During their E3 2021 showcase, Square Enix announced new remasters of Final Fantasy 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6, collectively called the Final Fantasy Pixel Remaster series. Today the publisher confirmed a release date, July 29, on Steam and mobile platforms.
Each of the first six seminal RPGs, which originally released between 1987 and 1994, have been given redrawn 2D pixel art for characters and backgrounds. Soundtracks have also been rearranged by original composer Nobuo Uematsu. Other modern features include controller and touch screen support, updated UI, auto-battle options, and, perhaps most importantly, the ability to save anywhere.
Additionally, each game features a music player, art gallery, and bestiary.
This marks the first time that the 2D, pixel versions of Final Fantasy 2 and 3 will be available on Steam and mobile. Back in the early 90s, the Final Fantasy series was haphazardly ported to Western audiences, resulting in Final Fantasy 4 releasing as Final Fantasy 2 in the US, and Final Fantasy 6 as 3.
“When working on the originals, I didn’t think that the Final Fantasy series would be remastered almost 35 years later”, said Hironobu Sakaguchi, creator of the Final Fantasy series. “The video game industry had only just been established. So, with nobody else leading the way, we had to keep moving forward at the front line. I remember how we went through a lot of trial and error at that time. I’m very happy and grateful that Final Fantasy has continued for such a long period of time.”
The Pixel Remasters are a step in the right direction after the original mobile ports of Final Fantasy 5 and 6 on Steam and mobile, which have since been removed from their respective stores to make room for these new versions (and whose mobile-friendly art style was widely criticized). The more recent 3D remakes of Final Fantasy 3 and 4 will continue to be available, with “Old Ver” added to their titles.
You can purchase all six pixel remasters as a bundle on Steam, for a 20% discount on each game, as well as two wallpapers and three music tracks.
