Final Fantasy Pixel Remaster’s Xbox port has finally been announced and is available to purchase right now
The recent rumors of classic Final Fantasy games returning to Xbox have finally come true as Final Fantasy Pixel Remaster is coming to Xbox consoles later today
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What you need to know
UPDATE (September 26, 2024):After many years of anticipation,the Xbox port forFinal Fantasy Pixel Remaster has finally been officially announced duringMicrosoft’s Tokyo Game Show 2024 presentation. The game is now available for digital purchase on Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One, and PC via Windows.
Original article (September 26, 2024):Long suffering Final Fantasy fans on Xbox are about to get a reprieve, if this leak is accurate.
A short while ago on ourXB2 Podcast, I shared hints I received that Final Fantasy would feature inMicrosoft’s Xbox Tokyo Game Show presentation, slated for September 26, 2024, later today in fact. The show will go live on various platforms at 3 AM PST / 6 AM EST / 11 AM BST and 7 PM JST, and Microsoft may have just accidentally leaked one of the reveals.
Shared viareddit, it seems some Xbox gamers in German-speaking regions of Europe received a banner ad for the Final Fantasy Pixel Remaster collection, reading “Now available” when translated. The banner links out to a dormant store page as of writing, but the verbiage seems to suggest that the game will be shadow dropped and become available instantaneously during the show.
Final Fantasy Pixel Remaster banner appears on Xbox ahead of Tokyo Game Show. Xbox TGS broadcast is scheduled 3 AM PT. https://t.co/pgKofa2bCM pic.twitter.com/rC0gVYLJAmSeptember 25, 2024
The Final Fantasy Pixel Remaster Collection comprises every Final Fantasy game up to Final Fantasy 6, which many regard as the franchises' high point of the classic era. These games were legendary in pushing the envelope for in-game music, story delivery, and the RPG genre in general, and remain nostalgic favorites for many.
Up until now, the games have been exclusivelyunavailableon Xbox. You can play the Final Fantasy Pixel Remaster games on virtually every other platform imaginable, including Android and iOS, but for whatever reason, Square Enix didn’t see fit to bring them across to Microsoft’s home-grown console platform.
At the most recentFinal Fantasy Celebration, Xbox head Phil Spencer appeared on stagealongside Final Fantasy alumni to talk about the Final Fantasy 14 launch on Xbox. It was part of a broader partnership that Microsoft has been working to course correct, after various Final Fantasy games became PlayStation exclusive, including Final Fantasy 7 Remake, Rebirth, and Final Fantasy 16.
The JRPGs are beloved by millions of older players across the globe, although they have struggled to find a modern audience among younger players by the firm’s own admission.Final Fantasy 16 and Rebirth both missed Square Enix’s own sales targetsper filings with shareholders. In response, Square Enix has pledged to gun for simultaneous platform launches for future titles, targeting Xbox, PlayStation, and PC more closely than before. They may have their work cut out, though, as many users have complained aboutFinal Fantasy 16’s optimization on PC, which arguably still needs a fair bit of work.
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Microsoft has worked incredibly hard to gain support of Asian developers in recent years. Microsoft has managed to land simultaneous treatment for long-standing outliers likeYakuza, as well as Atlus' Persona titles, including the upcomingMetaphor: ReFantazio. Microsoft has also finally landed the wildly popular global Chinese phenomenonGenshin Impact for Xbox, set for November 2024.
It’s not all wins, though. Microsoft has missed out on strong third-party Asian games like Phantom Zero, Stellar Blade, andBlack Myth Wukong. It’s had some exclusive wins of its own, though, includingPalworld, which only just launched on PlayStation this past week.
Final Fantasy remained a difficult one for Microsoft, though. Missing out on every Final Fantasy game since Final Fantasy XV, Microsoft has begun repairing the situation starting withFinal Fantasy 14, which is Square Enix’s answer to World of Warcraft in essence, and arguably remains the best alternative MMORPG.
I’ve heard that the entire Final Fantasy slate is on the agenda for Xbox, too, including games likeFinal Fantasy 7 Remakeand Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth. I’m told the Final Fantasy 7 Remake trilogy may be further out, though. It seems more likely we’ll getFinal Fantasy 16ahead of those, although it’s unclear for now. I’m sure we’ll learn more about Square Enix’s plans for Xbox, and Xbox’s plans for Japanese and wider Asian region games at the Tokyo Game Show, later today. I’m personally hoping to see the Final Fantasy Pixel Remaster games hitXbox Play Anywhere, so I can grab them on myLenovo Legion Goas well.
Final Fantasy Pixel Remaster Collection
Relive the first six legendary entries of the Final Fantasy franchise with rearranged soundtracks and beautiful HD remastered graphics in one definitive package with the Final Fantasy Pixel Remaster Collection.
Buy at:Xbox
Jez Corden is the Executive Editor at Windows Central, focusing primarily on all things Xbox and gaming. Jez is known for breaking exclusive news and analysis as relates to the Microsoft ecosystem while being powered by tea. Follow onTwitter (X)andThreads, and listen to hisXB2 Podcast, all about, you guessed it, Xbox!
