Square Enix Promises Future Final Fantasy Remakes Will Vary by Market Trends

Not everyone is convinced the Final Fantasy 7 remake trilogy is the right direction for the franchise—especially players who preferred the more distinctive look and pacing of earlier entries. Still, Square Enix is signaling that it won’t treat the remake format as a one-size template for every future project.

Square Enix says future remakes will adapt to “market trends”

During a recent shareholders’ discussion, Square Enix reportedly addressed how it plans to handle remakes going forward. The company’s stance is that each project should follow its own path, guided by current “market trends” and what players expect.

The studio’s message centered on using iterative testing to figure out what works best for modern audiences, while still meeting the expectations of people who loved the original games. Square Enix also suggested that even if some titles require particular gameplay approaches, it will keep evaluating what genuinely connects with players across both classic releases and new remake efforts.

So where does that leave HD-2D and other remake styles?

With the huge production cost required to transform Final Fantasy 7 into a high-profile trilogy—and with Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth not matching internal expectations—there’s a reasonable fear that Square could scale back ambitions for future remakes. Part of that outcome is tied to how Rebirth launched as a timed PS5 exclusive, a strategy Square Enix is unlikely to repeat with the same approach.

Even so, there’s a meaningful opening here: Square Enix has publicly committed to balancing modern development decisions with the preferences of longtime fans. That isn’t just theoretical either. At the latest Nintendo Direct in June, Square Enix announced a new HD-2D Final Fantasy title that brings back a turn-based style reminiscent of earlier classics.

That means Square seems willing to experiment with format and presentation rather than locking itself into a single modern action-RPG structure. If that willingness holds, players could eventually see an HD-2D remake of Final Fantasy 9 that leans into its storybook visuals—or an alternate direction for Final Fantasy 8, such as a combat style that modernizes Squall’s signature gunblade mechanics in a way that fits a revamped system.

What to watch next (and what’s reportedly “on ice”)

Despite the optimism, there’s still plenty of uncertainty. Rumors point to a potential Final Fantasy 9 remake being “on ice,” with the chatter tracing back to the infamous Nvidia GeForce leak. It’s unclear whether Square Enix will bring that idea back to the table—or whether the company will choose a different target for its next remake wave entirely.

For now, the practical takeaway is that Square Enix appears prepared to vary its remake approach instead of simply extending the path blazed by Cloud Strife’s modernized adventure. If nothing else, that flexibility makes it easier to imagine future remakes that better match the feel of their originals—rather than forcing every classic into the same mold.