Square Enix is reviving the classic PlayStation game Final Fantasy Tactics – The Ivalice Chronicles for modern platforms this September, marking its first availability since the PlayStation 3 era over a decade ago. The delay largely stemmed from missing source code and master data from the original 1997 release, complicating the remastering process.
Kazutoyo Maehiro, the remaster’s director, explained in a recent interview that the lack of rigorous documentation back then meant the development team had to reconstruct the game from various existing versions and rely heavily on trial and error. This effort included analyzing multiple game versions, playing the original extensively, and rebuilding programming with dedicated craftsmanship.
The Ivalice Chronicles introduces updated HD graphics, voice acting, a re-edited script, and quality-of-life improvements like fast-forwarding and save-anywhere features. The original game version remains accessible, preserving the core experience.
Contrary to earlier ports such as 2007’s War of the Lions on the PSP—which added new job classes, cutscenes, and multiplayer—none of that additional content is included. Maehiro stated the decision was to honor the original’s completeness in game design and narrative. He also noted that War of the Lions was developed by a different team, while this remaster involved original veterans including writer and director Yasumi Matsuno.
The PSP version was also criticized for technical issues like audio bugs and frame rate drops. Despite this, some fans express disappointment over missed opportunities to expand gameplay with new modes or features such as online multiplayer or roguelite elements.
However, the remaster adds three new difficulty settings to rebalance gameplay, including a tactical mode for increased challenge. Some underused abilities have been improved, and the popular Final Fantasy VII sidequest to recruit Cloud appears earlier in the game.