Square Enix has finally pulled back the curtain on the highly anticipated Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles, releasing the game’s stunning opening movie during a panel at PAX. The video, which is now available for everyone online, perfectly captures the game’s blend of political intrigue, wartime drama, and high fantasy .

This isn’t just a simple remaster; it’s a comprehensive re-imagining of the 1997 tactical RPG classic. The opening cinematic gives us our first real taste of the enhanced production values, hinting at the fully voiced dialogue and the updated visual fidelity that will define the “Enhanced” version of the game when it launches on September 30, 2025 for Nintendo Switch and Switch 2 .

A Kingdom Torn Asunder: The Story of Ivalice

For the uninitiated, the game plunges players into the war-torn kingdom of Ivalice. The story begins after the kingdom’s defeat to Ordallia in the Fifty Years’ War, followed swiftly by the king’s death. This leaves a two-year-old boy on the throne and a power vacuum that threatens to tear the realm apart .

Two rival dukes emerge as regent candidates:

• Duke Goltanna, the Black Lion
• Duke Larg, the White Lion

Their inevitable clash sparks the War of the Lions. Against this epic backdrop of ambition and betrayal, we follow Ramza Beoulve, the third son of a prestigious military family, and his commoner childhood friend, Delita Heiral. Their journey will force them to question everything about the nobility, their country, and themselves .

More Than Just a Pretty (High-Definition) Cinematic

The opening movie is a promise of things to come. The Ivalice Chronicles is packed with new and enhanced features designed to draw in both veterans and newcomers:

• Two Full Games in One: Players can choose between the Enhanced version with improved graphics, full voice acting, and refined gameplay, or the Classic version that faithfully reproduces the original 1997 experience with the acclaimed War of the Lions translation .
• All-Star Voice Cast: The English voice cast includes Joe Pitts as Ramza, Gregg Lowe as Delita, Hannah Melbourn as the noble knight Agrias Oaks, and Timothy Watson as the legendary Thunder God Cid. Fans will also spot cameos from FFVII Remake stars Cody Christian (Cloud) and Briana White (Aerith) .
• Modern Tactical Enhancements: The UI has been completely overhauled for clarity, featuring a prominent Combat Timeline to track turn order. New features like a fast-forward button, Tactical View for a bird’s-eye perspective, and the ability to save up to three job/equipment sets make managing your party deeper yet more accessible than ever .
• A Treasure Trove of Restored Content: The “sound novels,” which were cut from the original Western release, have been fully restored and translated for all players to enjoy .

Pre-Order Bonuses Await

For those ready to pledge their allegiance, pre-ordering the game nets you some valuable early-game gear for Ramza, including the Mythril Knife, Spiked Boots accessory, and a stash of Potions and Ethers .

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Watch the epic opening movie below and prepare to return to Ivalice on September 30, 2025 .

What do you think? Are you diving into the Enhanced version for the full experience, or will you first pay respects with the Classic mode? Let us know in the comments!

For more tactical talk, check out our breakdown of the best Squire build to dominate the early game .