If you’ve been seeing Final Fantasy 9 trending online recently and got your hopes up for a remake announcement, you’re certainly not alone. Search numbers for Final Fantasy IX have spiked dramatically over the past few days, and misleading headlines across the internet have led many fans to believe the long-rumoured Final Fantasy 9 Remake has finally been confirmed. Unfortunately, that’s not the case, but before you lose hope entirely, there’s still plenty of reason to stay optimistic.
What Actually Got Announced About Final Fantasy 9 Remake?
The recent surge in Final Fantasy 9 buzz comes from Square Enix officially revealing a brand new illustrated picture book centred around Vivi, one of the most beloved characters in the entire franchise. The book is titled Final Fantasy IX Picture Book: Vivi and Grandpa’s Memories For the Sky, and it’s scheduled to release on May 19, 2026, with a retail price of $17.99 USD.
The 48-page picture book explores Vivi’s life before the events of the original game, focusing on his quiet childhood with Grandpa Quan. According to the official description, the story begins with Quan rescuing Vivi from the ocean, a moment fans of the original game will recognise, and follows their daily routines as they share meals, form friendships, and live peacefully together. The narrative gradually builds toward the emotional moment when Vivi eventually leaves home to begin the journey players experience in the 2000 RPG.
What Makes This Picture Book Special?
What makes this release particularly special is the involvement of key creative figures from the original game. Kazuhiko Aoki, who worked as an event designer on Final Fantasy IX, is writing the story, while Toshiyuki Itahana, the game’s character designer, is providing brand new illustrations. Early previews describe the tone as gentle and heartfelt, perfectly matching the character-driven storytelling Final Fantasy IX is known for.
The English edition is available now for preorder on sites like Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and the Square Enix store.
So, Where Does the Final Fantasy 9 Remake Actually Stand?
Here is where things get genuinely interesting. The Final Fantasy 9 Remake has not been officially announced by Square Enix, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t happening. In fact, there is substantial evidence suggesting the project exists and could still see the light of day.
The existence of the Final Fantasy IX Remake was first revealed via a massive Nvidia leak that exposed a list of upcoming Square Enix games. That same leak included titles like Chrono Cross Remaster, Final Fantasy Tactics Remake, and Kingdom Hearts 4, all of which have since been either officially released or announced. This lends the leak significant credibility, and Final Fantasy IX was absolutely on that list.
However, some leakers have reported that the Final Fantasy 9 Remake has been put on ice, meaning development may have paused or slowed significantly. Insiders like NateTheHate and Midori have shared updates suggesting it’s still in the works and could target a 2026 release window, though nothing is confirmed. Despite this, the recent swell of renewed interest in the property, combined with the success of the game’s 25th anniversary merchandise line (which featured brand new concept art), strongly suggests that Square Enix is aware of the demand. The question isn’t whether fans want it, it is whether Square Enix is willing to commit the resources.
What Would a Final Fantasy 9 Remake Actually Look Like?
One of the most exciting aspects of the rumoured Final Fantasy 9 Remake is that it likely wouldn’t follow the same path as the Final Fantasy VII Remake trilogy. Rather than being a ground-up AAA rebuilding with real-time action combat, the Final Fantasy IX Remake is expected to take a different approach entirely, one much closer to Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake.
For those unfamiliar, Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake uses charming chibi-style visuals, dioramas, scanned puppets, and traditional turn-based combat to modernise a classic game while respecting its original identity. This approach works perfectly for Final Fantasy IX, which originally consisted of gorgeous static 2D backgrounds with characters and monsters layered over the top. Square Enix could keep that exact vibe with crisp, modern visuals, just as it has done for Dragon Quest.
Turn-based combat is also experiencing a genuine resurgence thanks to recent successes like Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, and it is significantly cheaper to develop than real-time action combat systems. From a business perspective, this makes a Final Fantasy IX Remake in the HD-2D style a much more cost-effective investment for Square Enix compared to the sprawling, highly interactive AAA environments required for something like Final Fantasy VII Remake.
Could 2026 Still Be the Year?
Originally released on July 7, 2000, Final Fantasy IX remains one of the most celebrated entries in the series. The game currently holds an OpenCritic average score of 81/100 with an 81% critic recommendation rate, and has sold over 8.9 million copies worldwide.
The fanbase is undeniably there.
Moreover, Square Enix releasing a Vivi-focused picture book in May 2026 signals that the company is actively investing in keeping Final Fantasy IX in the public conversation. If the remake truly were dead and buried, it is unlikely Square Enix would be commissioning new Final Fantasy IX content with involvement from the original creative team.
Additionally, there was an animated series adaptation announced in 2021 by Square Enix and French developer Cyber Group Studios. After the studio’s bankruptcy in 2025, the project was revived and is now in production at the new studio Euro Visual, targeting a 2028 release with 13 episodes. This shows Square Enix hasn’t abandoned Final Fantasy IX as a property worth expanding.
While nothing is confirmed, the pieces are absolutely in place for a Final Fantasy 9 Remake announcement in 2026. Fans should remain cautiously optimistic, but temper expectations until Square Enix makes an official statement.
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