Square Enix reportedly advanced a full remake of Final Fantasy IX before shelving the project, according to RPG Site editor Alex Donaldson.
Final Fantasy IX, originally released by Squaresoft for the PlayStation in 2000, remains a beloved entry in the franchise and is currently available on modern platforms including the Nintendo Switch via the eShop.
The developer’s recent history with ambitious remakes—most notably the multi-part Final Fantasy VII Remake released beginning in 2020—has set fan expectations for how legacy titles might be handled.
Donaldson posted in a ResetEra thread that the Final Fantasy IX remake was intended as a single, standalone game and that development had progressed to an advanced stage.
He said Square Enix ultimately decided not to move forward with the release, and that the work completed on the project now sits dormant.
Donaldson also referenced comments by Final Fantasy XIV director Naoki Yoshida, noting that Yoshida has previously suggested a remake of Final Fantasy VI would require multiple entries—four or five games—to match the original’s scope and ambition.
Taken together, those observations underline the practical and commercial considerations Square Enix faces when planning large-scale remakes.
In Donaldson’s account, the IX remake was pitched at a smaller scope than the multi-part Final Fantasy VII Remake series, more in line with past 3D reinterpretations such as the Nintendo DS-era 3D remakes of Final Fantasy III and IV.
He added that projects at Square Enix can be revived after delays; Donaldson pointed to a previous episode in which a Dissidia project was reportedly cancelled for about a year before being revived, illustrating that cancellation is not always permanent.
Square Enix has not issued an official statement confirming Donaldson’s account, and no release dates or further development milestones have been announced for a Final Fantasy IX remake.
For now, the remaster and ports remain the officially supported versions of Final Fantasy IX on platforms like Nintendo Switch and other storefronts.
Fans and industry observers should look for confirmations in future Square Enix announcements or events such as Nintendo Direct broadcasts or official Square Enix media channels.
As always, claims about internal projects should be treated as reporting rather than confirmed fact until the developer provides official details.
The history of remakes at Square Enix—combined with Yoshida’s public remarks about scope—means that any future moves on Final Fantasy IX will be closely watched by the community.
Final Fantasy IX, originally released by Squaresoft for the PlayStation in 2000, remains a beloved entry in the franchise and is currently available on modern platforms including the Nintendo Switch via the eShop.
The developer’s recent history with ambitious remakes—most notably the multi-part Final Fantasy VII Remake released beginning in 2020—has set fan expectations for how legacy titles might be handled.
Donaldson posted in a ResetEra thread that the Final Fantasy IX remake was intended as a single, standalone game and that development had progressed to an advanced stage.
He said Square Enix ultimately decided not to move forward with the release, and that the work completed on the project now sits dormant.
Donaldson also referenced comments by Final Fantasy XIV director Naoki Yoshida, noting that Yoshida has previously suggested a remake of Final Fantasy VI would require multiple entries—four or five games—to match the original’s scope and ambition.
Taken together, those observations underline the practical and commercial considerations Square Enix faces when planning large-scale remakes.
In Donaldson’s account, the IX remake was pitched at a smaller scope than the multi-part Final Fantasy VII Remake series, more in line with past 3D reinterpretations such as the Nintendo DS-era 3D remakes of Final Fantasy III and IV.
He added that projects at Square Enix can be revived after delays; Donaldson pointed to a previous episode in which a Dissidia project was reportedly cancelled for about a year before being revived, illustrating that cancellation is not always permanent.
Square Enix has not issued an official statement confirming Donaldson’s account, and no release dates or further development milestones have been announced for a Final Fantasy IX remake.
For now, the remaster and ports remain the officially supported versions of Final Fantasy IX on platforms like Nintendo Switch and other storefronts.
Fans and industry observers should look for confirmations in future Square Enix announcements or events such as Nintendo Direct broadcasts or official Square Enix media channels.
As always, claims about internal projects should be treated as reporting rather than confirmed fact until the developer provides official details.
The history of remakes at Square Enix—combined with Yoshida’s public remarks about scope—means that any future moves on Final Fantasy IX will be closely watched by the community.
