What's new in the Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles remaster coming to PlayStation 5?

During Wednesday's PlayStation State of Play showcase, Square Enix announced that Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles, a remaster of the popular tactical role-playing game, will release on September 30 for PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4.
Set in the richly imagined world of Ivalice, the game follows the story of Ramza Beoulve and Delita Heiral, childhood friends caught in the political and religious strife of the War of the Lions. First released in Japan on June 20, 1997, for the Sony PlayStation, it marked Square Enix's first game in the tactical role-playing genre. Arriving in North America in January 1998, the game was both a critical and commercial success.
In Japan, it sold about 1.24 million copies by the end of 1997, making it the fifth best-selling home video game in the country that year. By August 2011, global sales surpassed 2.4 million copies.
Here are all the additions and changes fans can expect from the new remaster when it arrives in September.
What's being added?
An auto-save feature will be introduced for the first time in the game's history. This addition fixes one of the long-standing frustrations of the original, which is the risk of losing progress due to difficult battles or forgetting to save the game.
The new system automatically saves progress at key moments, such as before and after missions, giving player a more forgiving and modern experience. While maintaining the challenge famous in tactical RPG games, auto-save gives players more accessibility and convenience, especially for newcomers or those revisiting Ivalice on PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5.
Have graphics been updated?
The remastered Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles will feature significant graphical enhancements that give a new look to the classic game. Character models and environments are updated with high-definition visuals, showing details and vibrant colours.
Battle animations have also been refined, offering smoother and more dynamic combat sequences. Spell effects and environmental elements, such as weather phenomena, have been improved to provide a more immersive experience. The user interface has been optimised for modern platforms, ensuring easy navigation and accessibility.
Will the story be the same?
The remastered game will retain the popular improved translation from the 2007 War of the Lions release, which offers a refined narrative experience. This translation adopts a more formal, medieval-inspired tone, aligning with the game's setting and themes.
While some fans have voiced appreciation for the elevated language, which enhances the game's atmosphere, others prefer the original's straightforward approach. The remaster allows players to choose between the enhanced version with fully voiced dialogue and updated visuals, and the classic version that preserves the original gameplay alongside the War of the Lions translation.
Which consoles will it be playable on?
Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles is scheduled for release on September 30 and will be available on multiple platforms, including PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2, Xbox Series X/S and Windows PCs.
Previous versions of the game were only playable on the original PlayStation, as well as improved ports of the game on PlayStation 3, PlayStation Portable and PlayStation Vita.

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Learn with AIFact CheckingText to SpeechAI Summary

Related Articles

Zawya

4 hours ago

• Zawya

The Saudi Arabia pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka achieves 1 million visitors

A significant milestone was reached on May 14, 2025, with the Pavilion recording 17,969 visitors in a single day. Irth Restaurant and Café welcomed 58,135 guests with over 45,000 cups of coffee served. The Saudi Arabia Pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka is open daily from 09:00 – 21:00, inside the West Gate in the Connecting Zone (C14-01). Osaka, Japan — The Saudi Arabia Pavilion has celebrated a historic milestone by welcoming over one million visitors at Expo 2025 Osaka. Since opening on April 13, 2025, the Saudi Arabia Pavilion has hosted 1,137 events, with 1,021 held inside the Pavilion and 116 within the Expo 2025 Osaka venue. The Saudi Arabia Pavilion, the second largest after the host country, Japan, is designed by Foster + Partners to showcase Saudi Arabia's rich heritage and culture and demonstrate the country's goals of fostering sustainable and empowered societies. Made from lightweight Saudi stone, the Pavilion design creates a spatial experience that echoes the exploration of towns and cities throughout the country, reflecting the country's deep-rooted cultural heritage. Providing a multi-sensory experience that showcases Saudi Arabia's transformative journey under Vision 2030, the Pavilion shares the Kingdom's commitment to enhancing the quality of life through innovation and technological modernisation. The Pavilion has also been recognized for its innovation, style and impact at the 2025 New York Architectural Design Awards by winning Gold under the 'Cultural Architecture - Interactive and Experiential Spaces' category. Dr. Ghazi Faisal Binzagr, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to Japan and Commissioner General of the Saudi Arabia Pavilion, 'We are honored to mark this significant milestone and the Saudi Arabia Pavilion's success in reaching 1 million visitors, which underscores Saudi Arabia's commitment to showing its transformation under Vision 2030 and inviting the world to experience its heritage and foster cultural exchange. As we move towards reaching the next million, the Pavilion remains committed to inspiring visitors to learn about Saudi Arabia's achievements, and we look forward to deepening impact and welcoming the world. Our participation in Expo 2025 Osaka embodies our strong relationship with Japan, marking 70 years of diplomatic relations this year. As we journey towards Expo 2030 in Riyadh, we will leave a legacy here in Osaka. Expo 2030 Riyadh will be a testament to Saudi Arabia's transformation as a global destination – and we are eager to welcome the world to Saudi Arabia.' Featuring over 700 events through the Expo program, ranging from live performances, dances and traditional shows, visitors to the Saudi Arabia Pavilion can experience a wide range of Saudi culture, heritage and art through programs. These include Ahlan Wa Sahlan, We Are Saudi Arabia, The Botanist Augmented Reality experience, and musical and artistic performances at the Cultural Studios and signature events celebrating Saudi Arabia's most important milestones, including Saudi National Day on September 23. In addition, the Saudi Arabia Pavilion offers an exciting visitor journey across seven immersive rooms and galleries, from The Evolving Cities, Sustainable Seas, Unlimited Human Potential, and The Pinnacle of Innovation, where every visitor can see up close the Kingdom's global impact. The full program of events for the Saudi Arabia Pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka is available on the official website: Media Contact: Email: Media@ Website & Social Media Handles: Instagram: @ksaexpo2025 X: @KSAExpo2025_ YouTube: @KSAExpo2025 LinkedIn: Saudi Arabia at Expo Facebook: KSA Expo 2025 TikTok: @ksaexpo LINE: KSA 大阪万博2025 Website:

Khaleej Times

6 hours ago

• Khaleej Times

Japan's high-tech sunscreens tap into skincare craze

When YouTuber Hannah Price set out to compare Japanese and Australian sunscreen, she wasn't expecting her deep dive into the subject to rack up over two million views. The huge number of people poring over Price's video shows the growing interest in skincare products from Japan, much like the K-beauty phenomenon from South Korea. It includes sun protection, increasingly recognised as a daily essential by influencers who want to shield their skin from ageing and enthuse about the lightweight texture of Japanese brands. Companies that have perfected their secret formulas want to capitalise on booming demand, including by building factories overseas and selling to Japan's record influx of foreign tourists. Price, 32, fell into a "year-long rabbit hole" while making her video, learning about everything from SPF science to cultural attitudes to sun exposure. "I always loved Japanese sunscreen, since I first moved to Japan in 2012," she told AFP at her studio in Tokyo. "I remember trying it for the first time and thinking, 'this is so much better than anything I tried in Australia'," her home country where sun cream felt "thick, sticky, greasy". "I thought that the video would be popular... but I wasn't expecting it to reach as far" as it did, Price said. The habit of regular sunscreen use is spreading, especially among younger generations, said Takuya Wada, who works in marketing for Japanese chemical and cosmetics firm Kao. "There are no borders when it comes to obtaining information on social media, especially Instagram and TikTok," he said, adding that influencer posts have a "very large" impact on global sunscreen sales. 'Beautifully white' The global skincare market was worth more than $115 billion in 2024 and is expected to grow to $194 billion by 2032, according to Fortune Business Insights. A boom in celebrity skincare brands has contributed to the industry's growth -- with A-listers like Kylie Jenner using social media to share their beauty routines, including sun protection, with hundreds of millions of followers. When it comes to sunscreen, country-specific regulations mean no single company dominates the field, as the entry barriers to new markets are higher. Kao's main sunscreen brand Biore UV is ranked 10th worldwide for sales, and second in Asia -- competing with the likes of L'Oreal and Beiersdorf, and Japanese rivals such as Shiseido. The company wants sales from sun protection to reach 35 billion yen ($240 million) in 2027, up 1.6 times from 2023. It plans to boost overseas production by opening three new sunscreen factories, in Indonesia, Brazil and Germany. It is technically difficult to develop formulas that block the rays effectively with a smooth texture, as demanded by Japanese consumers, said Takashi Fukui, research and development director for Kao skincare products. But using scientific know-how to strike this tricky balance is what makes Kao "different from other European or American makers". In Japan, a cultural obsession with light skin dates back to the sixth century and using white powder imported from China later became a status symbol among nobility. Fair skin indicated a life away from outdoor labour and sun exposure, and an old Japanese proverb says "white skin covers the seven flaws". In the 1990s, people began using sunscreen or other cosmetics to avoid tanning -- a trend dubbed "bihaku", or beautifully white. These days, Japanese women use sunscreen as everyday protection against sunspots and ageing, caused when UV rays penetrate into the skin, said Fukui. Winter sun Tans have long been fashionable in Western countries, but awareness of skin cancer risks is rising, making sunscreen an important healthcare product there, Fukui said. One fan of Japanese brands is Thai skincare influencer Suari Tasanakulpan, who calls them "lightweight" compared to "heavy and uncomfortable" Western offerings. "There are always new technologies and innovative textures that are often ahead of other countries," the 40-year-old, who reviews sunscreens on YouTube, told AFP. At an outlet of drugstore chain MatsukiyoCocokara in Tokyo's Shibuya district, around 90 sunscreen products are lined up on the shelves. "Sales of sunscreen is improving year on year," said Takeshi Otsuki, deputy manager of the chain's cosmetic division. "More people are using sunscreen on a daily basis these days, so their needs are becoming more diverse," he said. The number of male customers is also increasing, and Japanese sunscreens are very popular with overseas tourists who buy them in multipacks, Otsuki said. While summer is high season, sunscreen is popular year-round, because Japan has a "relatively high number of sunny days in the winter, and the sunlight hours are long". YouTuber Price now uses both Japanese and Australian sunscreen, depending on the occasion. She sees the rise in education about sunscreens worldwide as a win-win situation. It "means you're going to be better protected in general, which is great for everyone", she said.

The National

12 hours ago

• The National

Why womenomics is becoming a mathematical necessity

The theory of 'womenomics' – that increasing women's workforce participation boosts economic growth – was popularised nearly three decades ago by Kathy Matsui, a former Goldman Sachs executive, based on her study of imbalances in Japan. The International Monetary Fund, the World Bank and the OECD have consistently promoted a similar thesis: investing in greater female labour force participation pays off in the form of higher GDP. In 2015, McKinsey put a number on the idea, by estimating that $28 trillion could be added to global economic output over the ensuing decade if women played an identical role in labour markets to that of men. In a world economy reeling under crises and profound change, is womenomics still relevant? Maybe more so than at any point in history. The global economy is now faced with a historically low growth rate of 2.8 per cent this year. For advanced economies the forecast is just 1.4 per cent, while for emerging and developing economies it's 3.7 per cent. Short-term headwinds are symptoms of a momentous longer-term transformation, driven by technology and geopolitics and making just about every type of indicator far more uncertain and difficult to predict. In this context, countries are seeking strategies to boost growth through domestic measures. They are working towards more regional and bilateral trade agreements, pursuing industrial policy often with security and self-reliance considerations, boosting local demand and consumption, and aiming to attract local and foreign investment to newly emerging growth areas. Central to these endeavours is talent. In past waves of globalisation, many countries competed on the basis of cheap labour alone. This will no longer suffice. Trading will require more refined skills, boosting domestic demand will need a focus on analysing local incomes and spending behaviour, and attracting investment will require a focus on the quality of local human capital. In 109 of the 148 countries covered in the World Economic Forum's Global Gender Gap Report 2025, women are enrolled in tertiary degrees in equal or higher numbers than men. And yet, men continue to comprise 65 per cent of workers without a tertiary degree, and 60 per cent of those with one. Among tertiary educated women, just 29.5 per cent make it to top leadership, despite representing 40.3 per cent of the overall workforce. Even for women with master's or bachelor's degrees, top-level representation plateaus below 31 per cent. Women's talent remains a stranded asset in much of the world. The cheapest form of stimulus in a down economy can therefore come by bringing university educated women into the workforce, including leadership roles. This is particularly true at a time when already constrained fiscal space limits other options. There's also a secondary, but no less important, role for womenomics in a turbulent economy driven by geopolitical conflict, threatened by climate change and facing both the risks and opportunities of new technologies. Solving problems often relies on a diversity of thought, knowledge and experience. So does the creativity necessary to unleash innovation in the form of new technologies and scientific breakthroughs. This is true across teams and organisations. The pattern holds for entire countries. Economies that tap into the full spectrum of their talent and human capital are best positioned to accelerate innovation, productivity and prosperity, even more so amid unprecedented uncertainty. Demographic pressures create a third vital role for womenomics in an uncertain economy. With the exception of countries in sub-Saharan Africa and parts of emerging Asia, much of the world is faced with a declining working-age population. It peaked in Germany in 1986, in the US in 2007 and in China in 2010. Even with technology driven job losses, there is a net rise in demand for talent for growing roles in agriculture, teaching, technology, health and more. Amid increased polarisation and pushback on migration, greater female labour participation will be a mathematical necessity to maintain productivity. Yet, the question remains: is progress possible? In two decades of tracking gender parity, despite slow movement in global averages, we've found that the answer is a resounding 'yes'. Since 2006, gender gaps have closed in terms of senior economic leadership (by more than 17 percentage points), in professional and technical roles (by seven percentage points), higher education (by about 16 percentage points), and representation in both governing cabinets and legislative bodies (by nearly 13 and 15 percentage points, respectively). Among the 100 countries we have consistently tracked over the years, 99 have closed gender gaps – some remarkably quickly, through a blend of smart strategy and policy. Economies sprinting to parity include Bangladesh, Ethiopia, Mexico, Saudi Arabia and the UAE. Among regions, Latin America and the Caribbean made the biggest leap over the years. If its progress continues at current rates, it's on track to become the first region to close the overall gap. Of course, there are looming risks to contend with. Technology is displacing jobs in fields that employ a majority of women, while more pervasive use of AI may disproportionately impact women's white-collar careers. Fragmenting trade and global supply chains could roll back decades of progress for women who have increasingly gained formal employment in export-driven industries like clothing and textiles in lower and middle-income countries. In addition, inadequate care economies in most countries are disproportionately placing the burden on women who would otherwise be in the formal workforce. But relatively small investments in care infrastructure, gender-lens reskilling and upskilling, and supporting job transitions for women in trade and tech-disrupted sectors would provide immense returns. It may not be a new concept, but womenomics is essential for navigating the new economy.