Square Enix Adds Korean and Chinese to Its 2025 Strategy GOTY
Korean, Simplified Chinese, and Traditional Chinese are coming to Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles on June 17, 2026, Square Enix confirmed. The update is free for all owners and applies to the Enhanced version across all platforms.
A physical Korean edition will launch on the same day, giving Korean players both a digital and retail option simultaneously.
Key Details
| Field | Details | |
|---|---|---|
| Update Date | June 17, 2026 (Wednesday) | |
| Update Type | Free patch | |
| Platforms | PC (Steam), PS5, PS4, Switch, Switch 2, Xbox Series X\ | S |
| Applicable Version | Enhanced version only (not Classic) | |
| Languages Added | Korean, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese | |
| Physical Release | Korean physical edition launches same day |
Note: The localization applies exclusively to the Enhanced version of the game. The Classic (1997 original) version will not receive the new language support.
Game Overview
| Field | Details | |
|---|---|---|
| Title | FINAL FANTASY TACTICS - The Ivalice Chronicles | |
| Developer / Publisher | Square Enix | |
| Original Release | 1997 (PlayStation 1) | |
| Remaster Release | September 30, 2025 | |
| Korean Support | June 17, 2026 | |
| Price | $49.99 (Standard) / $59.99 (Deluxe Edition) | |
| Steam App ID | 1004640 | |
| Platforms | PC, PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X\ | S, Switch, Switch 2 |
| Genre | Strategy RPG / Tactical RPG | |
| Copies Sold | 1 million+ |
What Is The Ivalice Chronicles?
Final Fantasy Tactics originally released on PlayStation 1 in 1997, becoming one of the most beloved tactical RPGs of all time. The Ivalice Chronicles is its 2025 remaster for modern platforms.
Key improvements over the original:
- ▶Full voice acting: Every line of dialogue has been voiced
- ▶Enhanced 3D graphics: The iconic tactical battlefields rebuilt for current-generation hardware
- ▶Improved controls and UI: Reworked interface and control schemes
- ▶Squire difficulty: A more accessible difficulty option for first-time players
- ▶Classic mode: The original 1997 visuals and gameplay preserved intact
The game won Best Sim/Strategy Game at The Game Awards 2025 and earned a 9/10 from both IGN and GameSpot.
Story: The Hidden Truth of History's Real Heroes
The kingdom of Ivalice is ruled by two lion houses. After the Fifty Years' War, a young king ascends to the throne, but two powerful dukes — Goltanna the Black Lion and Larg the White Lion — contest the regency, igniting the War of the Lions.
At the center of this conflict: Ramza Beoulve, son of one of Ivalice's most distinguished military families, and his childhood friend Delita, a commoner raised among nobles. As their paths diverge across betrayal, sacrifice, and the rewriting of history, the truth behind the war slowly comes to light.
The narrative is considered among the finest in the Final Fantasy franchise — a story of class, power, and the people history chooses to forget.
Battle System
The combat in FFT: The Ivalice Chronicles is a grid-based 3D tactical RPG with extraordinary depth.
- ▶Height and terrain: Elevation and map layout directly affect combat
- ▶Turn order manipulation: Reading and controlling initiative is as important as raw power
- ▶Job System: 20+ jobs with hundreds of ability combinations
- ▶Ability transfer: Skills learned in one job carry over when you switch
- ▶Creatures: Chocobos and other monsters can be tamed and fielded in battle
The freedom in job customization — combining White Mage defense with Knight offense, or Dragoon leaps with Black Mage spells — gives the game enormous replayability.
📸 Screenshots
Awards & Critical Reception
| Source | Score / Award |
|---|---|
| The Game Awards 2025 | Best Sim/Strategy Game |
| IGN | 9/10 |
| GameSpot | 9/10 |
| PC Gamer | 91/100 |
| Steam (English reviews) | Very Positive (91%, 3,983 reviews) |
| Steam (all languages) | Very Positive (6,154 reviews) |
| Copies Sold | 1 million+ |
""Amazing" — IGN, 9/10
"Superb" — GameSpot, 9/10
"It's simply everything I had hoped for" — PC Gamer, 91/100
Enhanced vs Classic: Which Should You Play?
| Feature | Enhanced | Classic |
|---|---|---|
| Korean / Chinese support | ✅ | ❌ |
| Visuals | Improved 3D | 1997 original |
| Full voice acting | ✅ | ❌ |
| Squire difficulty | ✅ | ❌ |
| Controller support | ✅ All | XInput only |
| Mouse support | ✅ | ❌ |
For players interested in the new language support, Enhanced version is required. Classic is for purists who want the 1997 experience unchanged.
Edition Comparison
| Edition | Contents | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | Base game | $49.99 |
| Deluxe | Base + Akademy Blade, Beret, Tunic, Ring of Aptitude, Phoenix Down ×10, Ramza alternate costumes | $59.99 |
| Deluxe + OST Bundle | Deluxe + Full OST | Discounted bundle |
The Deluxe equipment items provide practical stat bonuses in the early game and are not just cosmetic.
Player Reaction
The Korean-language announcement has generated enthusiastic responses from Japanese and Korean gaming communities, with many veteran players expressing relief at finally being able to play in their native language.
The game's strongest appeal is its nostalgia factor: Final Fantasy Tactics (1997) was played by many East Asian gamers without localization, with dedicated players learning Japanese or relying on fan translations. An official Korean release nearly 30 years later carries genuine emotional weight for that generation.
Applying the Language Update
After the June 17 patch:
- 1Launch the game on your platform
- 2Go to Options → Language → Select Korean (or desired language)
- 3The change applies immediately — no restart required
Owners of any platform version receive the update automatically at no additional cost.
GamePeak Verdict
TGA 2025's best strategy game. A 9/10 from IGN and GameSpot. Over a million copies sold. Now officially playable in Korean and Chinese for the first time.
June 17 is a significant date for Korean and Chinese-speaking players who have been waiting for this moment. Mark your calendar.
GamePeak Rating: ★★★★★ (5/5) — Essential for strategy RPG fans