Square Enix has reportedly shifted its focus to other projects, which means the still-unannounced Final Fantasy IX Remake may remain out of reach for quite a while longer. According to a new rumor, the project is still on hold while the publisher prioritizes its bigger active productions.

Square Enix has reportedly decided to focus on games that are already deep in development instead of moving ahead with the Final Fantasy IX Remake, pushing that long-rumored project further down the priority list. According to the latest rumor, the highly anticipated remake will stay on the back burner for now as the company concentrates on the third and final part of the Final Fantasy VII remake project, alongside Dragon Quest XII and Kingdom Hearts IV.

The Final Fantasy IX Remake first surfaced in the 2021 GeForce Now leak, and ever since then it has remained wrapped in uncertainty. Last year would have looked like the perfect moment to unveil it, since 2025 marked the 25th anniversary of the original game, but Square Enix chose not to announce anything. Now the latest rumor suggests the project has been put on hold, even if that does not necessarily mean it is gone for good.

Insider NateTheHate says that, based on what his sources told him, the Final Fantasy IX Remake is still in limbo. According to him, the last update he received was that the game remained parked for the time being, and at Square Enix that kind of status can mean a project may return someday without any clear sign of when. As far as he has heard, there have been no meaningful new developments. Back in 2024, Yoshi-P, or Naoki Yoshida, the director of Final Fantasy XIV and producer of Final Fantasy XVI, seemed to tease something related to Final Fantasy IX, but Square Enix ultimately revealed nothing.

For now, the company is focused on its next major AAA milestone, the third and final chapter of the Final Fantasy VII remake trilogy, while also continuing work on Kingdom Hearts IV and Dragon Quest XII, both of which were announced years ago. On top of that, more content expansions are planned for Final Fantasy XIV. At this pace, Square Enix may honestly decide that 2030 is the better moment to either announce or release the Final Fantasy IX Remake, since that would at least line the whole thing up neatly with the original game’s 30th anniversary.

Source: TweakTown