Square Enix is developing a remake of Final Fantasy Tactics, titled The Ivalice Chronicles, despite the original PlayStation game’s source code no longer existing. Director Kazutoyo Maehiro revealed in a recent interview that this loss posed major challenges during development.
Maehiro explained the original data was not lost due to mismanagement but because retaining source code was uncommon at the time. Additionally, initial development worked from the Japanese version’s data, which was later overwritten by other language versions.
To overcome this, the remake was created “by sheer force,” reconstructing the game without the original codebase. The team declined to include content introduced in the 2007 PSP re-release War of the Lions—such as new characters and jobs—to honor the original game’s design and story.
The remake offers two versions: a classic mode faithful to the original experience with minor quality of life improvements like autosave and bug fixes, and a modernized version featuring an updated user interface and enhanced accessibility.
Maehiro noted the importance of full voice acting in the modern version. Since the original script was written for reading, dialogue was revised with input from original writer Yasumi Matsuno to better suit voiced performance. The visual style updates preserve the charm of the original pixel art and map design while enhancing textures and models.
Additional character conversations have been added, with some unlockable only under specific conditions, providing deeper insight into character relationships.
Final Fantasy Tactics was originally released in 1997 in Japan and North America, reaching Europe only with the PSP re-release. Its legacy and demand motivated the remake, which will launch on September 30 for PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, Switch 2, Xbox Series X/S, and PC via Steam.
Original writer Matsuno reflected on the game’s lasting themes, stating, “And now, in 2025—a time when inequality and division are still deeply rooted in our society—I offer this story once again. The will to resist is in your hands.”