Development of the rumored remake of Square Enix’s classic role-playing game, Final Fantasy IX, appears to be in trouble, and the project may even have been cancelled altogether.
Known insider NateDrake (aka Nate the Hate) took to the gaming enthusiast Reset Era forums to respond to a fellow member’s query regarding the status of the Final Fantasy IX remake’s development. What the insider has heard from one of his sources is rather concerning for fans of the original.
Nate said that, last he checked, the project remains in development, though he will do a fresh check and find out what its current status is. He mentioned hearing a month ago from one of his sources that the Final Fantasy IX remake was in trouble, and possibly cancelled. He will look into verifying this information from his other sources.
In the meantime, all we can do is hope that the Final Fantasy IX remake project remains intact. The original is one of the most beloved entries in the series, and one that’s most certainly deserving of the remake treatment.
Two years ago, Giant Bomb’s Jeff Grubb claimed that the Final Fantasy IX remake is real and that it will retain the classic turn-based combat seen in the original. On the subject of whether Final Fantasy IX remake would feature a shift towards a more real-time combat system much like in Final Fantasy VII Remake, he stated that the former would almost certainly not be as ambitious a remake as the latter. In terms of ambition, he categorized the project as being somewhere between Crisis Core Final Fantasy VII Reunion and Final Fantasy VII Remake.
Yesterday, Square Enix announced that the Final Fantasy IX Picture Book, featuring beloved characters Vivi and his grandfather, will be localized for release in Western markets. The illustrated book, which had previously been available only in Japan, is now scheduled to arrive in May 2026, offering fans outside of Japan an opportunity to revisit the cherished world of Final Fantasy IX in a new format.
