Final Fantasy 9. “As I began thinking seriously about preparing myself to continue drawing for many years to come, I decided to leave Square Enix at the end of last year.

“Last year marked a major milestone with the 25th anniversary of Final Fantasy 9, a truly significant event, and I was deeply grateful to see so many people celebrating FF9. To everyone who celebrated with us, and to those who visited the exhibitions, shops, and cafés—thank you so very much! (The Osaka collaboration café is still ongoing!)”

“With the illustration work and supervision related to the 25th anniversary now complete, I feel a strong sense of accomplishment in having fulfilled the role entrusted to me. At the same time, I felt this was the right moment to draw a line under this chapter and take on new challenges.”

Of course, he’s not sailing off into the sunset and retiring. Instead, Itahana will go freelance, drawing upon his veteran experience to “continue creating a wide variety of new artwork”.

“At the moment, I’m still finding my way—listening to advice and learning from senior freelance illustrators—but if you happen to come across my work somewhere, I would be truly happy if you could support me.

“To everyone who played the games I worked on at Square Enix, and to all those I had the pleasure of working with over the years, thank you very much. I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude, and I sincerely hope for your continued support in the future.”

Itahana’s departure comes in the wake of a long silence regarding the rumored Final Fantasy 9 Remake. Reports began circulating in June 2023 and again in 2024 when it was allegedly “very far along” in development. Other details included that it would be turn-based and not as sweeping an overhaul as the Final Fantasy 7 Remake series.

However, while the also-rumored Final Fantasy Tactics Remaster turned out to be real (and quite good), Final Fantasy 9 Remake allegedly faded into the background. Square Enix teased “various projects” last year to celebrate the 25th anniversary, but the remake sadly wasn’t one of them. Of course, this doesn’t mean it will never happen, but at this point, you’re better off waiting for Final Fantasy 7 Remake Part 3 and Kingdom Hearts 4.

Launched in 2000, Final Fantasy 9 is the last title in the series for the PlayStation One. The story is about Zidane, a member of a bandit troupe known as Tantalus, who kidnaps Garnet, the princess of Alexandria, during a theater performance. While the premise is simple enough, the group finds themselves embroiled in Alexandria’s war-mongering and its impact on the world.

Final Fantasy 9 has received extensive acclaim since its launch and sold 8.9 million copies as of March 2025. Rumors of a remake have been circulating since last year, which Square Enix has yet to confirm despite all the hype surrounding the 25th anniversary. As always, stay tuned for any potential updates in the coming months.

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.

These include the Ark, a new mount based on the famous Eidolon; a Wind-Up Garnet Minion; and the Chocobo Brush for Pictomancers. Check out the trailer below to see the Ark in action. There are digital and physical Collector’s Editions, with the former including the game and in-game bonus items for $59.99. The latter consists of the Collector’s Edition for $214.99, which includes the Digital Collector’s Edition and Collector’s Box for PC.

PS4, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S players who want the physical items should pick up the Collector’s Box separately. It costs $155 and includes box art by Yoshitaka Amano, a high-quality figure of the Warrior of Light as the new Viper Job, an Adventurer’s Cloth Map with all the new locations, The Unending Journey notebook and an Adventurer’s Pen Case.

Final Fantasy 14: Dawntrail launches on July 2nd, with pre-orders starting on March 26th. Pre-orders also net some goodies, including three days of early access.