So far as online game aesthetics go, pixel artwork of the Nineties has aged remarkably nicely. The Tremendous Nintendo and Sega Genesis period boasted tons of visually bold video games with detailed character designs and environments, like Chrono Set off, Ecco the Dolphin, and Tremendous Mario World 2: Yoshi’s Island. The model noticed a resurgence within the 2010s, due to the indie increase and the unabashedly nostalgic-yet-modern look of video games like Celeste, Hyper Mild Drifter, and Undertale, which led on to the favored “HD-2D” aesthetic, most not too long ago seen in Octopath Traveler 0.
Sq. Enix had been one of many main lights of ‘90s pixel artwork, so it felt like a return to type when the corporate launched Octopath Traveler again in 2018, which blended old-school stylings with 3D-rendered environments and spiffy fashionable lighting prospers. (The corporate has since trademarked the time period HD-2D, although not the underlying know-how.) When Sq. Enix first revealed Octopath, it drew a variety of comparisons to Closing Fantasy 6, owing to its comparable high-fantasy-meets-steampunk aesthetic. That sparked a flurry of on-line chatter about the opportunity of HD-2D remakes of each Closing Fantasy 6 and Chrono Set off, two of essentially the most acclaimed RPGs ever made. Almost eight years later, we’re nonetheless ready.
That’s to not say Sq. Enix hasn’t carried out some very cool stuff with HD-2D. The corporate has launched a number of new video games and remasters, and the standard has been impressively excessive: Octopath Traveler 2, the underrated techniques sport Triangle Technique, the beforehand Japan-only Stay A Stay, pretty remakes of Dragon Quest 1-3, and this month’s Octopath Traveler 0. However at a sure level, one has to ask: The place is Closing Fantasy? The place is Chrono Set off? Can I converse to a supervisor?
There are a number of elements which will clarify the absence of Sq. Enix’s flagship collection from the HD-2D roster. Perhaps the corporate wished to keep away from cannibalizing gross sales of the Closing Fantasy Pixel Remasters, a re-release of the primary six video games within the collection for consoles, PC, and cellular. HD-2D remakes might additionally probably distract from Closing Fantasy 16 and the Closing Fantasy 7 Remake trilogy. Even when none of those video games are particularly “new” at this stage, they proceed to trickle out on numerous platforms: Closing Fantasy 16 got here to Xbox this summer time, whereas Closing Fantasy 7 Remake Intergrade is coming to Nintendo Change 2 in January 2026, six years after its debut on PlayStation 4.
Sq. Enix did throw Closing Fantasy 6 followers a bone — within the worst potential means — by saying a crossover occasion with the cellular gacha sport Octopath Traveler: Champions of the Continent again in September. The entire trailer underscores exactly why an HD-2D model of FF6 would whip ass, but for some motive we’re nonetheless not getting one.
Chrono Set off is a weirder case. Certain, we’ve seen enhanced ports of the sport over time for PS1, Nintendo DS, and most not too long ago Steam. The sport’s sort-of sequel, Chrono Cross, received a multiplatform remaster again in 2022, which appeared on the time like a tease for one thing larger. 2025 marks the sport’s thirtieth anniversary, which implies we’re operating out of days for a celebratory announcement.
Perhaps we don’t want a remaster or remake model to take pleasure in Chrono Set off’s unforgettable environments, characters, and story beats, even when the sport is a transparent progenitor to the HD-2D model. So why isn’t any model of the sport out there for contemporary platforms aside from Steam? And since when has “it nonetheless appears to be like nice” stopped a writer from releasing one more port of a well-liked sport?
Perhaps all hope isn’t misplaced. Earlier this week, Eurogamer reported that Dragon Quest creator Yuji Horii mentioned he “can’t discuss” any future plans for Chrono Set off. “Asking is off-limits!” he mentioned when pressed for particulars throughout a livestream, “I’ll get in bother!” It might be nothing, however we’re additionally firmly within the season of delusional considering. The Sport Awards is simply across the nook, and Sq. Enix’s 2026 launch slate is wanting awfully mild at this level. Lemme mud off that clown make-up, one final time.
