Final Fantasy IX Remake Was Reportedly Far Into Development Before Square Enix Stopped the Project

The long rumored Final Fantasy IX remake may have progressed much further than previously believed before Square Enix stopped active development. RPG Site and VG247 contributor Alex Donaldson claims that the project was designed as a single complete game and had reached an advanced stage of production before development eventually stalled. The remake is reportedly no longer moving forward, although the work already completed remains available should Square Enix decide to revive the project in the future.

"There was an FF9 remake, and it was a single game, and it was very far along."
— Quote by: Alex Donaldson

The report provides a significant update to the uncertainty surrounding the project. We previously see how the Final Fantasy IX remake appeared to be experiencing development difficulties, with insider information indicating that the game had remained inside internal databases for years without builds being distributed for testing. At the time, it was unclear whether the project had simply been delayed or was facing a more serious development problem.

Donaldson now claims that Square Enix ultimately stopped moving forward with the remake for reasons that have not been disclosed. He also suggested that some artwork later released during the Final Fantasy IX 25th anniversary had previously been considered for promotional material associated with the remake. Square Enix celebrated the original game's anniversary throughout 2025 with new illustrations, merchandise, music releases, and messages from its creators, but never announced a remake.

The project was reportedly considerably smaller in scope than the Final Fantasy VII Remake trilogy and intended to tell the complete Final Fantasy IX story within a single release. That approach would differ dramatically from the production model used for Final Fantasy VII, which expanded one original game across 3 large releases. The reported strategy also makes recent comments from Naoki Yoshida particularly interesting. Yoshi P warned that Final Fantasy VI, VIII, and IX could require as many as 4 or 5 games if Square Enix attempted to recreate them with the same scale and production philosophy used for Final Fantasy VII.

Donaldson also believes Square Enix is increasingly interested in moving Final Fantasy toward new stories after completing the Final Fantasy VII Remake project rather than continuously returning to older numbered entries. That would align in part with the company's wider development restructuring, which emphasizes stronger internal development capabilities, fewer strategically selected projects, broader platform availability, and improving the commercial performance of its major intellectual properties. Square Enix has nevertheless also stated that it intends to continue leveraging its extensive catalog, meaning a complete abandonment of remakes and remasters has not been officially announced.

Importantly, Final Fantasy IX Remake has still never been officially announced by Square Enix. Its existence, development status, scope, and reported cancellation remain based on insider information. Donaldson also cautioned that Square Enix projects can return after being placed aside, meaning the work completed on Final Fantasy IX could theoretically be revived if the company's priorities change.

Stopping a Final Fantasy IX remake after it had already reached an advanced stage would be particularly disappointing if the project truly followed a more focused single game approach. Not every classic Final Fantasy needs the scale, development time, and enormous production structure of the Final Fantasy VII trilogy. Final Fantasy IX could arguably benefit more from preserving its turn based identity, distinctive art direction, characters, and world while modernizing its presentation and gameplay systems within one complete release.

Square Enix moving toward new Final Fantasy stories also makes strategic sense. The franchise cannot depend indefinitely on recreating its past, particularly as Final Fantasy XVII eventually becomes the next major opportunity to define what the series should become. Still, if a substantial Final Fantasy IX remake already exists internally, leaving that work unfinished would represent one of the more frustrating outcomes for fans who have been waiting years for its rumored reveal.

Should Square Enix revive the reportedly advanced Final Fantasy IX remake, or should the company focus its resources on Final Fantasy XVII and completely new stories?