Final Fantasy VIII Remastered has a release date. The updated version of 1999's PS1 RPG classic is coming to PC and consoles on September 3rd.
The news came via a tweet posted to the official Final Fantasy Twitter account. The tweet promises "new graphical enhancements" for the game, along with a whole host of new gameplay options. These gameplay improvements include a Battle Assist feature, which maxes out your HP and ATB bars and allows you to trigger Limit Breaks at any time. There's also an option to turn off encounters entirely, allowing you to explore unimpeded. It's worth noting that this feature was already available as a skill within the game. Don't waste your time leveling that one. Finally, you'll be able to speed up time by a factor of 3. That won't apply to cutscenes or certain in-game scenes.
You can check out the launch trailer below:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VovHI0JKxlg
The trailer shows off some of Final Fantasy VIII Remastered's revamped graphics, as well as the old-school FMV cutscenes fans know and love. If you're hoping for a full-scale project akin to the upcoming Final Fantasy VII Remake, you're going to be disappointed. FFVIII Remastered is very much a traditional remaster as opposed to a full remake. If you didn't love the game the first time around, this version is unlikely to change your mind.
Final Fantasy VIII Remastered is the first time FFVIII has been available on non-Sony consoles. It was originally announced in June this year during Square Enix's E3 presentation. As with previous Final Fantasy remasters, this one's being developed in conjunction with French studio DotEmu. Final Fantasy VIII isn't quite held in the same high esteem as its predecessor Final Fantasy VII, but it's a widely loved game nonetheless. For a deep dive into the story, mechanics, and structure of Final Fantasy VIII, check out TechRaptor's Year of Final Fantasy analysis.
You won't have to wait too long for Final Fantasy VIII Remastered. The game will hit PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and PC via Steam on September 3rd.
Will you be picking up Final Fantasy VIII Remastered? Which platform will you play it on? Let us know in the comments below!
