Final Fantasy XIV's director, Naoki Yoshida (Yoshi-P), recently addressed speculation linking the recent FFXIV collaboration event with a potential Final Fantasy IX remake. Let's delve into his statement.
Yoshi-P Dispels FF9 Remake Speculation
Yoshida clarified that the FFXIV collaboration's inclusion of FFIX references was solely due to the game's status as a "theme park" for the Final Fantasy franchise. The timing was unrelated to any existing FFIX remake plans. He explicitly stated that the collaboration wasn't a marketing ploy designed to precede a remake announcement. "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 explained.
While dismissing the direct link, Yoshida acknowledged the development team's love for FFIX and the sheer scale of the original game. He highlighted the significant undertaking a remake would represent, explaining the team's decision to pay homage through the FFXIV collaboration as a quicker way to celebrate the game.
Despite dashing hopes for an immediate announcement, Yoshida concluded with a supportive message for any team potentially undertaking an FFIX remake: "I would wish them the best of luck."
In short, the FFXIV collaboration event, while filled with FFIX nods, doesn't foreshadow an imminent remake. Fans eager for a remake will need to remain patient, contenting themselves with the existing FFXIV references for now.
