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Kingdom Hearts III

From Kingdom Hearts Database
Kingdom Hearts III
Kingdom Hearts III logo KHIII.png
Kana
キングダム ハーツ III
Rōmaji
Kingudamu Hātsu III
Developer(s)
Publisher(s)
Release
January 25, 2019
Flag of Japan.png January 25, 2019
Flag of the People's Republic of China.png January 25, 2019
Flag of the United States.png/Flag of Canada.png January 29, 2019
Flag of European Union.png January 29, 2019
Flag of Australia.png January 29, 2019
Flag of Japan.png January 25, 2019
Flag of the People's Republic of China.png January 25, 2019
Flag of the United States.png/Flag of Canada.png January 29, 2019
Flag of European Union.png January 29, 2019
Flag of Australia.png January 29, 2019
Flag of Japan.png March 30, 2021
Flag of the People's Republic of China.png March 30, 2021
Flag of the United States.png/Flag of Canada.png March 30, 2021
Flag of European Union.png March 30, 2021
Flag of Australia.png March 30, 2021
Flag of Japan.png February 10, 2022
Flag of the United States.png/Flag of Canada.png February 10, 2022
Flag of European Union.png February 10, 2022
Flag of Australia.png February 10, 2022
Rating(s)
"The ultimate battle for KINGDOM HEARTS is upon us."
Tagline
Quotes.png

Kingdom Hearts III is an action role-playing game developed and published by Square Enix in collaboration with Disney and Pixar, and the thirteenth title in the Kingdom Hearts series. Serving as a direct sequel to both Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance and Kingdom Hearts 0.2 Birth by Sleep -A fragmentary passage-, it follows Sora, Donald Duck, and Goofy as they prepare to face Master Xehanort and his plan to re-ignite the Keyblade War and reclaim Kingdom Hearts.

Kingdom Hearts III was first announced at E3 2013 on June 11, 2013, as the first multiplatform title in the series. Kingdom Hearts III was released for the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One in Japan on January 25, 2019, and internationally on January 29, 2019.[1] An additional downloadable chapter, Kingdom Hearts III Re Mind, was released on January 23, 2020.[2]

Kingdom Hearts III was re-released with the DLC chapters as Kingdom Hearts III + Re Mind (DLC) for PC on the Epic Games Store on March 30, 2021. A cloud-streaming version, Kingdom Hearts III + Re Mind (DLC) Cloud Version, was released for the Nintendo Switch on February 10, 2022.

Story[edit | edit source]

"Don't believe your dreams are just fantasy. If you can imagine a world, believe in it and dive in."
Promotional Tagline
Quotes.png
"The light is gathering together, hearts driven by one oath, one purpose"
Promotional Tagline
Quotes.png
Sora, Donald, and Goofy visit Hercules to try to recover Sora's power.

Following the Mark of Mastery exam, Master Yen Sid sends Sora, Donald, and Goofy to Olympus[3] to speak with Hercules about regaining the strength Sora lost during his near capture at the hands of Xehanort and the Real Organization XIII.[4] While Sora, Donald, and Goofy look for him, they run into Hades, who is attempting to overthrow Zeus[5], and Maleficent and Pete, who dismiss Sora in their search for a black box.[6] They then run into Xigbar, who taunts Sora and Hercules for being willing to put their lives in danger in their fight, necessitating someone else to save them.[7] After defeating Hades, Hercules is unable to explain how he recovered his strength when he lost Megara, although Sora picks up a clue about having something to fight for with all his heart.[8]

Riku and King Mickey stand on the shore of the Dark Margin after being defeated by the Heartless.

Meanwhile, King Mickey and Riku make their way through the Realm of Darkness as they search for one of the missing Keyblade wielders, Aqua. They soon arrive at the Dark Margin, where King Mickey senses that Aqua’s trail ends, before they’re attacked by a Demon Tide.[9] While King Mickey is able to defeat the Heartless, Riku’s Keyblade is broken in the process, and the duo decide to regroup at The Mysterious Tower.[10]

Sora, Donald, and Goofy also return to The Mysterious Tower and learn of Riku and King Mickey’s trip. Sora spontaneously offers to go after Aqua, but Master Yen Sid reminds him of his need to recover the Power of Waking. Sora receives new clothes from Master Yen Sid, while King Mickey and Riku take new clothes to Kairi and Lea in Radiant Garden, where they are training with their Keyblades under Merlin.[11]

Hayner, Pence, and Olette join Sora, Donald, and Goofy at the Old Mansion in their search for Roxas.

Deciding to follow Roxas’s heart, Sora, Donald, and Goofy travel to Twilight Town.[12] There, they encounter Hayner, Pence, and Olette being chased by a Demon Tide.[13] After defeating it, they work together to find a way back to the virtual Twilight Town, believing there could be a clue there for restoring Roxas.[14] Leaving Pence and Ienzo to figure out how to restore the simulated town, Sora, Donald, and Goofy leave the old mansion and run into Ansem and Xemnas, who taunt him with submitting to the darkness to bring Roxas back.[15]

After a day of training in a secret forest, Kairi takes time to write a letter to Sora. Lea catches up to her and keeps staring at Kairi, trying to remember something he’d forgotten. When Kairi taunts him with a challenge for the next day, Lea sees the silhouette of someone he recognizes in Kairi and begins to tear up.[16] Meanwhile, King Mickey and Riku investigate Aqua’s disappearance in Radiant Garden and determine that Terra, under the control of Master Xehanort, had become a member of the Real Organization XIII.[17]

Sora, Donald, and Goofy continue their travels through various worlds, and learn in the process of Xehanort’s plan to reclaim Kingdom Hearts. They learn of the New Seven Hearts, maidens who had the power of the Princesses of Light passed down to them after Ansem’s defeat during Sora’s first journey.[18][19][20] They also learn that Marluxia,[21] Larxene,[22] Luxord,[23] and a version of Riku[24] had also joined the Organization. Riku and Ienzo also conclude that Vexen, who had led the Organization’s Replica Program and had been missing, also likely joined the new Organization.[25]

Ansem and Ansem the Wise stand outside the Old Mansion as Ansem demands the location of a missing girl.

While waiting for their rescue, Ansem the Wise and Aqua are confronted by Xehanort’s Heartless, Ansem. Demanding information on the whereabouts of a girl who had gone missing when Ansem the Wise first ended his apprentices’ experiments on the heart, Ansem casts Aqua into the dark abyss beneath the dark realm and takes Ansem the Wise to Twilight Town.[26] There, Ansem the Wise regrets the harm that had befallen so many children as a result of his research, including Roxas. Hearing this, Hayner, Pence, and Olette stage a rescue of Ansem the Wise. Ansem attempts to attack the children, but soon realizes he’d been betrayed. The kids and Ansem the Wise escape into town, where they are confronted by Vexen.[27] Working with Demyx and under the direction of someone else in the Organization, Vexen seeks to make up for his betrayal of Ansem the Wise by taking him and a replica vessel to Ienzo in Radiant Garden.[28][29]

Riku and King Mickey fight the Heartless in their second visit to the realm of darkness.

Meanwhile, Riku and King Mickey return to the realm of darkness, but lose contact with Chip and Dale. Sora uses the Keyblade to arrive in Destiny Islands, where an old Keyblade opens the door to the dark realm.[30]

While in the realm of darkness, King Mickey and Riku defeat a Demon Tower, and find Aqua, who has succumbed to the darkness.[31] With King Mickey trapped, Riku tries to free him just as Sora arrives. Aqua attempts to charge at Riku, but Sora blocks her.[32] Sora defeats Aqua, casting her back into the deep waters of the dark realm. As the darkness fades away and she sinks, Sora reaches out and rescues her. Aqua then awakens on the shores of Destiny Islands, once again in the realm of light.[33]

Vanitas arrives in the Land of Departure while Aqua attempts to awaken Ventus.

Sora, Donald, and Goofy then accompany Aqua to Castle Oblivion to rescue Ventus. Aqua uses her Keyblade to transform the world back to the Land of Departure,[34] and they find Ventus still asleep. Vanitas then arrives to capture Ven, defeating Aqua in the process.[35] Sora calls out to Ventus’s heart and, realizing he hadn’t lost the power of waking, awakens Ventus, who defeats Vanitas as he attempts to eliminate Aqua.[36] Vanitas then retreats, and Sora, Donald, Goofy, Aqua, and Ven reunite with Riku, King Mickey, Kairi, and Lea at The Mysterious Tower.[37]

The guardians of light gather at the Mysterious Tower.

As they prepare for the looming battle, Aqua and Ven reminisce over their struggles,[38] while Saïx confronts Lea in Twilight Town and reminds him of the reason they had joined the Organization: a girl they had met while sneaking into the Radiant Garden castle.[39] Riku speaks with the heart of the Riku Replica, with whom he had reunited during his first attempt to rescue Aqua.[40] Finally, Sora, and Kairi share paopu fruits together as they watch the sunset.[41]

Donald uses Zettaflare to stop Terra-Xehanort, but is the spell leaves him unconscious.

The next day, the group gathers in the fated place, the Keyblade Graveyard, where they are pit against a large wave of Heartless.[42] They then face Terra-Xehanort, a member of the Organization, just as King Mickey had predicted. He quickly defeats Lea and Ventus, while Donald is knocked out as he uses a Zettaflare attack to push Terra-Xehanort back. A Demon Tide then defeats the rest of the team.[43]

Chirithy explains Sora's current state in The Final World following his defeat.

Sora awakens in The Final World and meets Chirithy, who explains that while Sora’s body has perished, something is holding him to the physical world.[44] Suspecting Kairi to be the key, Sora pieces his being back together, finding Naminé’s heart in the process. Naminé explains that she had once contacted Terra[45] and would try to reach out to his heart again.[46] Sora also meets another unknown being, whom he assures will be rescued from the world.[47] Sora then sets out to rescue his friends. Using the power of waking, Sora travels to various worlds, releasing his friends’ hearts from a Lich.[48] Once he finishes, Young Xehanort confronts Sora, warning him that he would pay a high price for using the power of waking as he has.[49] Sora brushes him off and returns to the Keyblade Graveyard. On the way, he finds Kairi, who explains that she couldn’t let Sora go.[50] Reunited once more, the group makes another attempt to face Master Xehanort.[51]

Arriving just before their defeat, the group confronts Terra-Xehanort once again, but when he attempts to strike Ventus, he is blocked by the Lingering Will, who engages and fights Terra-Xehanort back.[52] Sora then charges at the Demon Tide on his own and is suddenly aided by “light from the past”, as the Keyblades of past Keyblade wielders join him.[53] They are then surrounded by many more heartless, but Master Yen Sid appears and uses his magic to create a path for them. The group advances, leaving Donald and Goofy behind to aid Master Yen Sid.[54]

The guardians of light confront the seekers of darkness.

Sora and his friends split up to defeat the various members of the Real Organization XIII. In the process, they release Terra’s heart, allowing him to return.[55] While fighting with Lea and Kairi, Xion is revealed to be a member of the Organization, but Roxas’s sudden return and Xion’s returning memories allow them to defeat Saïx. In the process, however, Xemnas kidnaps Kairi.[56] Sora then joins King Mickey and Riku[57] to defeat Ansem,[58] Xemnas,[59] and Young Xehanort,[60] leaving only Master Xehanort. However, he summons and eliminates Kairi with his Keyblade, crafting the thirteenth key needed to create the χ-blade. With χ-blade in hand, Xehanort summons Kingdom Hearts.[61]

Sora uses the χ-blade to seal Kingdom Hearts following Xehanort's defeat.

Donald and Goofy, and the others catch up to Sora, who is distraught at Kairi’s defeat. King Mickey and Riku explain that they can use Xehanort to create a portal and trap him inside. They do so, and Sora, Donald, and Goofy are transported inside with Xehanort. There, they find themselves in a world called Scala ad Caelum, a place that had once been a seat of power for all Keyblade wielders.[62] Sora, Donald, and Goofy fight Xehanort, who manipulates the world’s appearance to his advantage, but ultimately is defeated[63] as Riku, King Mickey, and the others join Sora, Donald, and Goofy. Eraqus’s heart is revealed to be within Terra, and he commands Xehanort to stop. Realizing that he is too weak to carry out his mission, Xehanort gives Sora the χ-blade while Eraqus apologizes to Terra, Aqua, and Ven. The two then fade away, while Sora uses the χ-blade to seal Kingdom Hearts and return to the real world.[64]

Sora and Kairi watch the sunset from the paopu fruit tree.

With Riku’s support, Sora sets off to rescue Kairi alone. King Mickey, Donald, and Goofy return to Disney Castle with Jiminy and Master Yen Sid, while fireworks celebrate their victory. Terra, Aqua, and Ven return to the Land of Departure and pay tribute to their fallen master, while Ven is reunited with Chirithy. Lea, Xion, and Roxas are joined by Isa, Hayner, Pence, and Olette in watching the sun set in Twilight Town. Finally, Ansem the Wise, Ienzo, and Even place Naminé’s heart inside a new vessel, and she joins Riku to Destiny Islands. There, joined with their friends, they see Sora and Kairi watch the sunset before Sora fades away.[65]

Xigbar gathers with the lost masters in the Keyblade Graveyard.

Sometime after the battle, a hooded figure appears in the Keyblade Graveyard with a black box. Picking up Xehanort’s Keyblade, he is joined by the ancient foretellers, Ira, Aced, Invi, and Gula, who identify him as Luxu. Removing his hood, he reveals he’s been masquerading a Xigbar, while Maleficent and Pete watch from a distance, preparing to seize the box. Pressured by Aced, Luxu begins to explain his story.[66]


Worlds and Characters[edit | edit source]

Gameplay[edit | edit source]

Kingdom Hearts III returns to the free-roam hack-and-slash combat featured in Kingdom Hearts and Kingdom Hearts II. Sora is the main playable character, although Riku and Aqua are playable in select moments. Sora is once again joined by Donald and Goofy as AI-controlled party members. For the first time in the series, Sora’s party is expanded to five members, allowing additional party members to join Sora without replacing Donald or Goofy.

In addition to regular attacks, magic, and items, Kingdom Hearts III introduces Links, which replaces the summon system from previous games. When in use, Sora’s commands are replaced with character-specific commands. Most of the links’ attacks are tied to a specific magic type, such as Simba’s attacks being fire-based and Ariel’s being water-based.

The Command Menu retains shortcuts, but this time, the shortcuts menu has three pages of four shortcuts each, allowing for up to twelve different shortcuts. The shortcuts can be any combination of magic commands, items, or links. The shortcuts also allow Sora to use any tier of magic he’s learned, rather than only the most powerful spell acquired.

Kingdom Hearts III also sees the return of shotlocks from Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep. Each Keyblade has one or two shotlocks that are available. Additionally, the flowmotion system from Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance returns, along with a new skill called "Air Step" that uses the shotlock reticle and flowmotion to allow Sora to quickly move towards a target.

Kingdom Hearts III introduces a variety of new gameplay mechanics. Attractions are a new flashy attack type based on various Disney park rides. Team attacks allow Sora to team up with party members for special attacks similar to limit attacks in Kingdom Hearts II. Keyblade transformations allow Sora to transform the Keyblade’s appearance and his clothes to use a variety of evolved, more powerful attacks, similar to drive forms. All three of these attack types are triggered at random during combat by filling the attack guage. Attacking at the same time as a party member increases the likelihood of triggering a team attack with that party member, while attacking enemies with a green Attraction symbol will make an Attraction attack available, and attacking with a particular Keyblade will make that Keyblade’s transformation available. For the first time, Sora can now equip up to three Keyblades and switch between them in combat using the left and right directional buttons.

The gummi ship returns in Kingdom Hearts III with major changes. The world map is divided into three, free-roam open maps, and gummi ship battles are largely skippable. A Heartless gummi ship boss precedes some worlds. The voluntary Heartless battles are much shorter, usually consisting of eliminating a set number of Heartless ships or defeating as many as possible in a set time.

Kingdom Hearts III introduces the Classic Kingdom minigame, a series of minigames based on early LCD games like those used in the Game and Watch and inspired by classic Disney cartoons from the 1920s and 1930s. Additional Classic Kingdom minigames are collectible throughout the worlds. Item synthesis returns to Kingdom Hearts III, with synthesis materials obtainable throughout the worlds and by defeating enemies. Uncle Scrooge’s Le Grand Bistrot in Twilight Town allows Sora to craft consumable recipes with Little Chef using food ingredients that are scattered throughout the worlds as well. These recipes provide Sora with temporary boosts in strength, defense, magic, and more.

The experience system is once again implemented, awarding Sora and his party experience points as the defeat enemies in combat. The amount of experience awarded varies on the enemy defeated, and Sora and his party level up as they reach set amounts of experience points. These grant the party permanent boosts in strength, defense, magic, and abilities levels, that latter of which allow for new combat and support abilities to be equipped.

Development and Release[edit | edit source]

Although the game was under consideration as early as 2006,[81] shortly after the release of Kingdom Hearts II, Kingdom Hearts III was first announced as being in development at the 2013 Electronics Entertainment Exposition (E3 2013) on June 10, 2013.[82] At the time, Square Enix released a trailer and a press release with the synopsis for the title. The trailer also revealed the game's eventual release on both the Xbox One and PlayStation 4, the first time a series title would be released on multiple platforms simultaneously.[82] A brief gameplay trailer was shown off at the first D23 Expo Japan conference in October 2013, showing combat in both Twilight Town, and a battle with the Rock Titan. The trailer was the first time the Attraction attacks were shown off.

At E3 2014, a trailer promoting Kingdom Hearts HD 2.5 ReMIX contained a brief teaser for Kingdom Hearts III. The short clip showed still illustrations of what appeared to be a younger Master Eraqus and Master Xehanort, having a discussion about the Keyblade War. Tai Yasue, co-director for the game, revealed that the sequence would be part of the beginning of the game, and would be relevant to the plot of the whole. On September 17, 2014, Tetsuya Nomura stepped down as director for Final Fantasy XV to focus efforts on other upcoming titles, specifically Kingdom Hearts III.[83]

At E3 2015, Kingdom Hearts series executive producer Shinji Hashimoto revealed a new gameplay trailer for Kingdom Hearts III. The new trailer showed Sora for the first time in his new outfit and the new Kingdom of Corona world based on the 2011 Disney film Tangled.[84] The trailer also showed off parts of Olympus, and the new Focus gauge, which in previous trailers had been named "EX". In an interview later with Famitsu, Nomura confirmed that the game would contain a secret movie.[85] In an interview with PlayStation Access, Nomura confirmed that characters from the Final Fantasy series will appear once again.[86] At D23 Expo Japan later that year, Shinji Hashimoto revealed a world based on Disney's 2015 film Big Hero 6.

News went scarce following 2015. In May 2017, Square Enix President and Representative Director Yosuke Matsuda and Chief Financial Officer Kazuharu Watanabe stated in the company's Financial Results Briefing Session that the expected released of Kingdom Hearts III would be sometime between 2018 and 2020.[87] The following month, during the Kingdom Hearts Orchestra -World Tour- performance in Los Angeles, series director Tetsuya Nomura revealed a new trailer, showing off various Keyblade transformations and the new Second Form. At D23 Expo Japan in July, Nomura revealed another trailer, this time showing off a new world based on the Disney/Pixar film franchise Toy Story and announcing a release year of 2018 for Kingdom Hearts III. Nomura confirmed the story to take place sometime after Toy Story 2, and would be canon to the Toy Story franchise. He also then revealed another character would be playable in Kingdom Hearts III.[88]

Towards the end of the year, screenshots leaked from a Square Enix server which revealed a Monsters, Inc.-based world. By the end of the year, thirteen such development screenshots had leaked. Square Enix did not address the screenshots; however, during Disney's D23 Expo Japan 2018 Conference, a private Kingdom Hearts event was held during which two new trailers were revealed, the first trailer confirming the inclusion of a Monsters, Inc.-based world. The second one announced that Utada Hikaru would be performing the theme song for the game, titled "Don't Think Twice" ("Chikai", or "Oath", in Japanese). The event also revealed that the game was being developed by the largest development team in the history of the series,[89] including 100 people from the Square Enix's Tokyo offices.[90] The Gummi ship was also revealed to be returning, now playable as an open-world instead of the preset paths from the first two games, and its gameplay had been split into "Battle" and "Searching" phases.[89] The game was revealed to have been developed in three parts, with the first part being about 90% done, and the second between 60% and 70% done. Nomura also noted that the final world would feature "something incredible" that he has been wanting to do for a while, though no details were given.[90]

In April 2018, Square Enix held a fan event for Kingdom Hearts Union χ[Cross], titled Kingdom Hearts Union χ[Cross]: Dandelion Meeting. During the event, a new trailer for Kingdom Hearts III was revealed, showing off new minigames based on old Mickey Mouse cartoons and playable in a 1980's-style LCD format.[71] The minigames, which would be unlockable as the game progressed, would be playable within the mobile game before the release of Kingdom Hearts III. That same month, various members of the Kingdom Hearts fan community announced publicly that they would soon be able to play Kingdom Hearts III. Square Enix held a private event, named Kingdom Hearts III Premiere Invitation, on May 17–18, 2018, where these community members and members of the gaming press were invited to be among the first to play Kingdom Hearts III. The demo revealed a Wreck-It Ralph link and featured the Olympus and Toy Box worlds. During a development panel at the event, Nomura revealed that a release date would be revealed in early June.[67]

At the end of the premiere performance of the Kingdom Hearts Orchestra -World Tour- Encore in Los Angeles on June 9, 2018, Tetsuya Nomura revealed a new trailer and the release date, pushing the game back to January 25, 2019 for Japan and January 29, 2019 for the rest of the world.[1] On June 10, 2018, Xbox executive Phil Spencer revealed a new trailer featuring a new world based on Disney's Frozen, as well as confirming the return of Aqua and revealing the return of Larxene and Simba, the latter as a link.[74] The next day, during Sony's PlayStation conference, another trailer was revealed introducing the world based on the live-action film Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End. Kairi's new outfit was also introduced, as well as Ienzo[79]

New trailers were revealed ahead of Tokyo Game Show 2018, both featuring San Fransokyo. The new trailers teased a lot of story elements, including an increasingly-dark Aqua, and the return of Demyx, Vexen, and Roxas. The official box art for the game was also revealed ahead of the gaming event, featuring all the main protagonists of the series.[91][92] Shortly thereafter, on September 27, Square Enix and Disney announced that the opening theme for Kingdom Hearts III would be a collaboration theme by both Utada Hikaru and American singer-songwriter Skrillex, titled "Face My Fears,"[93] marking the first time a Kingdom Hearts title would have more than one new theme song.

A short trailer was revealed at Lucca Comics and Games on November 3, 2018, featuring gameplay and the first English voice acting in Kingdom of Corona. At the same event where the trailer premiered, Executive Producer Shinji Hashimoto explained that DLC was being considered, and that the summary videos released over the summer would possibly release internationally before the game's release.[94] On November 7, additional voice actors for the characters from San Fransokyo's Big Hero 6 were announced. Square Enix revealed that the 100 Acre Wood would be back in Kingdom Hearts III in a trailer shown at Microsoft's X018 conference on November 10, 2018.[95] Shortly thereafter, a short promotional trailer was revealed at cinemas in North America, which was later shared in full. Series director Tetsuya Nomura stated that multiple trailers would follow in December.[96]

On December 15, 2018, an individual claimed to have received multiple copies of the Xbox One edition of Kingdom Hearts III, just forty-one days before the game's launch. The individual was said to have attempted to sell the copies via Facebook's Marketplace feature, though the listing was shortly thereafter removed. Tetsuya Nomura issued a statement several hours later on the incident, and reassured fans that the ending to the game would not be spoiled because it was not on the disc, but would be revealed at a later date. The game's theft and subsequent online leak marks the largest leak in Kingdom Hearts history, and came just one year after the leak of the development images from Monstropolis.[97] In January, Square Enix published the release schedule for the game's first three updates, which would include the epilogue and secret movie.[98]

A final battle trailer was released on December 17, 2018, which featured the opening lines from the game. It also featured scenes from the final battle, set to take place in the Keyblade Graveyard. In Janauary, the Japanese Kingdom Hearts Twitter account posted several posts counting down to the game's release in Japan. A final Launch Trailer was revealed on the game's release day.

Release[edit | edit source]

On June 11, 2018, Square Enix announced that Kingdom Hearts III would release on February 25, 2019, in Japan, and on January 29, 2019, internationally. Along with the announcement, two pre-order bundles were announced. The Deluxe Edition would include the game, a limited-edition pin, a SteelBook case, and a mini artbook with concept art from the game. The Delux Edition + Bring Arts Figures would include the Deluxe Edition and Bring Arts figurines of Sora, Donald, and Goofy as they appear in Toy Box.[99]

Additional pre-ordering bonuses were announced in the lead up to the game's release. Square Enix announced a Kingdom Hearts-themed PlayStation 4 Pro and the PlayStation-exclusive Kingdom Hearts All-in-One bundle, which features digital versions of Kingdom Hearts III, Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5 + 2.5 ReMIX, and Kingdom Hearts HD 2.8 Final Chapter Prologue. Midnight Blue and Phantom Green, PlayStation and Xbox-inspired Keyblades, were announced as pre-order exclusives from their respective console storefronts. Pre-ordering Kingdom Hearts III from the PlayStation Store also included the "Impossible Odds" PS4 theme.[99]On November 26, 2018, Amazon announced that players who pre-ordered the game from Amazon would get the Dusk Till Dawn DLC Keyblade.[100]

GameStop announced a fabric poster, starting an online campaign to determine which design would be used. The Toy Box design proved the most popular, and as a result accompanied pre-orders for the retail store.

In Japan, the Square Enix Online Store offered three bundles for pre-ordering the physical version of the game. One bundle featured physical copies of Kingdom Hearts III, Kingdom Hearts 1.5 + 2.5 ReMIX, and Kingdom Hearts HD 2.8 Final Chapter Prologue, along with a special box for all three titles, the concept art book, and a special PlayStation 4 theme. The second bundle featured the game, the Bring Arts figures, and a SteelBook case. The third bundle featured only the game and SteelBook case. The Square Enix Store also sold a Kingdom Hearts-themed PlayStation 4 Pro via a lottery system, which included its own special theme.

Amazon Japan offered a special theme for ordering the game through the retail giant. SevenNet offered the latter two bundles that Square Enix Online offered, as well as the PlayStation 4, but each bundle comes with a Sora rubber strap and the Dusk Till Dawn Keyblade for the game.[99]

On April 27, 2019, series director Tetsuya Nomura revealed that three downloadable scenarios would be coming to Kingdom Hearts III.[101] The package was later revealed to be Kingdom Hearts III Re Mind, which released worldwide on January 23, 2020.

Re-releases[edit | edit source]

On February 11, 2021, it was announced that Kingdom Hearts III and Kingdom Hearts III Re Mind would be re-released together as a single title on PC via the Epic Games Store. Titled Kingdom Hearts III + Re Mind (DLC), this version of the game would include the Elemental Encoder Keyblade.[102] The package released alongside the rest of the series for the first time on PCs on March 30, 2021.[103]

On October 5, 2021, a cloud-streaming version of the game, titled Kingdom Hearts III + Re Mind (DLC) Cloud Version, was revealed to be coming to the Nintendo Switch.[104][105] This cloud-streaming version, powered by Ubitus, released on February 10, 2022.[106][107] Like the other platforms the game had released on, the game released with a Nintendo Switch-inspired Keyblade named Advent Red.

References[edit | edit source]

  1. 1.0 1.1 Kingdom Hearts Database: "Kingdom Hearts III will release on January 29, 2019"
  2. Kingdom Hearts Database: "New details for Kingdom Hearts III Re Mind revealed in December State of Play"
  3. Kingdom Hearts III: "Prelude to Adventure"
  4. Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance: "Seven Lights, Thirteen Darknesses"
  5. Kingdom Hearts III: "Return of the Titans"
  6. Kingdom Hearts III: "Maleficent's Desire"
  7. Kingdom Hearts III: "Xigbar's Admonition"
  8. Kingdom Hearts III: "Where He Belongs"
  9. Kingdom Hearts III: "The Dark Margin"
  10. Kingdom Hearts III: "Reunion"
  11. Kingdom Hearts III: "A Fresh Start"
  12. Kingdom Hearts III: "Heart Within a Heart"
  13. Kingdom Hearts III: "Hello, Good-bye"
  14. Kingdom Hearts III: "Datascapes"
  15. Kingdom Hearts III: "Ansem and Xemnas"
  16. Kingdom Hearts III: "Talking On Paper"
  17. Kingdom Hearts III: "Terra's Whereabouts"
  18. Kingdom Hearts III: "The New Seven Hearts"
  19. Kingdom Hearts III: "Thirteen Darknesses"
  20. Kingdom Hearts III: "A Quick Review"
  21. Kingdom Hearts III: "Marluxia's Request"
  22. Kingdom Hearts III: "Read the Room, Kiddo"
  23. Kingdom Hearts III: "Parley with Luxord"
  24. Kingdom Hearts III: "Enter the Supervillain"
  25. Kingdom Hearts III: "The Missing Scientist"
  26. Kingdom Hearts III: "An Unexpected Encounter"
  27. Kingdom Hearts III: "Atonement"
  28. Kingdom Hearts III: "The Benched Enact a Plan"
  29. Kingdom Hearts III: "A Present from Vexen"
  30. Kingdom Hearts III: "A Guiding Key"
  31. Kingdom Hearts III: "Too Late"
  32. Kingdom Hearts III: "Braving the Darkness"
  33. Kingdom Hearts III: "Return to the Light"
  34. Kingdom Hearts III: "Castle Oblivion is Unlocked"
  35. Kingdom Hearts III: "An Uninvtied Guest"
  36. Kingdom Hearts III: "An End to Slumber"
  37. Kingdom Hearts III: "The Guardians of Light Gather"
  38. Kingdom Hearts III: "Beneath the Same Stars"
  39. Kingdom Hearts III: "Opposing Goals"
  40. Kingdom Hearts III: "A Replica's Resolve"
  41. Kingdom Hearts III: "The Paopu Fruit"
  42. Kingdom Hearts III: "The Xehanorts Gather"
  43. Kingdom Hearts III: "Light Expires"
  44. Kingdom Hearts III: "A World of Only Hearts"
  45. Kingdom Hearts Concert -First Breath-: ""
  46. Kingdom Hearts III: "More Than Anyone"
  47. Kingdom Hearts III: "Nameless Star"
  48. Kingdom Hearts III: "A Lich to Scratch"
  49. Kingdom Hearts III: "The Price"
  50. Kingdom Hearts III: "Light in the Darkness"
  51. Kingdom Hearts III: "Thanks, Kairi"
  52. Kingdom Hearts III: "The Lingering Will"
  53. Kingdom Hearts III: "The Light of the Past"
  54. Kingdom Hearts III: "A Corridor of Light"
  55. Kingdom Hearts III: "From Chains to Bonds"
  56. Kingdom Hearts III: "The Last Light"
  57. Kingdom Hearts III: "Thirteen and Seven"
  58. Kingdom Hearts III: "More to Seek"
  59. Kingdom Hearts III: "A First Surge of Emotion"
  60. Kingdom Hearts III: "Good-bye, Sora"
  61. Kingdom Hearts III: "Kingdom Hearts"
  62. Kingdom Hearts III: "Stairway to the Sky"
  63. Kingdom Hearts III: "Trinity"
  64. Kingdom Hearts III: "Checkmate"
  65. Kingdom Hearts III: "Ending"
  66. Kingdom Hearts III: "Lost Masters"
  67. 67.0 67.1 67.2 67.3 Kingdom Hearts Database - "Coverage of the Kingdom Hearts III Premiere Invitation event"
  68. 68.0 68.1 Dengeki Playstation via KHInsider, Interviewer: "In regards to the worlds, can you confirm what they are?" / Nomura: "Disney titles such as Tangled and Hercules, and another familiar to the series, Twilight Town. So that makes three." / Interviewer: "Since Tangled made a new appearance for the series, what other new worlds are there?" / Nomura: "I can’t talk about any further details except that Mt. Olympus will be a new world."
  69. Kingdom Hearts Official Twitter, "The #KH3 D23 trailer featured a closer look at Mount Olympus & showed off the double Arrowguns and Magical Launcher, which will you wield?"
  70. 70.0 70.1 KHInsider: Scans of Kingdom Hearts III from Dengeki Online!
  71. 71.0 71.1 71.2 71.3 Kingdom Hearts Database - "Kingdom Hearts III "Classic Kingdom" trailer revealed at Dandelion Meeting"
  72. @KINGDOMHEARTS on Twitter: "The Heartless Dandelions make quite an entrance in Rapunzel's Kingdom of Corona in the #kingdomhearts III trailer!"
  73. Famitsu, 25 June 2015, Nomura: "The Osaka development team wants to challenge themselves with Rapunzel’s hair. They are saying they want to use her hair for combat and it seems that the creators of Rapunzel are acknowledging our efforts."
  74. 74.0 74.1 Kingdom Hearts Database: "E3 2018 Kingdom Hearts III trailer at Xbox Conference"
  75. D23 Expo Japan Trailer
  76. @DisneyInteract on Twitter: "Just announced: @KINGDOMHEARTS III will feature a world based on #BigHero6! #D23Expo"
  77. KINGDOM HEARTS III - BIG HERO 6 Announce trailer, Roy Conli: "We'll also get to see Baymax again."
  78. Square Enix Press Center: "SORA THROUGH THE SKIES OF SAN FRANSOKYO WITH BAYMAX IN KINGDOM HEARTS III"
  79. 79.0 79.1 Kingdom Hearts Database: "E3 2018 Kingdom Hearts III trailer at PlayStation Conference"
  80. 80.0 80.1 Dengeki Playstation via KHInsider, Interviewer: "It looks like Xehanort and Eraqus were having a conversation when they were younger, is this an actual scene at the beginning of KINGDOM HEARTS III?" / Nomura: "That’s right. From the conversation between these two, that’s how this story begins. The scene’s conversation is actually longer but in the trailer we only showed excerpts. From what can be understood from these two, it also connects to an ancient story from KINGDOM HEARTS Unchained χ."
  81. Kingdom Hearts II Ultimania Interview
  82. 82.0 82.1 E3 2013 Trailer
  83. Siliconera: "Tabata Takes Over Final Fantasy XV; Tetsuya Nomura Moves On To Kingdom Hearts III"
  84. E3 2015 Trailer
  85. Famitsu, 25 June 2015, Nomura: "We are steadily progressing and deciding what to do with the ending… as well as considering content for the secret movie."
  86. PlayStation Access: "Kingdom Hearts 3: 8 Things You Need To Know", "#2 Final Fantasy characters in KH3", Nomura: "I want them in."
  87. Siliconera: "Expect Final Fantasy VII Remake And Kingdom Hearts III To Release Sometime In “Three Years Or So”"
  88. IGN: "KINGDOM HEARTS 3 DIRECTOR HINTS AT SECOND PLAYABLE CHARACTER", Nomura: "So it would be tough to introduce many, multiple playable characters, but there is an intention of adding a playable character aside from Sora. Unfortunately we’re not able to disclose who it is yet, but there will be [another playable character]."
  89. 89.0 89.1 IGN: 11 New pieces of information from D23 Expo Japan that have shed some light on Kingdom Hearts 3
  90. 90.0 90.1 PlayStation Access: "Kingdom Hearts 3: 10 New Things we've had Confirmed"
  91. Kingdom Hearts Database - "Kingdom Hearts III Trailer Uploaded Right Before Tokyo Game Show"
  92. Kingdom Hearts Database - "Kingdom Hearts III Shown at Playstation Lineup Tour"
  93. Kingdom Hearts Database - "Collaboration for Kingdom Hearts III opening theme featuring Skrillex confirmed!"
  94. Kingdom Hearts Database: "Kingdom Hearts III at Lucca Comics and Games 2018 Coverage"
  95. Kingdom Hearts Database: "100 Acre Wood featured in new Kingdom Hearts III trailer at X018"
  96. Kingdom Hearts Database: "Nomura announces December trailer launch times, reveals three additional trailers"
  97. Kingdom Hearts Database: "Copies of Kingdom Hearts III stolen in largest leak in Kingdom Hearts history"
  98. Kingdom Hearts Database: "Update schedule for Kingdom Hearts III announced"
  99. 99.0 99.1 99.2 Kingdom Hearts Database - "Pre-order bonuses and special edition bundles for Kingdom Hearts III announced"
  100. Kingdom Hearts Database - "News:Amazon reveals DLC for Kingdom Hearts III"
  101. Kingdom Hearts Database: "Kingdom Hearts III DLC announced at Orchestra -World of Tres- premiere"
  102. Kingdom Hearts Database: "Kingdom Hearts series set to release on PCs via Epic Games Store"
  103. Kingdom Hearts Database: "Kingdom Hearts series releases on PC via Epic Games Store"
  104. Kingdom Hearts Database: "Kingdom Hearts series announced for Nintendo Switch via cloud streaming"
  105. Square Enix NA Press Hub: "Square Enix and Disney Announce Beloved Kingdom Hearts Collections Coming to Nintendo Switch via Cloud" (Archived October 5, 2021, via Kingdom Hearts Database)
  106. Kingdom Hearts Database: "Cloud versions of Kingdom Hearts series set to release February 10"
  107. Square Enix NA Press Hub: "Beloved Kingdom Hearts Titles Coming to Nintendo Switch via Cloud on February 10" (Archived January 18, 2022, via Kingdom Hearts Database)