Final Fantasy 9 Remake Uncertain, But Fans Are Thriving

Can’t believe it’s been, what, 25 years since Final Fantasy 9 graced our screens? Madness. So here we are, 2025 peeking around the corner, and fans like me are buzzing with excitement. It’s not just nostalgia—it’s also because of the hype from stuff like the Magic: The Gathering crossover. I mean, what a time to love FF9, right? And Square Enix is pouring fuel on that fire with whispers of a remake and teasing us with all these juicy character tidbits from the story. Keeps me on edge, honestly.

Ah, let’s roll back to when FF9 dropped—July 7, 2000, in Japan. Picture this: Square and Enix were still separate entities. And Hironobu Sakaguchi, the mastermind himself, was calling the shots. Flashbacks of crystals, epic summons, and our ragtag band saving the world…classic stuff. It was like a love letter to old-school fans.

Square Enix knows how to keep the flame burning. Earlier this year, they launched a special site for the anniversary celebration. All the goodies you’d want—figures, plushies, bags, you name it. And they’ve cooked up collaborations with their mobile games too—Emberstoria and Sengoku Ixa. Those characters look snazzy as heck in their fresh, updated models.

Oh, and the cherry on top? The Final Fantasy IX Picture Book is coming westward. Written by Kazuhiko Aoki and brought to life by Toshiyuki Itahana’s art. It’s a sweet dive into Vivi’s world with Grandpa Quan. Fans were thrilled to uncover little treasures like the origin of Vivi’s name hinted at throughout. Can’t blame them for freaking out a bit.

Square Enix also snipped together a movie celebrating those heartstring-tugging moments from the game. I watched it and, darn it, got misty-eyed. Guilty as charged.

Yet, amidst all the fanfare, the potential remake teaser is the big elephant in the room. Perfect timing to drop something, if you ask me—25th anniversary and all. But, nah, no official word yet. Typical.

Me? I’m not losing sleep over it—okay, maybe a bit. Sure, fingers crossed on the remake front, but this year has been a dream for an FF9 fan. And hey, that animated series from four years ago is still hanging in the air. Patience is a virtue, they say. Keeping us all on our toes!