Insider clarifies Final Fantasy 9 remake rumors

The initial rumors have now gotten a bit out of hand with gaming outlets reporting that the remake will use an "ATB turn-based system" similar to the original. Grubb has clarified that he has never shared what type of combat mechanics the upcoming title will use.

I haven't talked about FF9 in weeks, but these rumors keep bouncing back and forth between blogs and Twitter and YouTube as if I've said something new or different," Grubb tweeted. "I just said it's definitely real, which of course it is."

Grubb previously said that the Final Fantasy 9 remake will not be of a similar scale to Final Fantasy 7. The remake of Square Enix's most popular PS1 title has three parts and expanded on the story of the original.

We expect some updated graphics and gameplay mechanics for the remake but with a bit of luck, Square Enix doesn't change much else. The game was already an amazing title and just modernizing the graphics would surely be enough to attract newer gamers to the title.

Hopefully, the Final Fantasy 9 remake will retain the turn-based combat of the original game. There is something nostalgic about the traditional combat mechanics of the original. Recently, Final Fantasy XVI's combat system drew some flak from fans of the series.

We are also looking forward to the return of the card game from the original game. It was one of the more interesting mechanics that was unique to the title. The mini-game was a defining feature of Final Fantasy 9 similar to the Chocobo breeding sidequest of Final Fantasy 7.

Grubb shared that Final Fantasy 9 may be coming in 2024 or 2025. The latter may be much more plausible since Final Fantasy VII Rebirth is scheduled for 2024. It is not likely that Square Enix will release two Final Fantasy remakes in the same year.

Stay tuned for more updates on the Final Fantasy 9 remake.