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

The buzz surrounding the long-awaited Final Fantasy 9 remake has intensified following Square Enix's launch of an official 25th Anniversary website for the game. The site, available in Japanese, highlights the game's original release date of July 7, 2000, and celebrates its 25th anniversary this year. It teases fans with promises of "various projects, including merchandise and collaborations" to mark the occasion, fueling speculation about a potential remake announcement.

The timing of the website's launch has not gone unnoticed, especially with Nintendo's upcoming Switch 2-focused Direct scheduled for April 2. Many fans are hopeful that Square Enix might seize the opportunity to unveil the Final Fantasy 9 remake for the Switch 2 during this event. However, the website's mention of merchandise and collaborations leaves room for interpretation, and the phrase "various projects" has sparked widespread discussion.

Last year, Naoki 'Yoshi-P' Yoshida, the producer of Final Fantasy 14, shed some light on what a Final Fantasy 9 remake might entail. He pointed out the game's extensive content, suggesting that a remake might not fit into a single title. Yoshi-P drew comparisons to the Final Fantasy 7 Remake, which is being released in a planned trilogy, hinting that a similar approach could be considered for Final Fantasy 9.

Adding to the excitement, 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 as a mount and a wind-up Princess Garnet minion, with pre-orders offering a wind-up Zidane minion. During PAX East, Yoshi-P hinted at the significance of these Final Fantasy 9 references, playfully keeping the reason a "secret."

Final Fantasy XIV Dawntrail Final Fantasy 9 Bonuses

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Rumors of a Final Fantasy 9 remake have been circulating since a 2021 Nvidia leak that included a list of upcoming titles, confirmed as legitimate but possibly outdated. This list featured several Square Enix games, some of which 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 Final Fantasy 9 remake and Final Fantasy Tactics, mentioned in the leak, remain unconfirmed. Additionally, reports from June 2021 about a Final Fantasy 9 animated series in development have not led to further updates.