FF14 Collab Does Not A FF9 Remake Make, Says Director

Final Fantasy XIV Producer and Director Naoki Yoshida recently addressed persistent rumors of a Final Fantasy IX remake, clarifying the recent FFXIV collaboration event's connection (or lack thereof).

Yoshi-P Quashes FF9 Remake Speculation

No Link Between FFXIV Collaboration and a Potential FF9 Remake

Naoki Yoshida, the beloved producer and director of Final Fantasy XIV, definitively put to rest speculation that the recent FFXIV collaboration event, featuring numerous references to the cherished 1999 RPG, Final Fantasy IX, hinted at an upcoming remake. He explained the collaboration's origins independently of any remake plans.

In an interview with JPGames, Yoshida stated, "The original concept for Final Fantasy XIV is that it serves as a theme park for the Final Fantasy franchise. We wanted to incorporate Final Fantasy IX because of that." He emphasized that the timing was purely coincidental, stating, "We had never thought about doing Final Fantasy IX in relation to any sort of Final Fantasy IX Remake—we had never thought about it in that commercial sense." He acknowledged the understandable marketing-driven speculation surrounding the collaboration.

Despite dismissing the connection to a remake, Yoshida’s enthusiasm for FFIX is undeniable. He admitted, "But of course, in our development team, we have a lot of staff who are huge fans of Final Fantasy IX." He highlighted the sheer scale of the original game, explaining, "as you know—Final Fantasy IX has a huge volume, it’s a big game. If we were to wait for any sort of Remake project, we would just be waiting and waiting and we would be thinking: ‘When would we be able to incorporate that essence of Final Fantasy IX and make our homage?’" This sentiment resonated with fans who appreciated the numerous FFIX references in the FFXIV Dawntrail expansion.

While the interview dashed hopes for an immediate announcement, Yoshida concluded with a note of encouragement: "I think potentially if any team was to take on doing a remake for Final Fantasy IX," he chuckled, "I would wish them the best of luck."

In conclusion, rumors of a Final Fantasy IX remake remain just that—rumors. Fans eager for a remake will have to content themselves with the plentiful FFIX references in Final Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail, or patiently await future announcements.