This year marks another major milestone for the Final Fantasy franchise. It’s the 25th anniversary of the beloved Final Fantasy 9, and Square Enix is going all out for it. It’s not unusual to see Square celebrate an anniversary, but it is unusual for the company to launch a dedicated website and release a whole product lineup, with plans for more later. Will those plans include a remake? After years of rumors, and with a Nintendo Switch 2 presentation imminent, fans are rabid.
Final Fantasy 9 hit Japanese PlayStations in July 2000, with the North American release following in November. After the sci-fi and cyberpunk-inspired worlds of Final Fantasy 7 and 8, the ninth game was a grand return to form for the franchise, recapturing the high fantasy vibe and classic gameplay stylings. While in some ways a throwback title, Final Fantasy 9 still managed to innovate with brilliant systems and narrative themes, like Active Time Events. Final Fantasy 9 is a love letter to the franchise, and it’s back in a big way.
