When are we expecting news?

[NoWay]

I’d be really happy if ML released later this year to tide us over. I don't believe I'm actually saying this, but I really miss UX and DR because at least with those two we got at least something new every few months.

 

[Launchpad]

I would be pretty shocked if KH appeared here, but there is an Xbox digital broadcast on Thursday that’s focusing on Japanese and Asian developers. SE said earlier this year after announcing FFXIV for Xbox that they’re looking to bring future games to the platform. Likewise, Xbox wants to increase their Japanese presence. So I suspect we’ll see something from SE there. Could just be ports, but revealing something new from Dragon Quest XII or Kingdom Hearts IV would certainly make a bigger splash.

But as others have said any ideas at this point are pure speculation. However, I can confidently say it will either show up at a.) an event, b.) a date with some significance or c.) a random day.

Old Launchpad has a funny feeling in his rickety old bones that KH4 didn't have platforms announced in the reveal trailer because Sony was in the process of scoring a timed exclusivity deal, to give it parity with FFXVI and 7Rebirth.

 

[Darkspawn]

Old Launchpad has a funny feeling in his rickety old bones that KH4 didn't have platforms announced in the reveal trailer because Sony was in the process of scoring a timed exclusivity deal, to give it parity with FFXVI and 7Rebirth.

You may be right. Even as a PS5 player, I hope this isn’t the case though. Especially after finally getting the series to all major platforms.

Maybe they didn’t include the platforms if they were aware or were anticipating that the Switch 2 would be a thing and potentially capable of running the game.

 

[MATGSY]

Maybe they didn’t include the platforms if they were aware or were anticipating that the Switch 2 would be a thing and potentially capable of running the game.

Realistically, I wouldn't expect Switch 2 to be anything more than a portable PS4 in specs, with DLSS making it functionally a PS4 Pro. Although we have seen a number of miracle ports on S1 like Witcher 3 & Nier Automata, so it can be assumed similar ports will happen on S2. & that DLSS will make them look not quite so low res this around.

With rumors of the Matrix UE5 demo & FF7R1 running at PS5-level performance (including ray tracing!), it does leave me wondering if KH4 would actually be viable.

Of course this is KH we're talking about, a series that was repeatedly dragged it's feet when it comes to any platform that isn't PS. Square had 5 years from KH3's announcement to bring the older games to XBox & it didn't happen until a whole year after KH3. They only fairly recently brought the series to PC, & they STILL aren't on Steam to this day. & of course the less about Switch versions the better.

 

[Squood!]

Well, TGS starts in a few hours

But I still gotta wait til tomorrow evening for Square's show.

If no KH at all...well, y'know.

 

[Darkspawn]

Well, TGS starts in a few hours

But I still gotta wait til tomorrow evening for Square's show.

If no KH at all...well, y'know.

Just a heads up, SE doesn’t have a general show this year. All of the events are dedicated to specific games with the exception Critikano Hit, which will just show what’s happening at the various booths and some offscreen demo gameplay. The Xbox event later is really the only place we could possibly get any surprise announcements. I wouldn’t get your hopes up.

FFVII Rebirth is currently having demo impressions pour in from influencers and media outlets. I highly doubt they will disrupt the media cycle for it by dropping KH news at this point. I’d put more money on Remake getting an Xbox release date at this point. Glad to be proven wrong though!

Realistically, I wouldn't expect Switch 2 to be anything more than a portable PS4 in specs, with DLSS making it functionally a PS4 Pro. Although we have seen a number of miracle ports on S1 like Witcher 3 & Nier Automata, so it can be assumed similar ports will happen on S2. & that DLSS will make them look not quite so low res this around.

With rumors of the Matrix UE5 demo & FF7R1 running at PS5-level performance (including ray tracing!), it does leave me wondering if KH4 would actually be viable.

Of course this is KH we're talking about, a series that was repeatedly dragged it's feet when it comes to any platform that isn't PS. Square had 5 years from KH3's announcement to bring the older games to XBox & it didn't happen until a whole year after KH3. They only fairly recently brought the series to PC, & they STILL aren't on Steam to this day. & of course the less about Switch versions the better.

The Matrix demo and Remake rumor are the main reason I’m entertaining the idea that it could handle it. Of course these are rumors and we have no idea how much of a beast KH4 will be to run in comparison.

 

[luuizhenriquem]

Well.... See ya in March / July / D23 2024 I guess lol

I don't expect nada for this year.

 

[novak7]

Realistically, I wouldn't expect Switch 2 to be anything more than a portable PS4 in specs, with DLSS making it functionally a PS4 Pro. Although we have seen a number of miracle ports on S1 like Witcher 3 & Nier Automata, so it can be assumed similar ports will happen on S2. & that DLSS will make them look not quite so low res this around.

With rumors of the Matrix UE5 demo & FF7R1 running at PS5-level performance (including ray tracing!), it does leave me wondering if KH4 would actually be viable.

Of course this is KH we're talking about, a series that was repeatedly dragged it's feet when it comes to any platform that isn't PS. Square had 5 years from KH3's announcement to bring the older games to XBox & it didn't happen until a whole year after KH3. They only fairly recently brought the series to PC, & they STILL aren't on Steam to this day. & of course the less about Switch versions the better.

Even if Kingdom Hearts 4 comes to Switch 2, it's likely that the game will have to make some graphical sacrifices to run on the console's less powerful hardware.

 

[Darkspawn]

Watched the Xbox broadcast so y’all don’t have to. Can confirm nothing significant appeared as expected. Only thing new for Square Enix is Octopath Traveler II coming to Xbox sometime next year. They did reiterate working to bring more SE games in the future.

I’d say that’s a wrap for any hopes of KH at TGS this year, but thankfully still stuff to look forward to with Rebirth.

 

[Squood!]

Missing Link ain't gonna do well, I can feel it.

Maybe if their marketing group was more competent in marketing more than one big series and if SE didn't even humor shit like Babylon's Fall and Forspoken they wouldn't be so worried in terms of financial shit.

 

[blank points]

Watched the Xbox broadcast so y’all don’t have to. Can confirm nothing significant appeared as expected. Only thing new for Square Enix is Octopath Traveler II coming to Xbox sometime next year. They did reiterate working to bring more SE games in the future.

I’d say that’s a wrap for any hopes of KH at TGS this year, but thankfully still stuff to look forward to with Rebirth.

Yeah, pretty much as I was expecting. It was pretty obvious that we weren't going to get anything out of TGS this year, seeing as there was nothing in the State of Play. What I'm expecting now is that maybe they will do the same with KH as they did with Rebirth, and give us an update on both ML and KH4 at the same time. With that in mind, I'd say the absolute earliest we can expect anything would maybe be February, seeing as Rebirth got a trailer just a few weeks before XVI released. Obviously, just because that happened with Rebirth doesn't automatically mean it will happen with KH4, but the possibility is there. I could see maybe them releasing the beta test for ML around the winter time or so, with the full release happening in Spring 2024, leading to a early 2025 release for KH4.

 

[Disney Adventurer]

Last chance imo for getting anything this year is either Jump Festa or an outta the blue update from KH's socials but we'll see.

 

[Chie]

Talking about the "Switch 2" is so weird. I'm sure there's all kinds of dumb rumors about it, but if I were Nintendo I would have no reason to make a Switch 2. The Switch itself has practically no features and became a smash success with a massive install base who get off to games being ported to it, why split it? We're kinda at the end of any logical evolution of consoles, and though the Switch does have massive technical issues that should probably be fixed, that again hasn't affected sales whatsoever.

 

[MATGSY]

Talking about the "Switch 2" is so weird. I'm sure there's all kinds of dumb rumors about it, but if I were Nintendo I would have no reason to make a Switch 2. The Switch itself has practically no features and became a smash success with a massive install base who get off to games being ported to it, why split it? We're kinda at the end of any logical evolution of consoles, and though the Switch does have massive technical issues that should probably be fixed, that again hasn't affected sales whatsoever.

Switch is over 6 years old & the age of the tech is very apparent:

Spoiler for violence:

Spoiler Show

For many, a new Switch that's basically the same setup but better specs is more than enough. Be it Nintendo's own stuff now running at 4k/60FPS or seeing more recent games making the jump without looking so terrible in the process.

Additionally, hardware sales have been slowing down which tends to be a signal to Nintendo that it's time to move on because they got quotas to make. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/arti...witch-console-sales-to-slow-further-this-year

 

[SuperNova]

Honestly all Nintendo needs to do to make bank on a Super Switch (Switch 2) is have better specs and backwards compatibility for Switch games and they'll be golden. If Nintendo ever makes a console as powerful as a PS5/Xbox X I'll be floored.

 

[MATGSY]

Honestly all Nintendo needs to do to make bank on a Super Switch (Switch 2) is have better specs and backwards compatibility for Switch games and they'll be golden. If Nintendo ever makes a console as powerful as a PS5/Xbox X I'll be floored.

It ain't possible to make a system that powerful in a handheld form factor & they sure ain't gonna abandon the hybrid tablet concept with the next system.

 

[Darkspawn]

Talking about the "Switch 2" is so weird. I'm sure there's all kinds of dumb rumors about it, but if I were Nintendo I would have no reason to make a Switch 2. The Switch itself has practically no features and became a smash success with a massive install base who get off to games being ported to it, why split it? We're kinda at the end of any logical evolution of consoles, and though the Switch does have massive technical issues that should probably be fixed, that again hasn't affected sales whatsoever.

Multiple gaming outlets have reported on it being shown off at Gamescom behind closed doors as verified by independent sources. Not just your run of the mill, “my uncle works at Nintendo” rumors.

Consoles are going to continue to evolve. Xbox is already in the works on their next console to launch in 2028 as shown in the FTC documents. PS6 will likely show up around the same time. That would put Nintendo two console generations behind. Eventually third party developers won’t be able to bring their cross-platform games to the platform without major sacrifices worse than those we’ve already seen with MK1. It’ll be like trying to run KH3 on a DS.

They also don’t want to wait until the end of the decade to release a new console as they’d be in more direct competition with the other two companies. Aiming for 2024-25 launch gives them a solid 3-4 years where they will be the shiny new thing.

It ain't possible to make a system that powerful in a handheld form factor & they sure ain't gonna abandon the hybrid tablet concept with the next system.

Steam Deck is already running PS5 games like FFVIIR Intergrade and it’s been on the market for a while. Is it as powerful as a PS5, no. But it is close enough to run the same games and the performance of handhelds will only get better as technology progresses. Even the newest iPhones are going to be running AAA games like Assassin’s Creed Mirage natively.

 

[Squood!]

As expected, nothing at all to where this became a Nintendo thread.

 

[Chie]

Switch is over 6 years old & the age of the tech is very apparent:

Not really? Much more powerful technology already existed when the Switch came out. Yes, they absolutely could upgrade it (and perhaps should), but that's not because the Switch is "aged". That video doesn't seem relevant either, there have been many games that looked "worse"/lower-specs on Switch for years.

Consoles are going to continue to evolve. Xbox is already in the works on their next console to launch in 2028 as shown in the FTC documents. PS6 will likely show up around the same time. That would put Nintendo two console generations behind. Eventually third party developers won’t be able to bring their cross-platform games to the platform without major sacrifices worse than those we’ve already seen with MK1. It’ll be like trying to run KH3 on a DS.

Evolve into what, exactly? What more is there to do? The PS5 was marketed with really blatant propaganda to sell people on the idea it was any different from a PS4. It is logical for them to continue doing that kind of thing I guess, but we should at least be honest about that. The industry is very different at different points in time; years ago, the functional difference between a PS1 and PS2, or the GBA and DS, was extremely significant. Suggesting PS4 -> PS5 is the same because it's technically still a "console generation" is a bit silly though.

 

[MATGSY]

Multiple gaming outlets have reported on it being shown off at Gamescom behind closed doors as verified by independent sources. Not just your run of the mill, “my uncle works at Nintendo” rumors.

Consoles are going to continue to evolve. Xbox is already in the works on their next console to launch in 2028 as shown in the FTC documents. PS6 will likely show up around the same time. That would put Nintendo two console generations behind. Eventually third party developers won’t be able to bring their cross-platform games to the platform without major sacrifices worse than those we’ve already seen with MK1. It’ll be like trying to run KH3 on a DS.

They also don’t want to wait until the end of the decade to release a new console as they’d be in more direct competition with the other two companies. Aiming for 2024-25 launch gives them a solid 3-4 years where they will be the shiny new thing.



Steam Deck is already running PS5 games like FFVIIR Intergrade and it’s been on the market for a while. Is it as powerful as a PS5, no. But it is close enough to run the same games and the performance of handhelds will only get better as technology progresses. Even the newest iPhones are going to be running AAA games like Assassin’s Creed Mirage natively.

At low settings for best framerate & it is a PS4 game upscaled on PS5. Like we all know the Yuffie chapter could've totally run on PS4 & omitting it was a sales gimmick. Steam Deck relies on having lower resolution settings to get newer games running on it at all & even then there's setbacks:

As expected, nothing at all to where this became a Nintendo thread.

More active than the actual Nintendo thread

Not really? Much more powerful technology already existed when the Switch came out. Yes, they absolutely could upgrade it (and perhaps should), but that's not because the Switch is "aged". That video doesn't seem relevant either, there have been many games that looked "worse"/lower-specs on Switch for years.

Yeah, but those are big beefy console units compared to how much horsepower a handheld could do. in 2017, Switch was about as good as it got in terms of portables. But technology marches on & handheld tech had advanced a lot since then. Like the new iPhone is getting native running versions of RE8 & RE4 remake.

For comparison, here's what RE4 used to look like on iPhones:

Current Switch wouldn't have a chance in hell of running those

Evolve into what, exactly? What more is there to do? The PS5 was marketed with really blatant propaganda to sell people on the idea it was any different from a PS4. It is logical for them to continue doing that kind of thing I guess, but we should at least be honest about that. The industry is very different at different points in time; years ago, the functional difference between a PS1 and PS2, or the GBA and DS, was extremely significant. Suggesting PS4 -> PS5 is the same because it's technically still a "console generation" is a bit silly though.

The near instantaneous loading of the PS5's SSD is a game changer though. Holy crap, FF16 would sooooo much a bigger pain in the ass to play if I had to sit through load times every single time this game wanted me to go to a different zone. Further more, Square has said that FF16 is so advanced it couldn't run on XBox Series S, which is weaker than PS5 but more powerful than PS4 Pro, let alone base PS4.

& then we can come back to the Matrix demo. Did any PS4 game ever look this good?