Final Fantasy IX has unveiled its 25th anniversary website, revealing a slate of upcoming initiatives. Dive in to discover the details surrounding FFIX’s celebrations and potential future ventures.
Final Fantasy IX Celebrates 25th Anniversary This Year
25th Anniversary Website Launched
Square Enix has dedicated a new microsite to honor the 25th anniversary of Final Fantasy IX. The page highlights that the developer is "preparing various projects such as goods and collaborations to commemorate the 25th anniversary."
The site showcases an array of FFIX merchandise for the occasion, including character figurines, plush toys, vinyl records, CDs, storybooks, and more. Beyond these items, Square Enix teased additional announcements leading up to the milestone celebration.
Originally released on July 7, 2000, for the PlayStation console, Final Fantasy IX sold over 8.9 million copies globally. It was later included in Square Enix’s Japanese "Final Fantasy 25th Anniversary Ultimate Box" package in December 2012. A remastered edition arrived in February 2016 for iOS and Android devices, followed by a PC port later that year. The game subsequently launched on PlayStation 4 in September 2017, with versions for Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, and Windows 10 arriving in February 2019.
Possible Final Fantasy IX Remake and Seemingly Forgotten Anime
Coinciding with the anniversary website launch, rumors of a potential FFIX remake have intensified. Given the critical and commercial success of Final Fantasy VII’s Remake and Rebirth titles, it is entirely plausible that IX could follow in their footsteps. In a 2019 poll conducted by Japan's national broadcaster NHK, FFIX was ranked as the fourth-best entry in the series. While the anniversary site did not explicitly confirm a remake, FFIX remains a top candidate for such an update due to its enduring popularity.
Another long-awaited project is the previously announced anime adaptation of Final Fantasy IX. In 2021, Square Enix revealed "Final Fantasy IX: The Black Mages' Legacy," an animated series set ten years after the original game, focusing on the six children of the beloved black mage Vivi. Since then, the project has seen little official activity.
Cyber Group Studios, a Paris-based company collaborating with Square Enix, secured distribution rights and merchandise licenses for the anime and planned to produce it in-house. However, the studio declared bankruptcy by late October 2024 and entered judicial recovery proceedings. Following this development, several entities have expressed interest in acquiring their intellectual properties and assets. Notably, United Smile and Newen Studios have both indicated a desire to continue production on the FFIX animated series.
