Final Fantasy Remakes, Preservation, and Profit
For Final Fantasy fans in the UK, Square Enix’s habit of revisiting older entries is easy to understand. Remakes and remasters keep the series visible on modern platforms, but they also bring up a harder question, which games should be preserved properly before they become difficult, or impossible, to play?
A recent CBR Games piece looked at several Final Fantasy titles that could suit a remake, and that discussion sits alongside a wider preservation issue. Some games, such as the Japan-exclusive mobile title Before Crisis: Final Fantasy VII, are now effectively out of reach for most players, even though they remain part of the series’ history.
The Final Fantasy VII Remake trilogy shows how much Square Enix is willing to invest in a major modern retelling. Once that work is done, attention is likely to move to other classics, and fans have long speculated about news around possible future projects. The long-running GeForce Now leak has kept talk of a Final Fantasy IX remake alive, but no credible evidence has confirmed it.
Before Crisis is the clearest preservation case. The game was a Japan-only mobile release about the Turks and an earlier version of Avalanche, and it is now considered lost media. It depended on servers that no longer exist, which makes the original experience inaccessible. A version is being adapted for Ever Crisis, but that is not the same as making the full game available again, ideally with English localisation.
Final Fantasy XI raises a different problem. It is still receiving content updates in 2026, and Square Enix has plans for more solo-friendly options, but it remains awkward for new players to get into. Its installation process is old-fashioned, and community-made modifications are often needed to make it more approachable. It is still alive, but it is also a reminder that longevity does not always mean easy access.
The article also points to handheld and SNES-era games that could benefit from a fresh approach, including Final Fantasy Tactics Advance, Final Fantasy: The 4 Heroes of Light, Final Fantasy VI, and Final Fantasy V. With The Ivalice Chronicles set to remake the original Final Fantasy Tactics in 2025, there is a clear path for more of the series’ older entries to be revisited, not just for profit, but for preservation too.