Yoshi-P Teases Final Fantasy IX Remake

At this year's PAX East, Final Fantasy XIV director Naoki "Yoshi-P" Yoshida dropped some tantalizing hints that have reignited speculation about a possible Final Fantasy IX remake.

During the event, Yoshida announced some Final Fantasy IX-themed extras for the Collector’s Edition and Digital Collector’s Edition of the upcoming Final Fantasy XIV expansion, Dawntrail. These bonuses include the iconic Ark summon from Final Fantasy IX as a mount in Final Fantasy XIV, as well as a wind-up Princess Garnet minion. Notably, if players pre-order Dawntrail, they'll receive a wind-up Zidane minion, referencing the protagonist of Final Fantasy IX.

While these additions alone might not raise too many eyebrows, it was Yoshida's cryptic comment during the announcement that has stirred up speculation. "You may have noticed a lot of Final Fantasy IX references here, but the reason is a secret," Yoshida teased before sealing his lips.

Rumors of a Final Fantasy IX remake have circulated for years, particularly after the game was listed in a 2021 Nvidia leak alongside other Square Enix titles like the Chrono Cross remaster and Kingdom Hearts 4. Despite this, neither a Final Fantasy IX remake nor a Final Fantasy Tactics remake, both listed in the leak, have materialized.

Speculation about Yoshida's hint runs rampant, with some suggesting a possible crossover event between Final Fantasy XIV and Final Fantasy IX or even the revival of the rumored Final Fantasy IX animated series. However, fans can't help but dream of a modern reimagining of the beloved 2000 PSone classic RPG.

Meanwhile, Square Enix remains occupied with the Final Fantasy VII Remake project, with the recent release of the second entry, Rebirth. Looking ahead, the final installment of the trilogy might not see the light of day until around 2028, leading some to ponder if it could potentially be a launch title for the PlayStation 6, considering Sony's remarks about the PS5's life cycle.