FF9 Remake Rumors Quashed: Director Dismisses Fan Hopes

FF14 Collab Does Not A FF9 Remake Make, Says Director

Final Fantasy XIV's director and producer, Naoki Yoshida (Yoshi-P), recently addressed speculation linking the recent FFXIV collaboration event with a potential Final Fantasy IX remake. Let's delve into his statement.

Yoshi-P Dispels FF9 Remake Rumors

Yoshida clarified that the FFXIV collaboration's inclusion of FFIX elements was solely due to the game's design as a "theme park" for the Final Fantasy franchise. The timing was not connected to any planned FFIX remake.

He stated in an interview with JPGames, "The original concept for Final Fantasy XIV is that it serves as a theme park for the Final Fantasy franchise... We wanted to incorporate Final Fantasy IX because of that." He explicitly denied any commercial considerations related to a potential remake influencing the collaboration's timing.

FF14 Collab Does Not A FF9 Remake Make, Says Director

While dismissing the remake connection, Yoshida expressed his team's love for FFIX, acknowledging its immense scope: "Final Fantasy IX has a huge volume, it's a big game. If we were to wait for any sort of Remake project, we would just be waiting and waiting..." This sentiment highlights the challenge of recreating such a substantial title. The FFXIV event, therefore, served as a tribute to FFIX.

Although the interview dashed hopes for an immediate announcement, Yoshida concluded with a positive note: "I think potentially if any team was to take on doing a remake for Final Fantasy IX," he said with a chuckle, "I would wish them the best of luck."

FF14 Collab Does Not A FF9 Remake Make, Says Director

In short, the rumors remain just that – rumors. Fans anticipating an FFIX remake will have to content themselves with the existing FFXIV references for now, or patiently await future announcements.