Skip to main content

Final Fantasy IX now out on Steam featuring enhanced graphics and ‘game boosters’

Since the original announcement in December, fans looking to revisit the classic RPG Final Fantasy IX have been anxiously waiting for an official release date. Square Enix never got around to that, but they did it one better by simply letting the game loose on Steam this morning.

Final Fantasy IX was originally released for the first Sony PlayStation console in 2000, and could be called the last of the “classic” Final Fantasy games, as it was the final game without voice acting (unless you count the singing in the FMV cutscenes). In the years since its release, the game managed to sell more than five million copies.

Recommended Videos

Like the mobile version of the game, released in February, this edition of the game features enhanced graphics for a much smoother look than the original PlayStation release. The classic gameplay fans remember is here as well, but that doesn’t mean that there are no new features outside of the graphics overhaul.

Please enable Javascript to view this content

Steam Achievements has been added to the game, giving those playing through the game for the fifth time something new to do. Like the previous re-release of Final Fantasy VII, game booster have been added to allow players to make their way through the game without the need for grinding. A total of seven boosters are here, including high speed and no encounter modes.

As you might expect for a remaster of a 16-year-old game, system requirements are fairly modest, with a minimum of a 2GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor, 2GB RAM, 7GB available space, and NVIDIA GeForce 8600GTS or ATI Radeon HD4650 or better. The recommended specs don’t go much further, upping the processor requirement to a Core i5 2520, 4GB RAM, and 20GB of available space.

As with the mobile version, the Steam version of Final Fantasy IX will sell for $21. For those who plan on picking the game up soon, a discount takes 20 percent off the price, bringing it down to $17. This discount will remain in effect until April 20. See the Final Fantasy IX Steam page for more details.

Kris Wouk
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Kris Wouk is a tech writer, gadget reviewer, blogger, and whatever it's called when someone makes videos for the web. In his…
7 free game demos you need to check out during Steam Next Fest
steam next fest october 2024 game recommendations permafrost

The last Steam Next Fest event of the year is upon us. Valve holds one of these events every few months on Steam and encourages developers to share demos and early looks at their upcoming PC games. Only indie developers participated initially, but more high-profile studios chipped in recently. That’s only makes it harder to find some of the best games on offer, as hundreds of demos are available.

I played several demos featured in October 2024’s Steam Next Fest ahead of the event, and I want to spotlight my favorites. From strategy RPGs to dumb physics-based platformers, these seven Steam Next Fest demos are worth checking out.

Read more
Final Fantasy 14 eases its inactivity policy due to Hurricane Helene
A Final Fantasy 14 character with bunny ears and gray skin standing on a ship.

Final Fantasy XIV players are getting a temporary reprieve from a game inactivity policy that would get rid of player homes if they didn't log in enough due to Hurricane Helene, which hit the U.S. last week. Starting October 2, the popular MMO is suspending the requirement that players log on every 45 days, otherwise their estates get demolished.

This pertains to all players who connect to the Aether, Crystal, Dynamis, and Primal data centers -- which are all North American servers. If your house was already primed for demolition before the change, you can cancel it just by entering your home or doing work on your land.

Read more
Xbox has added the first six Final Fantasy games to Xbox, PC
Pixelated heroes on the right up against four black nights on the left. Below is the Final Fantasy turn-based control screen in blue.

Final Fantasy I-VI Pixel Remaster | TGS Xbox Announcement

Xbox on Thursday surprise-dropped some Square Enix JRPGs, including six Final Fantasy games and two Mana titles, fon Xbox and PC following an announcement at the Tokyo Games Show.

Read more