By Jacob Miller | Sep 04, 2025
Rebuilding Without the Original Source CodeThe original Final Fantasy Tactics source code was lost due to the way games were developed in the late 1990s. In the 1990s, every time Square released a version of a game in a different language. - such as French or German - the original code would be lost.
There was no full copy of the game, as those back then now stamped out the previous builds. So the remastering team had to remake the base of the game.
At a panel at PAX West, director Kazutoyo Maehiro said the developers had to look to every source possible to make the game as it was supposed to be. He mentioned that fan sites were useful for information as they had maintained a lot of history and specificity, and this played a great role in maintaining the scope of design for The Ivalice Chronicles.
Lessons Learned From Past Remasters
There have been remasters that ran into difficulty after losing their source code, such as the Silent Hill HD Collection. When rebuilding Silent Hill 2 and 3, they encountered technical issues. The Ivalice Chronicles took extra care when using the fans for their own workmanship. This will help as long as it is not too painful.
What's Next For Other Squaresoft Greats?
As this situation makes one wonder about other Squaresoft games from the PlayStation period - Vagrant Story, Parasite Eve, and Chrono Cross: - what do they do if the same fate befell these source codes? Most authors would have to face the same hurdles. Fortunately, Maehiro teased the possibility of remakes and sequels if Ivalice Chronicles is a success, so fans can look forward to more remasters.
