Square Enix Reveals New Chrono Trigger 30th Anniversary Projects

For nearly three decades, Chrono Trigger has been one of the most popular RPGs of all time. This 1995 masterpiece, produced by the unblemished combination of everyone from Final Fantasy's Hironobu Sakaguchi to Dragon Quest's Yuji Horii to Dragon Ball's Akira Toriyama, is now regarded as the apex of video game storytelling and creativity. However, this near-sacred regard has not lent much credence to fans begging for modern touch-ups, which Square Enix has held back until now.

Square Enix once more gained the amusement of the gaming community with a social post on X to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Chrono Trigger. The English account apparently kept things simple, while the Japanese post hinted at something much more in detail and suggested that in the following year, other Chrono Trigger projects, which would extend beyond the game, would come up for disclosure. Just before they are about to blow the fanfare, Square Enix awakened from two years of silence the official PR account for Chrono Trigger. 

The very first official event to mark this year's anniversary will occur with a special Chrono Trigger music webcast on March 14. The concert will be dedicated to the unforgettable soundtrack of the game, reminding fans why Yasunori Mitsuda's compositions are still among the best in video game history. As part of the celebration, Square Enix will be placing Chrono Trigger on discount for iOS, Android, and Steam in Japan, which has already intensified buzz and pushed the game to fourth on the Japanese App Store's top paid games list. 

Everyone is asking the burning question: Are we finally getting a full-blown remake of Chrono Trigger? Square Enix's press release regarding new projects has thrown a lot of smoke into the air of speculation. While some fans dream of a full-fledged 3D remake like FF7 Remake, a more realistic expectation is an HD-2D treatment like the grandfather of all such remakes, Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake, which performed well at the box office and received accolades from the critics.

Considering Square Enix's recent history with remastering classic RPG titles like the Final Fantasy Pixel Remasters, an HD-2D version of Chrono Trigger would not only allow the generic 2D graphics to shine but also allow it to be played on current systems, as well as on the upcoming Nintendo Switch 2.

This announcement would also fit perfectly with Nintendo's often-discussed Switch 2 Direct scheduled for April 2. If such an event is indeed taking place, it stands to reason Square Enix would capitalize on it to reveal something tied to Chrono Trigger, considering said game's long history with Nintendo platforms. Could Chrono Trigger HD-2D for Nintendo Switch 2 be officially announced? Maybe yet another sequel installment to the Chrono series? This mere speculation sends lifelong supporters into delirium.

Recently, Hironobu Sakaguchi honored Chrono Trigger by recreating the game's classic Japanese box art for Final Fantasy XIV, creating yet another hotbed for rumor. Cosplaying some of the favorites from the game, Sakaguchi and friends made a heartfelt tribute to the game's...legacy. His enduring collaboration with Square Enix, which recently released Fantasian Neo Dimension, creates intriguing possibilities.

Unfortunately, Chrono Trigger artist Akira Toriyama is no longer with us, which may impact Square Enix's approach to any prospective remake or sequel. If anything, this could be the ideal opportunity for the firm to commemorate his legacy by giving Chrono Trigger the attention it deserves.

While nothing has been officially verified, one thing is certain: Square Enix is pushing up Chrono Trigger activity like never before. Whether it's a remake, a sequel, or a multimedia extension, fans can finally be optimistic that something huge is on the way. However, it's still uncertain whether we finally get the Chrono Trigger remake we've all been waiting for or if Square Enix is merely playing with our expectations.