Leaks
A potential remake of Final Fantasy 9 might be on the horizon
In 2021, a significant database leak on GeForce Now unveiled a plethora of upcoming and undisclosed games from various publishers in the industry. While some of the titles disclosed in this leak have since been officially announced or even released, others continue to remain shrouded in mystery. Interestingly, Final Fantasy 9 Remake was among the revelations in this leak, and now, sources indicate that the arrival of this game is still impending.
A few years ago, Square Enix succumbed to the persistent demands of fans and released Final Fantasy VII Remake. However, it deviated from the fans’ expectations in certain ways. The remake underwent a significant transformation in terms of gameplay style, abandoning the traditional turn-based combat in favour of an action-oriented combat system. Additionally, portions of the storyline were altered in the remake, presenting it as more of an alternate timeline rendition of Final Fantasy VII rather than a straightforward conversion with enhanced visuals.
There is growing speculation that Final Fantasy 9 may be the next instalment in the series to receive a full remake treatment. This speculation is supported not only by its mention in the Nvidia leak from years ago but also by games reporter Jeff Grubb, who claims that his sources have confirmed the ongoing development of the project.
Interestingly, in contrast to the Final Fantasy 7 Remake, the revamped version of Final Fantasy 9 is said to retain its turn-based combat mechanics. This decision suggests that the remake might be primarily tailored towards older Final Fantasy enthusiasts.
Regrettably, Square Enix has not made any official announcements regarding the remake at this time. Considering that 2024 is expected to revolve around Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth (the sequel to FF7 Remake), a Final Fantasy 9 remake may still be quite some time away.