News ► KINGDOM HEARTS Series 2nd Phase teases two unannounced projects

[SweetYetSalty]

Heh, I wonder what makes people so sure that there even will be a "KH IV" at all.

In order to be more free and better tell the stories of the KH universe and its by now rather big cast those big "numbered" titles following a stale formula are more a hindrance than a help, especially when considering that for several faults of KH II corrected by KH III its pacing is just as atrocious as the 2005 game if not even worse.
If anything KH III shows that the general formula by which I, II and III run is not sufficient anymore for the scale and scope this fictional universe has reached. That Re:Mind had to be added retroactively to finally give some of the other major characters some barebone focus and a true meaningful connection between main plot and Disney worlds still couldn't be maintained shows this imho the best.

While I actually agree with some of this, I think they'll keep numbered titles for their big event games. I do think there will be a KH4 and a ReMind/Final Mix for it as well. And the numbered titles will likely always be Sora, Donald, and Goofy as the main leads. The other characters will thrive in the spinoffs leading into the numbered titles. In short the numbered titles are the Avengers while the smaller titles are the individuals leading into them.

 

[mriku90]

I feel like I'm in the twilight zone. Honestly Kingdom Hearts being treated like the MCU with orchestrated and planned release dates across the phases like huh? That's not how it's been for the first 20 years of Phase One.

I'm curious to wonder if the success of KH3 has made Disney realize just what it is exactly they have in their hands.

The animated series is not in any of this information cause it's not a Phase. It's likely a retelling of the entire story through CGI animation. Plus Disney will announce the show. I don't expect Square will.

 

[the red monster]

Ones on the bottom could be novels and the show.


...Or maybe Days/Coded HD?

I don't think they gonna waste time making days/coded HD, especially that we moved into a new saga so they won't have much relevance and they already got HD movie.

 

[mriku90]

Should we rest safe in the knowledge that MOM is gonna be backwards compatible with PS5 and the other next gen console? I remember how Sony said the games coming out this year and next year will be compatikle with next gne consoles.

 

[Xblade13]

[parsehtml]<p>Square Enix released <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=9&amp;v=d-bxIhQMaRU&amp;feature=emb_title">a new trailer</a> today detailing upcoming releases for the KINGDOM HEARTS series over the course of 2020. This 2nd phase includes the following:</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://i.imgur.com/WLaf0EA.jpg" alt="" width="500" height="280" /></p>
<ul>
<li>Kingdom Hearts III Re Mind (January 23rd)</li>
<li>Kingdom Hearts Union X Dark Road (June 22nd)</li>
<li>Kingdom Hearts Melody of Memory</li>
<li>???</li>
<li>???</li>
</ul>
<p>There are additional empty spaces below these titles as well.&nbsp;</p>
<p>What do you think the two unannounced projects are? Share your thoughts with us!</p>
<p>Follow Kingdom Hearts Insider on&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/KingdomHeartsInsider">Facebook</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/khinsider">Twitter</a>&nbsp;for the latest updates on&nbsp;<em>The World Ends With You</em>, the rumored&nbsp;<em>Kingdom Hearts</em>&nbsp;Disney Plus series,&nbsp;<em>Kingdom Hearts Union&nbsp;&chi; [Cross], Kingdom Hearts Dark Road, Kingdom Hearts 3, Kingdom Hearts Melody of Memory&nbsp;</em>and all things&nbsp;<em>Kingdom Hearts</em>!</p>[/parsehtml]

Honestly, even though Nomura said that ReMind would be all the DLC for KH3, I can't seem to shake the realization that one of the slots is for that DLC. One of the other slots could very well be a surprise DLC for 3.

That and the rumored Disney+ show.

 

[FudgemintGuardian]

don't even joke ;A;

While I actually agree with some of this, I think they'll keep numbered titles for their big event games. I do think there will be a KH4 and a ReMind/Final Mix for it as well. And the numbered titles will likely always be Sora, Donald, and Goofy as the main leads. The other characters will thrive in the spinoffs leading into the numbered titles. In short the numbered titles are the Avengers while the smaller titles are the individuals leading into them.

It doesn't sound bad on paper, but KH did this already and that didn't turn out too well...

 

[SweetYetSalty]

It doesn't sound bad on paper, but KH did this already and that didn't turn out too well...

They can try again, with more experience this time.

 

[Xblade13]

I feel like I'm in the twilight zone. Honestly Kingdom Hearts being treated like the MCU with orchestrated and planned release dates across the phases like huh? That's not how it's been for the first 20 years of Phase One.

I'm curious to wonder if the success of KH3 has made Disney realize just what it is exactly they have in their hands.

The animated series is not in any of this information cause it's not a Phase. It's likely a retelling of the entire story through CGI animation. Plus Disney will announce the show. I don't expect Square will.

I think that is entirely the case. Disney screwed up badly with Star Wars, and the MCU is losing a little traction in the wait after Endgame. They are thirsty for their next big blockbuster franchise.

KH3 has outsold every single other game in the series. It may be a shock to those of us who have been fans of it forever, but this series has always been niche. Without Disney it probably wouldn't have even made it past the first game. But KH3 was closer to a AAA modern blockbuster in game sales.

So of course Disney was like "oh, we gave Square some more focus with this Kingdom Hearts thing, and the fans bought it like crazy! Let's turn it into the next MCU! It basically already connects all of our very popular animated movies together." And so Square created a few more dev studios so they could multitask and make multiple Kingdom Hearts games at the same time.

No more slow drips, no more waiting for 13 years while the public shuns only "spinoff" titles waiting for a magical number 3. For all we know they might not even do Roman numeral titles anymore.

 

[Ballad of Caius]

I'm more inlined to believe that we're not getting games related to the Wayfinder or Ice Cream trio and that the next entries to the boxes could be the animated series, DDD Vol.2 and KHUx remake.

But if they do start treating the Universe of KINGDOM HEARTS like the MCU, I may start inclining towards the possibility of a new BBS and Days happening.

 

[Nukara]

Since "Memories" is still in the title of the game, should we wait for cutscenes featuring a twilight gang studying Roxas and Xion's memory?

 

[DizneyXBirds95]

Who's to say what the two unannounced projects will be, but If I had to guess it will be:

• A Dream Drop Distance style game or a Union Cross remake for Consoles (PS4/PS5, XBOX Series X)
• The Disney+ Kingdom Hearts Series

I don't think it's going to be KHIV, as more than likely they will announce that once MoM and the two unnounced projects have came out during Phase 2.

Hopefully later this year or after the release of Melody of Memory we will find out more about the two unnounced KH projects, in fact it wouldn't surprise if one of the unannounced projects comes out in 2022 which is the 20th Anniversary of the KH franchise and when the first game came out.

 

[Heartkeeper]

Should we rest safe in the knowledge that MOM is gonna be backwards compatible with PS5 and the other next gen console? I remember how Sony said the games coming out this year and next year will be compatikle with next gne consoles.

Any PS4 games submitted for certification after July 13 have to be compatible with PS5, I think is safe to say this game will be compatible at launch.

 

[qbaysan]

Didn't Nomura say in the Ultimania interview there's like three games he wanted to be made before KH4 comes out, well technically 2 games, and a special project? And with the Darknesses interview, it certainly lines up to how many teams are working on these games:

• Osaka Team - KH4
• KHUX Team - Dark Road
• Team 3 - Melody of Memory
• Team 4 - Unannounced Title

So we've got actually one more side game before KH4 comes in. The last box of the 2nd phase pic has to be KH4, right?

I'm guessing that one side game has to be Verum Rex related with Riku. But it's not the whole story of Verum Rex, since I feel that it's hard to put it all in one side game. Feels like Nomura's probably dividing it into three parts. First part is Riku's search for Sora while exploring a portion of VR's setting and a little bit about Yozora, then KH4 with Sora, MoM and Yozora, and finally a prequel featuring Yozora. Ya know, kinda like how Versus was meant to span several games?

But aside from that, I think that one side game with Riku+Verum Rex probably is just half of the game. Now that Kairi's actually awake instead of sleeping it off until Sora comes back, I think the first half probably is more about Kairi staying behind instead of going with Riku to the Verum Rex world.

Feels like in order to justify Riku+Verum Rex game as a Disney game, Kairi is the one meant to explore Disney Worlds for Disney's stamp of approval. She's probably there to resolve a few plot points regarding a some of KHX and UX's loose ends, now that we're exploring a portion of her past in Melody of Memory. I mean she's probably more in tune with the whole KHX series thing than Riku, considering the first thing we see when playing KHX and KHUX is her grandmother telling her the story of the Keyblade War.

Also, having a Kairi campaign on the Unannounced Title is a good way to include the Days quartet's new subplot, formally introducing Subject X into the series, and even explore a little bit on Ven's background : ). Probably even having face reveals of at least one or two of the Foretellers. But personally I don't think BBS trio will be explored that much, not until Dark Road is close to ending since I feel like Terra and Aqua would connect more to there than KHUX itself.

Well, I'm probably just being optimistic though. haha

 

[Hedginka]

To me, the fact that KH3 is listed in the second phase really showcases how much it focused on setting up other games, rather than being a satisfying conclusion.

 

[SuperSaiyanSora]

What happened to the tv series? Nothing on that at all. The fact that Square hasn't mentioned it with all this KH news going around makes me wonder.

It was rumored and never confirmed, so... That's probably it. Unless they plan on announcing it later, the Disney Plus series rumor was just that -- a rumor.

*dramatic pause*
When in hell are we gonna learn what's in the Black Box?

If KH4 is going to be the conclusion to this saga, then KH4 at the absolute latest. The way it's been touched on now and again, that's probably going to continue until the last minute.

There's opportunities for it to be revealed in UX's last chapters and Dark Road, but that would have to involve Luxu being around somewhere. So Dark Road is also likely. But knowing how this series is, it's probably gonna take KH4 to actually say what's in it.

The Master of Masters didn't want it to be opened though, so... Whatever's inside would have to be something that's problematic to the Master in some way. Luxord said that apparently Xigbar said the box contains "hope" though, so...

I'm more inlined to believe that we're not getting games related to the Wayfinder or Ice Cream trio and that the next entries to the boxes could be the animated series, DDD Vol.2 and KHUx remake.

But if they do start treating the Universe of KINGDOM HEARTS like the MCU, I may start inclining towards the possibility of a new BBS and Days happening.

And not gonna lie, I think most people want another Days game for the sake of it. There's nothing wrong with wanting one, but this is how the series gets "convoluted" with "too many games" if there's no actual need for them. Same with BBS Vol. 2, if there's no actual journey of value to be had there, then it's gonna do more harm than good. And people already have issues with Melody of Memories being a rhythm game with lore in it.

Cause I know how this is gonna go, they'll make a Days 2/BBS Vol. 2, it's not what people wanted, and then they're gonna say "Oh why wasn't this just a cutscene or two in the next game, we didn't need this. Fucking Nomura and his cash grabs."

 

[Oracle Spockanort]

Heh, I wonder what makes people so sure that there even will be a "KH IV" at all.

Nomura quite directly said there are multiple projects he wanted to get out before “mainline Kingdom Hearts”

Mainline to him meaning the numbered titles as we have always understood things.

Nomura discusses Kingdom Hearts 3 Re Mind, new teams and future projects in Twitter Q&A - News - Kingdom Hearts Insider

Kingdom Hearts Insider - the largest kingdom hearts community and news resource on the web!

www.khinsider.com

 

[Oracle Spockanort]

To me, the fact that KH3 is listed in the second phase really showcases how much it focused on setting up other games, rather than being a satisfying conclusion.

That isn’t KH3, it is Re:Mind.

 

[Ballad of Caius]

Since "Memories" is still in the title of the game, should we wait for cutscenes featuring a twilight gang studying Roxas and Xion's memory?

Uh... why, though? They're both recovered? Y presume "memories" is in plural because it's about the memories of Kairi and Sora, based on the fact that Kairi's heart was joined with Sora's.

• A Dream Drop Distance style game or a Union Cross remake for Consoles (PS4/PS5, XBOX Series X)
• The Disney+ Kingdom Hearts Series

Or both games and the animated series is part of Phase 2, but not aligned with the other media.

Hopefully later this year or after the release of Melody of Memory we will find out more about the two unnounced KH projects,

I presume MoM will contain a secret ending of some sort that will hint towards the next game in the series.

I'm guessing that one side game has to be Verum Rex related with Riku.

If we get a Verum Rex game, I'm more than sure it'll be its own thing. Either entirely separate from the universe of KH or not so separate.

Luxord said that apparently Xigbar said the box contains "hope" though, so...

That was Xemnas. Xemnas told him that. Xigbar just said that a Blackbox existed and sent everyone in a wild goose chase for some unknown reason.

Cause I know how this is gonna go, they'll make a Days 2/BBS Vol. 2, it's not what people wanted, and then they're gonna say "Oh why wasn't this just a cutscene or two in the next game, we didn't need this. Fucking Nomura and his cash grabs."

I mean, from the looks of it, the Wayfinder Trio will try to look for Sora in the Realm of Darkness. There's enough to be explored here, like restoring Worlds succumbed to the Darkness.

 

[Eonstar890]

So MoM looks like it takes place right after Re:Mind and deals with Kairis lost memory and her search for Sora.

If I had to guess, the other two titles would (hopefully) take place after that chronologically.

As we already know, Ventus, Lea, and Isa have strong connections to the KHUX cast, as well as Elrena and Lauriam who should be recompleted by now. With this in mind, I think that the two new titles will be

1) The introduction of the foretellers to the modern era. We saw them arrive in the epilogue and we know maleficent at the very least will be hunting them down for that box. I could see this game being the spiritual successor to both BBS and Days with those characters bring the ones to face the Foretellers. This way we also get a non numbered title that can still focus on not Sora characters. I definitely feel like the whole idea of “killing” Sora off was to let other characters shine in his absence.

2) Riku and Kairis journey to save Sora. This one would focus on the two trying to get to the world of Verum Rex and find their friend. I can see Kairi and Riku getting some hints in MoM as to how to start this journey. This would act as the successor to DDD. And probably include stuff to do with the Lost Master, Luxord and possibly Demyx. (Demyx and Riku has that small interaction in Re:Mind which may have been setting up for a later interaction...)

 

[SweetYetSalty]

So MoM looks like it takes place right after Re:Mind and deals with Kairis lost memory and her search for Sora.

If I had to guess, the other two titles would (hopefully) take place after that chronologically.

As we already know, Ventus, Lea, and Isa have strong connections to the KHUX cast, as well as Elrena and Lauriam who should be recompleted by now. With this in mind, I think that the two new titles will be

1) The introduction of the foretellers to the modern era. We saw them arrive in the epilogue and we know maleficent at the very least will be hunting them down for that box. I could see this game being the spiritual successor to both BBS and Days with those characters bring the ones to face the Foretellers. This way we also get a non numbered title that can still focus on not Sora characters. I definitely feel like the whole idea of “killing” Sora off was to let other characters shine in his absence.

2) Riku and Kairis journey to save Sora. This one would focus on the two trying to get to the world of Verum Rex and find their friend. I can see Kairi and Riku getting some hints in MoM as to how to start this journey. This would act as the successor to DDD. And probably include stuff to do with the Lost Master, Luxord and possibly Demyx. (Demyx and Riku has that small interaction in Re:Mind which may have been setting up for a later interaction...)

For a second there when you said 'MoM looks like it takes place right after Re:Mind' I immediately thought you meant the Master of Masters and was confused, but now I see you meant Melody of Memory. This is going to lead to some funny confusion switching the meaning of MoM for the series lol.