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A free scan shows the junk files, broken settings and background clutter dragging Windows down - then fixes them in one click.Free scan · Windows 10 & 11No official Square Enix source cited here announces a 2026 genre change or new genre-switching release for Final Fantasy IX. Square Enix’s North American store classifies Final Fantasy IX as an RPG. The separate game announced for 2026 is Final Fantasy Resonance, which Square Enix also calls an RPG.
What did Square Enix announce for 2026?
On June 11, 2026, Square Enix announced Final Fantasy Resonance as the first HD-2D Final Fantasy game. The publisher describes it as an RPG with a strategic, turn-based battle system. The announcement names Resonance as the game; it does not identify it as a new edition of Final Fantasy IX.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
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FINAL FANTASY IX - Nintendo Switch | $38.98 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
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Final Fantasy IX Picture Book: Vivi and Grandpa's Memories for the Sky | $16.77 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
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Final Fantasy IX | $21.00 | Buy on Amazon |
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Square Enix gives Final Fantasy Resonance an October 22, 2026 release date for Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC through Steam and the Microsoft Store on Windows. Steam is listed separately with an October 23 date.
How the two games differ in Square Enix’s listings
| Detail | Final Fantasy IX | Final Fantasy Resonance |
|---|---|---|
| Official title | Final Fantasy IX (Square Enix North American store) | Final Fantasy Resonance (Square Enix portal announcement, June 11, 2026) |
| Publisher-stated genre | RPG (Square Enix North American store) | RPG (Square Enix portal announcement, June 11, 2026) |
| Release date in the cited listing | December 9, 2025, for the Nintendo Switch edition (Square Enix North American store) | October 22, 2026 on the announced platforms; October 23 on Steam (Square Enix portal announcement, June 11, 2026) |
| Platforms stated in the cited source | Nintendo Switch edition identified (Square Enix North American store) | Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Steam, and Microsoft Store on Windows (Square Enix portal announcement, June 11, 2026) |
| Distinguishing description | Established RPG with its original story, abilities, Trance, synthesis, minigames, and listed additional features (Square Enix North American store) | First HD-2D Final Fantasy game, with strategic turn-based battles (Square Enix portal announcement, June 11, 2026) |
What Square Enix says about Final Fantasy IX
The publisher’s North American store listing identifies Final Fantasy IX as an RPG and gives December 9, 2025 as the release date for its Nintendo Switch edition. That listing describes the game’s original story and features including abilities, Trance, synthesis, minigames, seven boosters, autosave, and high-definition movies and character models. It does not present the Switch edition as a 2026 release or a change of genre.
#1 Best Overall
- Selling over five million copies since its release in 2000, FINAL FANTASY IX proudly returns on Nintendo Switch!
- Experience the adventure once again with characters and pre-rendered movies featured in high definition, as well as a new booster system with a selection of various modes such as "high speed" or "no encounters"!
- Abilities - Learn new abilities by equipping items. When fully mastered, these abilities can be used even without equipping items, allowing for nearly endless customization options.
- Trance - Fill your Trance gauge as you sustain hits in battle. When fully charged, your characters will enter Trance mode, granting them powerful new skills!
- Synthesis - Never let items go to waste. Combine two items or pieces of equipment together and make better, stronger items!
Square Enix’s store copy says the game has sold “over five million copies” since its release in 2000. The page does not state a more precise reporting date or exact total.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Why the headline is misleading
The claim appears to conflate two different titles: Final Fantasy IX, which Square Enix classifies as an RPG, and Final Fantasy Resonance, a separately announced 2026 RPG. Based on the official Square Enix store and portal pages cited above, there is no substantiated 2026 genre switch for Final Fantasy IX. This describes what those official pages establish; it does not rule out a future announcement elsewhere or later.
Quick Recap
Rank #3
- Final Fantasy IX
- Dark times have spread over the world of Gaia.
- Four separate governing nations, some blinded by their short-sighted greed.
- Some persevering in the name of justice, are battling on and off in a deadly game for power.
- One kingdom, that of Lindblum, headed by the honorable and trustworthy Regent Cid, finally decides to take a stand against the unspeakable massacres by the troops of Alexandria.
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