Final Fantasy 9 25th Anniversary Sparks Rumors of Switch 2 Remake Reveal

Excitement is brewing among fans of the beloved RPG series as Square Enix has launched an official website celebrating the 25th anniversary of Final Fantasy 9. The site, which is in Japanese, marks the game's original release date on July 7, 2000, and promises a variety of projects including merchandise and collaborations to celebrate this milestone. This announcement has reignited hopes and speculation about a long-rumored Final Fantasy 9 remake.

The mention of "various projects" on the anniversary website has fueled speculation that Square Enix might finally unveil the much-anticipated remake. Fans are particularly hopeful, especially with Nintendo's upcoming Switch 2-focused Direct scheduled for April 2. Could this be the perfect stage for Square Enix to announce a Final Fantasy 9 remake for the Switch 2? Enthusiasts are buzzing with anticipation.

While the website's focus on merchandise and collaborations might seem innocuous, the broader hint of "various projects" has set tongues wagging about what else might be in store. Last year, Naoki 'Yoshi-P' Yoshida, the producer of Final Fantasy 14, hinted at the challenges of remaking Final Fantasy 9. He pointed out the game's extensive content, suggesting that a remake might not fit into a single title and could possibly follow the multi-part format of the Final Fantasy 7 remake.

Earlier in 2024, Yoshi-P further fueled speculation by announcing 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 iconic 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 tantalizingly remarked, "You may have noticed a lot of Final Fantasy 9 references here, but the reason is a secret,” adding to the mystery and excitement.

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Rumors of a Final Fantasy 9 remake have been circulating since a 2021 Nvidia leak that listed several unannounced Square Enix titles, including the remake. Although Nvidia confirmed the leak's authenticity, some titles on the list have since been released or announced, such as the Chrono Cross remaster, Kingdom Hearts 4, and the Final Fantasy 7 remake for PC. However, Final Fantasy 9 and Final Fantasy Tactics remain unconfirmed. Additionally, reports from June 2021 about a Final Fantasy 9 animated series have yet to yield any updates.