The team responsible for Final Fantasy Tactics is currently "extremely busy" working on an unnamed project, according to a Square Enix producer. Rumors of a remaster of the original Final Fantasy Tactics have been swirling for some time, but official confirmation of the project has yet to be delivered. While no announcement has yet to be made, Square Enix's recent comments regarding the Final Fantasy Tactics team are likely to stir up yet more speculation.
The root of the Final Fantasy Tactics remaster rumor is the notorious GeForce Now leak. The leak provided a list of games coming to the platform including dozens of unannounced projects, many of which have since been officially confirmed. The list included a "Final Fantasy Tactics Remaster," which fans immediately latched onto. Evidence since has been circumspect, with a playtest survey mentioning Final Fantasy Tactics and a retailer listing also doing so. No hard evidence has been found, however.
Square Enix producer Ichiro Hazama may have reinvigorated Final Fantasy Tactics fans with a recent answer during an interview. Hazama was asked why Final Fantasy Tactics characters were absent from crossover games like Theatrhythm: Final Bar Line and Dissidia Final Fantasy Opera Omnia. Hazama clarified that to include such characters requires permission and support from their respective teams within Square Enix. The Final Fantasy Tactics team, says Hazama, has unfortunately been very busy.
To be more specific, Hazama states that the team that handles the Final Fantasy Tactics property within Square Enix is currently working on another project. Despite that, Hazama says that Dissidia producer Jin Fujiwara is eager to add characters from Final Fantasy Tactics, perhaps implying that the team's new project is nearing completion.
If the project that Hazama is referring to is the long-rumored Final Fantasy Tactics remaster, this is very exciting news. It means that the development is hard at work on the project and that it may actually be coming up on its announcement and release. Of course, it's entirely possible Hazama is referring to an entirely different project. The Final Fantasy Tactics team in Square Enix could be working on any number of other in-development RPGs. As such, the rumor is no more confirmed than before.
Even without official confirmation, Final Fantasy Tactics fans should feel encouraged. By many fans, Final Fantasy Tactics is seen as one of the best games in the Final Fantasy franchise, but Square Enix has shown little intention of revisiting it. Hazama's comments imply that may be changing soon, however, as the team responsible for Final Fantasy Tactics is hard at work on something new. Hopefully, Square Enix won't keep fans waiting in suspense much longer.
A Final Fantasy Tactics remaster is rumored to be in development.