It is hard to believe that Final Fantasy 9, one of the greatest entries in the series, was released in 2000, especially considering just how ahead of its time it was. However, we are now officially celebrating FF9's 25th anniversary, and Square Enix is pulling out all the stops. Of course, after such a lengthy period of time and with the huge success of the beloved Final Fantasy 7 Remake trilogy, fans are now expecting Square to announce a Final Fantasy 9 remake during this period of celebration.

In fact, many believe that Square Enix should halt the FF7 Remake trilogy and make a FF9 remake the star of the show in 2025. It makes sense, especially considering the popularity of the game, coupled with the fact that, outside of a handful of crossovers, FF9 has had very little love. Fortunately, it seems like all the wishful thinking of fans may be turning into a reality, as, alongside years of evidence pointing to a remake being in the works, Square Enix has also rather heavily implied that a remake could be on its way.

FF9 25th Anniversary Merch Is Coming This Summer

It's Already Detailed On The Official Website

So far, Square Enix has celebrated FF9's 25th anniversary with a merch drop. Over on the game's official 25th anniversary website, fans can take a look at and purchase several pieces of themed merch from books, plushes, jewelry, and figures. There are high-quality figures of both Garnet and Zidane, as well as plushes for most of the major characters, including a rather adorable one of Vivi. It all looks incredible for fans of the game and marks a perfect opportunity to grab some merch as very little has been officially in print for a while.

Of course, as much as paying $30 for a plush of Adelbert is a worthwhile expense, what fans really want is a remake. This has been something people have demanded for several years, with FF9 remake rumors circulating every so often, igniting the flames of hope once more. The official website doesn't mention anything about a remake, nor has any of the higher-ups at Square Enix, but that doesn't mean that they won't. After all, a 25th anniversary marks the perfect opportunity to announce a remake.

25th Anniversary Is A Perfect Time To Announce FF9 Remake

It's A Huge Milestone Worthy Of A Huge Announcement

A Final Fantasy 9 remake was first hinted at as being real during a existence of a FF9 remake. Fans have been hoping that the Final Fantasy 9 remake would eventually be revealed based purely on these leaks, but so far, Square Enix hasn't budged.

Of course, that hasn't stopped FFXIV's director, Naoki Yoshida, from chiming in. When asked to explain why the Collectors Editions of the Final Fantasy XIV Dawntrail expansion included FF9-themed items, he explained that it was a secret. This isn't the only time Yoshida mentioned the FF9 remake, as in an interview with the website Video Games (via IGN), he explained how he is aware that the fans want a remake of Final Fantasy 9, but he's not sure that they'd be able to do it as one game, hinting potentially at another Final Fantasy remake trilogy. He explained:

"Of course, I do know there are requests for Final Fantasy IX to be made, but when you think about Final Fantasy IX, it’s a game with huge volume. When you think about all of that volume, I wonder if it’s possible to remake that as a single title. It’s a difficult one. It is a tough question."

With the inclusion of FF9-themed items in the Dawntrail expansion, Yoshi-P's comments, and the recent EpicDB leak all pointing to a Final Fantasy 9 remake being on the horizon, it makes sense that Square Enix would announce it during the 25th anniversary. It is possible that Square Enix has been actively developing a remake since that initial leak in 2021 and has just been waiting for the right moment to reveal it to the public. While this is all remains to be seen, there's a very good chance that Square Enix will reveal a FF9 remake later this year.

Will FF9 Remake Get Revealed In July?

It Could Announce It On The Official Anniversary Date

Final Fantasy 9 was released for the PlayStation 1 on July 7, 2000, in Japan. That would mean that July 7, 2025, is the date that the game celebrates its 25th birthday and also likely when Square Enix will unveil a Final Fantasy 9 remake. Of course, that should be taken with a grain of salt, especially as the developer hasn't given any indication that a new game announcement is on the way. All it has said, via the aforementioned official website, is that it is "preparing various projects, including merchandise and collaborations to commemorate the 25th anniversary."

July 7 isn't during any major gaming events, such as Summer Game Fest, where one would typically expect Square Enix to reveal a new game. After all, Final Fantasy 7 Remake was announced during the 2015 E3. Square Enix could have a bigger presentation planned for July 7, where it reveals multiple new titles, but that's not guaranteed. So, while there is a chance that Square Enix could reveal a Final Fantasy 9 remake in July, if there is indeed one coming, it is more likely to be announced in June during one of the major gaming events.

Source: finalfantasy.com, OnkelJupp/Reddit, IGN