Final Fantasy 9 Officially Returning In 2027
Though everyone is obviously entitled to their own personal favorite, it really doesn’t get a lot better in the JRPG genre as a whole than it was when Final Fantasy IX dropped back at the turn of the Millennium. The story and character roster was notably excellent, even after the generational run that the series had been on up to that point.
It would arguably serve as the perfect target for the next remake, whenever that comes, particularly after all the success Square Enix has seen with their treatment of the seventh game. While we wait for that future to materialize (make it happen), there is another release coming along that celebrates the game, and it’s a great way to commemorate a memorable moment in gaming history.
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Square Enix</figure>
As first reported by Siliconera, Square Enix has just confirmed the upcoming release of the Final Fantasy 40th Anniversary: The Crystal Edition CD and vinyl album. It contains one song from each of the 16 mainline games in the series, including the iconic “Not Alone” from Final Fantasy IX.
In sharing a little about their motivations for producing the special album, Square Enix posted the following on their website:
“Since the series’ inception, FINAL FANTASY has given rise to countless songs that have captured the hearts of gamers worldwide. In celebration of its 40th anniversary, we’ve compiled a musical odyssey consisting of an iconic track from each mainline title in the series─from the first FINAL FANTASY through FINAL FANTASY XVI.
“Whether it be the first steps on an epic journey, the act of bonding with your friends, battles with nigh insurmountable odds, or emotional farewells, the music of FINAL FANTASY has not only helped bring incredible scenes to life, it has provided generations of players with everlasting memories. Now you can make those memories come rushing back with 16 of the best songs FINAL FANTASY has to offer.”
“Since the series’ inception, FINAL FANTASY has given rise to countless songs that have captured the hearts of gamers worldwide. In celebration of its 40th anniversary, we’ve compiled a musical odyssey consisting of an iconic track from each mainline title in the series─from the first FINAL FANTASY through FINAL FANTASY XVI.
“Whether it be the first steps on an epic journey, the act of bonding with your friends, battles with nigh insurmountable odds, or emotional farewells, the music of FINAL FANTASY has not only helped bring incredible scenes to life, it has provided generations of players with everlasting memories. Now you can make those memories come rushing back with 16 of the best songs FINAL FANTASY has to offer.”
The full list of tracks that make up part of the commemorative collection is as follows:
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Square Enix</figure>
The product pages for Europe and the USA aren’t live just yet, but the set is priced on the Japanese store at 3,600 yen (~$23) for the CD and 8,000 yen (~$51) for the record. The final price will likely be a little higher than that to cover either alternate manufacturing or shipping, but either way those should work as a good rough guide.
Final Fantasy 40th Anniversary: The Crystal Edition CD and vinyl album is set to launch on January 6, 2027, which means it comes at the perfect time to play us into the release of the final part of the Final Fantasy VII Remake trilogy.
Final Fantasy is Square Enix’s flagship fantasy RPG franchise and one of gaming’s defining anthology series. Created by Hironobu Sakaguchi, the property spans standalone mainline games, direct sequels, spin-offs, films, anime, and live-action adaptations, with each major entry introducing a new world, new heroes, and a new conflict while preserving recurring franchise DNA. Across decades, Final Fantasy has built its identity around ambitious storytelling, technological leaps, and a willingness to reinvent itself without losing its core sense of wonder.
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