Final Fantasy IX Remake Put 'On Ice' by Square Enix

Fans of the beloved PS1 classic have been dealt another blow. On March 28, 2026, prominent gaming leaker Nate the Hate confirmed in a YouTube video what many had feared: the long-rumored Final Fantasy IX remake is currently "on ice" at Square Enix, with no new development movement to speak of. The announcement sent shockwaves through the gaming community, reigniting debate over whether the project will ever see the light of day — and prompting widespread coverage from outlets like Game Rant and Tweaktown.

For a fanbase that has waited years for a modern reimagining of one of gaming's most cherished RPGs, this is a heartbreaking update — though not entirely surprising given the signals that have been mounting since late 2025.

What Nate the Hate Actually Said

Nate the Hate, a leaker with a track record of accurate gaming industry intel, stated plainly in his latest YouTube video that the Final Fantasy IX remake has no current forward momentum at Square Enix. The project is described as being "on ice" — meaning it hasn't been cancelled outright, but active development has stalled indefinitely.

This isn't the first time Nate the Hate has sounded the alarm. Back in October 2025, he reported that the FF9 remake had already been delayed with no clear path forward. The March 2026 update suggests things have not improved in the months since — and may have actually gotten worse.

The FF9 remake appears to have no new movement, effectively shelving the project for the foreseeable future — Nate the Hate, March 2026

It's worth noting that Square Enix has never officially announced a Final Fantasy IX remake. Everything we know about the project stems from leaks and rumor, which makes the current situation all the more frustrating for fans who have been hoping for official confirmation for years.

How the FF9 Remake Rumor Started: The Nvidia Leak

The story of the Final Fantasy IX remake begins in 2021, when a significant data leak from Nvidia's GeForce Now database exposed a list of unannounced games. Among them were four major Final Fantasy projects:

• A PC port of Final Fantasy VII Remake
• A PC port of Final Fantasy XVI
• Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles
• A Final Fantasy IX remake

Three of those four titles have since been released. The FF7 Remake PC port arrived in 2021, the FF16 PC port launched in 2024, and Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles dropped in September 2025. That leaves the FF9 remake as the sole unrealized entry on the list — and now, based on the latest leaks, it may remain that way for the foreseeable future.

The remake was reportedly described early on as "modest" in scope compared to the sprawling, multi-part FF7 Remake project — suggesting it was never envisioned as a massive undertaking. That makes its current dormant state even more puzzling to fans.

Square Enix's Crowded Roadmap: Why FF9 Got Pushed Aside

To understand why the FF9 remake has stalled, it helps to look at what Square Enix is currently prioritizing. The publisher has an ambitious slate of major titles in various stages of development, including:

• Final Fantasy VII Remake Part 3 — the conclusion to the multi-part FF7 saga
• Kingdom Hearts IV
• Dragon Quest XII
• Ongoing content updates for Final Fantasy XIV

With resources stretched across these high-profile projects, a "modest" FF9 remake may simply not be a current business priority. As Tweaktown reports, Square Enix appears to be doubling down on FF7 Remake Part 3 above all else, leaving the FF9 project without a development home for now.

In 2024, Final Fantasy XIV producer Naoki Yoshida (Yoshi-P) appeared to tease something related to Final Fantasy 9, but nothing was ever officially revealed — fueling speculation that was ultimately left unresolved.

A Legacy Worth Remaking: Why Fans Care So Much

The level of fan outcry over the FF9 remake's uncertain future is a testament to the original game's enduring legacy. Final Fantasy IX was released in 2000 for the PlayStation 1 and is widely considered one of the greatest JRPGs ever made. It earned a 93 on GameRankings and has sold over nine million copies worldwide — numbers that speak to its timeless appeal.

The game was a deliberate love letter to the classic Final Fantasy formula, featuring a colorful cast of characters, a richly detailed world, and one of the most emotionally resonant stories in the series. Unlike FF7 or FF8, which leaned into more modern aesthetics, FF9 embraced a medieval fantasy tone that set it apart.

Despite its critical and commercial success, FF9 has received relatively little post-launch attention from Square Enix. The game was re-released as a PS1 Classic on the PlayStation Store in 2011, and received an enhanced port across multiple platforms in 2016 — but it has never been remastered or remade in any meaningful way. Fans have long argued that it deserves the same treatment as FF7.

If you want to revisit the classic while waiting for news, Final Fantasy IX (PC) is available and holds up remarkably well even today.

The Missed 25th Anniversary Opportunity

2025 marked the 25th anniversary of Final Fantasy IX, and many fans had hoped Square Enix would use the milestone as an occasion to finally announce the remake officially. The anniversary came and went without a word from the publisher — a silence that, in hindsight, may have been the clearest signal yet that the project was in trouble.

The pattern is hard to ignore: the 25th anniversary passed in silence, Nate the Hate reported delays in October 2025, and by March 2026, the project has been confirmed as dormant. As Game Rant notes, this series of events amounts to a genuinely heartbreaking update for the FF9 community.

Some had speculated that a remake announcement could coincide with FF9's anniversary or the release of Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles in September 2025. Neither happened, and ComicBook.com has reported on the broader pattern of Square Enix shelving or cancelling planned remake projects in recent months.

What "On Ice" Actually Means — and What Comes Next

It's important to distinguish between a project being "on ice" and being officially cancelled. A dormant project can be revived — especially one tied to a beloved IP with a proven fanbase. There are a few scenarios worth considering:

• Revival after FF7 Remake Part 3: Once Square Enix wraps up the FF7 trilogy, internal resources could be redirected toward the FF9 remake, potentially restarting active development.
• External development partnership: Square Enix could bring in a third-party studio to handle development, similar to arrangements seen with other classic IP remakes in the industry.
• Scope reassessment: The "modest" remake described in early leaks may be reconsidered in favor of a larger, more commercially ambitious project — or scaled back even further into a remaster.
• Permanent shelving: In the worst case, if internal priorities shift or the project loses its internal champion, it may never move forward at all.

For now, fans are left in limbo. The honest answer is that no one outside Square Enix knows what the future holds — and Square Enix isn't saying anything.

Frequently Asked Questions

Has Square Enix officially cancelled the Final Fantasy IX remake?

No. Square Enix has never officially announced or confirmed a Final Fantasy IX remake, so there is nothing official to cancel. All information about the project comes from leaks and insider reports. The current "on ice" status, as described by Nate the Hate, suggests the project is dormant — not formally cancelled.

Where did the FF9 remake rumor originally come from?

The rumor originated from the 2021 Nvidia GeForce Now data leak, which revealed a list of unannounced games including a Final Fantasy IX remake. Three of the four Final Fantasy titles on that list have since been officially released and launched.

What did Nate the Hate say exactly?

In a YouTube video published on March 28, 2026, Nate the Hate stated that the Final Fantasy IX remake is currently "on ice" with no new development movement at Square Enix. He had previously reported in October 2025 that the project had been delayed with an uncertain future.

Can I play Final Fantasy IX right now?

Yes. The original game received an enhanced port in 2016 and is available on PC via Steam, as well as PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, and mobile platforms. You can find Final Fantasy IX (PC) online. It remains a fantastic experience even without a remake.

When might we get an official update from Square Enix?

There is no known timeline for any official announcement. Given Square Enix's current focus on Final Fantasy VII Remake Part 3, Kingdom Hearts IV, and Dragon Quest XII, a near-term FF9 announcement seems unlikely. Major gaming events like The Game Awards or Tokyo Game Show are always possible venues, but there is no concrete reason to expect news in 2026.

The Bottom Line

The Final Fantasy IX remake sits in an uncomfortable purgatory: credibly leaked, never confirmed, and now reportedly stalled with no path forward. For fans of the 2000 PS1 classic — one of the most beloved JRPGs ever made — this is a difficult update to absorb, particularly after the hope generated by the 25th anniversary year that ultimately delivered nothing.

The silver lining, thin as it may be, is that "on ice" is not the same as "dead." Square Enix has a vested interest in its classic IP, and Final Fantasy IX's passionate fanbase represents a ready-made audience for any future project. Whether the publisher chooses to act on that opportunity remains to be seen.

Until then, the best fans can do is revisit the original — Final Fantasy IX (PC) holds up beautifully — and keep a watchful eye on future Square Enix announcements. The dream of a full remake isn't dead yet. It's just waiting.