A special 25th anniversary website for Final Fantasy 9 has launched, detailing a variety of upcoming projects. Read on to discover more about the game's anniversary celebrations and the potential titles planned for the future.
Final Fantasy 9 Marks Its 25th Anniversary This Year
25th Anniversary Website Goes Live
To celebrate the 25th anniversary of Final Fantasy 9, Square Enix has released a new dedicated website. The site confirms that the company is "preparing a range of projects including special merchandise and collaborations to mark this 25-year milestone."
The anniversary website showcases an array of Final Fantasy 9-themed goods, featuring collectibles like character figures, plush toys, vinyl records, CDs, storybooks, and other items. In addition to the announced merchandise, Square Enix has promised further updates and reveals as the anniversary approaches.
Originally launched for the PlayStation on July 7, 2000, Final Fantasy 9 has sold more than 8.9 million copies globally. It was later re-released in December 2012 as part of the Final Fantasy 25th Anniversary Ultimate Box package in Japan. A remastered edition arrived in February 2016 for iOS and Android devices, with a PC version following later that year. The title was made available on PlayStation 4 in September 2017, before reaching Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, and Windows 10 in February 2019.
Potential Final Fantasy 9 Remake and Long-Awaited Anime Adaptation
The launch of the anniversary site has fueled speculation about a possible Final Fantasy 9 remake. Given the popularity of Final Fantasy VII Remake and Rebirth, a similar treatment for FF9 appears plausible. Notably, a 2019 poll by Japan’s national broadcaster NHK ranked Final Fantasy 9 as the fourth-best title in the series. Although the anniversary website does not explicitly confirm a remake, the game's lasting appeal positions it as a strong candidate.
Another project revisited in discussions is the previously announced Final Fantasy 9 anime series. In 2021, Square Enix revealed that an anime titled "Final Fantasy IX: The Black Mages' Legacy" was in the works. Set ten years after the events of the original game, the storyline was set to follow the six children of the adored black mage Vivi. Since the initial announcement, official updates about the series have been scarce.
Paris-based Cyber Group Studios had partnered with Square Enix and acquired distribution and merchandising rights for the anime, planning to handle production internally. However, the company filed for bankruptcy by the end of October 2024 and initiated a judicial recovery process. Several potential buyers have since shown interest in acquiring Cyber Group's intellectual property and assets. Among them, United Smile and Newen Studios have indicated they intend to resume production of the Final Fantasy 9 animated series.
