OG Final Fantasy Tactics director admits he "underestimated" how popular The Ivalice Chronicles would be as it passes 1 million copies sold, with the remake's lead teasing future updates

Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles has beat sales expectations of the original's director and sold over 1 million copies before the end of 2025, and the remake's director says its positive reception could lead to future updates.

If you ask me – aside from Donkey Kong Bananza – no game enamored me quite as much in 2025 as Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles. Sure, it's technically a game from 1997, but the improvements and enhancements made to it, namely an incredible cast of voice actors bringing the characters to life, as well as a fully remade version of the classic PS1 game once thought lost, made for what is undeniably one of the best remakes of 2025 – and I'd argue, one of the Best Games of 2025.

Clearly enough people agreed, as Square Enix has announced that Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles has sold over 1 million copies as of the end of 2025. In a press release translated by GamesRadar+ (via Gematsu), game director Kazutoyo Maehiro says, "I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart! Truly, thank you so much!"

He continues: "The entire development team is not only grateful to you, but, in order to spread the joy, create a better experience, and encourage more people to play, we are looking at updating the game in the future!" There's no indication as to what these updates could entail, whether it's something gimmicky like costume or music DLC, or something a bit more substantial like restoring the War of the Lions content or adding new units to the game (maybe other protagonists to supplement Cloud's appearance).

While Square Enix being upset with good sales figures is so prevalent it's become a meme, Ogre Battle creator and original Final Fantasy Tactics director and writer Yasumi Matsuno predicted the game would sell between 800,000 and 1 million copies over three years, so clearly it's been somewhat successful. Matsuno acknowledges this on Twitter, saying, "I underestimated the sales figures by too much."

Given that turn-based tactics games are a bit niche aside from some standouts like Fire Emblem and XCOM (RIP Marvel's Midnight Suns, you were too good for this world), seeing this success is a welcome surprise. Hopefully this pushes Square to do something with the Tactics Advance games or perhaps create a new Tactics game based on the events of the original.

Final Fantasy Tactics director suggested new routes for The Ivalice Chronicles remake that let you save characters who die – but thinks if they could do that, they should just make a new game.