Final Fantasy 9 launched its 25th anniversary website with various projects coming. Read on to learn more about Final Fantasy 9’s plans for its 25th anniversary and possible projects in the future.
Final Fantasy 9 Celebrates 25th Anniversary This Year
25th Anniversary Website Launched
Square Enix has launched a new website to commemorate Final Fantasy 9’s 25th anniversary this year. On the website, it mentioned that they are "preparing various projects such as goods and collaborations to commemorate the 25th anniversary."
The website offers various FF9 merchandise as part of the anniversary, such as character figures, plushies, vinyl, CDs, story books, and more. Besides the mentioned merchandise, they also said that there would be more announcements to come during the lead-up to their anniversary.
Final Fantasy 9 was first released on July 7, 2000 for the PlayStation console, selling over 8.9 million copies worldwide. It was then re-released as part of Square Enix’s Final Fantasy 25th Anniversary Ultimate Box Japanese package in December 2012. A remastered version was released in February 2016 for iOS and Android devices, as well as a PC port later in the year. It was released on the PlayStation 4 in September 2017 and on Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, and Windows 10 in February 2019.
Possible Final Fantasy 9 Remake and Seemingly Forgotten Anime
As the anniversary website went live, so did speculations regarding a rumored FF9 remake in the works. With the success of Final Fantasy VII’s Remake and Rebirth titles, it’s not out of the question for FF9 to follow suit. In a poll made by Japan's national broadcasting organization NHK in 2019, FF9 was voted the 4th best FF game. Although the anniversary website had no mention or specification of a remake coming, FF9’s popularity makes it a top contender to receive one.
Another project that has not been mentioned for quite a while is FF9’s previously revealed anime series. In 2021, Square Enix announced an FF9 anime in the works titled "Final Fantasy IX: The Black Mages' Legacy," set a decade after the original game, and the story would have followed the six children of the beloved black mage Vivi. Since then, there have been no updates or official announcements regarding the animated series.
In collaboration with Square Enix, Paris-based Cyber Group Studios has secured the rights for the anime’s distribution and merchandise, and was set to produce the series in-house. However, the company declared bankruptcy by the end of October 2024 and has entered the judicial recovery process. Since then, several potential buyers have expressed their interest in acquiring their IPs and assets, with two of those buyers, namely United Smile and Newen Studios, wanting to continue the production of the FF9 animated series.
Source:
Final Fantasy 9’s 25th Anniversary Website
Takeover Offers Submitted for Cyber Group Studios
