According to some fine print on the official Final Fantasy: Crystal Chronicles Remastered Edition website, the multiplayer matchmaking is region-locked: "In online multiplayer mode, a player will only be matched with others in the region specific to player’s software."

On top of that the online multiplayer requires a paid subscription to access the gameplay feature: "Online multiplayer mode requires an internet connection and either: Nintendo Switch - free registration to a Nintendo account and a paid subscription to 'Nintendo Switch Online' service; or PlayStation 4 -- free registration to PlayStation Network and a paid subscription to PlayStation Plus."

While the paid subscription caveat is an obvious one, finding out that on top of it you can only play with those in your region is rather disappointing. It's also baffling, restrictive in a way that feels almost archaic, as any modern multiplayer title normally allows for players around the world to connect. It's a shame since originally the addition of online multiplayer was great news, as it allows players the option to play with others across different devices and platforms.

As detailed in a post on the PlayStation Blog by Square Enix, the remastered version of Crystal Chronicles will feature refined visuals and audio that brings the game up to the HD era. Additionally, the new version of the game will also feature new voiceovers for many of its characters to make the world of Crystal Chronicles feel fresh again. However, some of the most significant new features are the addition of online multiplayer and crossplay, allowing players to band together from any platform, and several newly-added dungeons and other features.

Final Fantasy: Crystal Chronicles Remastered Edition was first announced back at TGS 2018, and was originally planned to arrive at the beginning of this year. However, last December the game was pushed back a bit further to August 27th to allow for additional development time and polish. Despite the pushed back release, from what we’ve seen from the game so far, it seems like Crystal Chronicles Remastered Edition will give Final Fantasy fans an experience worth waiting for, especially with its significant new additions and refinements.

Final Fantasy: Crystal Chronicles Remastered Edition will release for PS4, Nintendo Switch, iOS, and Android on August 27, 2020.