Editing Final Fantasy IX (section)

==Release==
''Final Fantasy IX''{{'}}s release was delayed to avoid a simultaneous release with then-rival [[Enix]]'s ''[[Dragon Quest VII]]''.<ref name="Delay">{{Cite web |last=Ike Sato |first=Yukiyoshi |date=November 29, 1999 |title=Dragon Quest VII Delays Final Fantasy IX |url=http://www.gamespot.com/articles/dragon-quest-vii-delays-final-fantasy-ix/1100-2447050/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160526043539/http://www.gamespot.com/articles/dragon-quest-vii-delays-final-fantasy-ix/1100-2447050/ |archive-date=May 26, 2016 |access-date=September 17, 2015 |website=[[GameSpot]] |publisher=[[CBS Interactive]]}}</ref> On October 7, 2000, a demo day for the North American version of ''IX'' was held at the [[Metreon]] in San Francisco, California.<ref name="DemoDay">{{Cite web |last=IGN Staff |date=October 2, 2000 |title=Square EA Holds FFIX Demo Day |url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2000/10/03/square-ea-holds-ffix-demo-day |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121017191144/http://www.ign.com/articles/2000/10/03/square-ea-holds-ffix-demo-day |archive-date=October 17, 2012 |access-date=June 15, 2007 |website=IGN}}</ref> The first American release of the game was also at the Metreon; limited-edition merchandise was included with the game and fans [[cosplay]]ed as ''Final Fantasy'' characters in celebration of the release.<ref name="FirstAmerican">{{Cite web |last=IGN Staff |date=November 13, 2000 |title=Final Fantasy IX Goes on Sale Early |url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2000/11/14/final-fantasy-ix-goes-on-sale-early |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121017191202/http://www.ign.com/articles/2000/11/14/final-fantasy-ix-goes-on-sale-early |archive-date=October 17, 2012 |access-date=June 15, 2007 |website=IGN}}</ref> In Canada, a production error left copies of ''Final Fantasy IX'' without an English version of the instruction manual, prompting Square to ship copies of the English manual to Canadian stores several days later.<ref name="CanadianManual">{{Cite web |last=IGN Staff |date=November 20, 2000 |title=Canadian Customers Get FFIX in French |url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2000/11/21/canadian-customers-get-ffix-in-french |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121017191315/http://www.ign.com/articles/2000/11/21/canadian-customers-get-ffix-in-french |archive-date=October 17, 2012 |access-date=June 15, 2007 |website=IGN}}</ref> Square heavily promoted the game both before and after its release. Starting on March 6, 2000, the game's characters appeared in a line of [[Computer-generated imagery|computer-generated]] [[Coca-Cola]] commercials. Figurines of several characters were also used as prizes in Coca-Cola's marketing campaign.<ref name="Coke">{{Cite web |last=IGN Staff |date=March 31, 2000 |title=TGS: Final Fantasy IX Characters Do Coke |url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2000/04/01/tgs-final-fantasy-ix-characters-do-coke |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121017191352/http://www.ign.com/articles/2000/04/01/tgs-final-fantasy-ix-characters-do-coke |archive-date=October 17, 2012 |access-date=June 15, 2007 |website=IGN}}</ref> That same year, ''[[IGN]]'' awarded ''Final Fantasy'' dolls and figurines for prizes in several of their contests.<ref name="ViviDoll">{{Cite web |last=IGN Staff |date=November 27, 2000 |title=Win Vivi from FFIX! |url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2000/11/28/win-vivi-from-ffix |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121017191444/http://www.ign.com/articles/2000/11/28/win-vivi-from-ffix |archive-date=October 17, 2012 |access-date=June 15, 2007 |website=IGN}}</ref>

''Final Fantasy IX'' was released on Sony's Greatest Hits on June 30, 2003.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.giantbomb.com/final-fantasy-ix/3030-8825/releases/ | title=Final Fantasy IX International Releases | access-date=January 15, 2023 | archive-date=July 6, 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220706203248/https://www.giantbomb.com/final-fantasy-ix/3030-8825/releases/ | url-status=live }}</ref>

''Final Fantasy IX'' was also the benchmark of Square's interactive [[PlayOnline]] service. PlayOnline was initially developed to interface with ''Final Fantasy X'' but became a strategy site for ''IX'' when those plans fell through. Square designed the website to complement BradyGames' and Piggyback Interactive's official [[strategy guide]]s for the game, where players who bought the print guide had access to "keywords" that they could search for on PlayOnline's site for extra tips and information. This design caused anger among buyers of the guide who felt cheated by the expensive print version's omissions. The blunder made ''GameSpy'''s "Top 5 Dumbest Moments in Gaming" list, and Square dropped the idea for ''Final Fantasy X'', which was under development at the time.<ref name=dumb>{{Cite web |date=June 14, 2003 |title=The 25 Dumbest Moments in Gaming – Readers' Top 5 |url=http://archive.gamespy.com/articles/june03/dumbestmoments/readers/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040704072809/http://archive.gamespy.com/articles/june03/dumbestmoments/readers/ |archive-date=July 4, 2004 |publisher=[[GameSpy]]}}</ref>

Square Enix re-released the game as part of the ''Final Fantasy 25th Anniversary Ultimate Box'' Japanese package in December 2012.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Jonathan Toyad |date=August 31, 2012 |title=Final Fantasy 25th anniversary Ultimate Box collection announced |url=http://www.gamespot.com/articles/final-fantasy-25th-anniversary-ultimate-box-collection-announced/1100-6394062/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151109155141/http://www.gamespot.com/articles/final-fantasy-25th-anniversary-ultimate-box-collection-announced/1100-6394062/ |archive-date=November 9, 2015 |access-date=July 19, 2013 |website=[[GameSpot]] UK}}</ref> A remastered version was released for [[Android (operating system)|Android]] and [[iOS]] in February 2016.<ref name="iOS/Android">{{Cite web |last=Souppouris |first=Aaron |title='Final Fantasy IX' is now on iOS and Android |url=https://www.engadget.com/2016/02/10/final-fantasy-ix-mobile-release/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160315171719/http://www.engadget.com/2016/02/10/final-fantasy-ix-mobile-release/ |archive-date=March 15, 2016 |access-date=March 16, 2016 |work=Engadget|date=February 10, 2016 }}</ref> The remaster features HD movies and character models, an auto-save feature, seven different game boosters (cheats), including high speed and no encounter modes, and achievements. A port for [[Windows]] was released on April 14 the same year. In September 2017, the Windows port was released on [[PlayStation 4]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ashcraft |first=Brian |title=Final Fantasy IX Is Out Now For PlayStation 4 |url=https://kotaku.com/final-fantasy-ix-is-headed-to-playstation-4-1818535442 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170919182519/https://kotaku.com/final-fantasy-ix-is-headed-to-playstation-4-1818535442 |archive-date=September 19, 2017 |access-date=September 19, 2017 |website=Kotaku|date=September 19, 2017}}</ref> It was also released on the [[Nintendo Switch]], Xbox One, and [[Windows 10]] in North America on February 13, 2019, and in other regions a day later.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Final Fantasy IX Available on Nintendo Switch, Xbox One and Windows 10 Today! |url=https://na.finalfantasy.com/news/1008 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190214174231/https://na.finalfantasy.com/news/1008 |archive-date=February 14, 2019 |access-date=February 13, 2019 |website=Final Fantasy Portal Site}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Final Fantasy IX Available on Nintendo Switch, Xbox One and Windows 10 Today! UK |url=https://www.nintendo.co.uk/Games/Nintendo-Switch-download-software/FINAL-FANTASY-IX-1438973.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210505184434/https://www.nintendo.co.uk/Games/Nintendo-Switch-download-software/FINAL-FANTASY-IX-1438973.html |archive-date=May 5, 2021 |access-date=February 14, 2019}}</ref>