According to reliable leaker NateTheHate, a remake of the much-beloved Final Fantasy IX won’t be seeing a release date in 2025. In a reply to a question on social media that asked if the leaker had heard anything about either the rumoured remake of Final Fantasy IX or the remaster of Final Fantasy Tactics, NateTheHate wrote, “Both remain in active development. FFIXR isn’t expected to see release in 2025. Maybe we’ll see it launch in 2026.”  

The Tactics remaster was something Bloomberg reporter and longtime games journalist Jason Schreier confirmed was “real and happening” in the summer of last year via a comment on Reddit. As for the FFIX remake, an Nvidia leak back in 2021 that revealed potential titles coming to the GeForce NOW service had the title in the leaked database. Though Nvidia would quickly clarify the leak with a statement saying the games listed were simply “speculative titles,” many of those listed have made their way onto the service since then–such as Final Fantasy XVI.

Originally released in the summer of 2000, Final Fantasy IX is heralded by many fans as one of, if not the, greatest titles in the long-running series. As such, it’s not surprising that the fervourous desire for a remake is at an all-time high, especially with the success of the ongoing Final Fantasy VII remakes. We’ll have to wait and see what Square Enix’s plans are for the franchise; here’s hoping the wait isn’t too long.