Many of you will know, since the release of Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep Final Mix, the community has been speculating about a new Kingdom Hearts title. This title is, of course, Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep -Volume Two-.

 

Cutscenes from the Secret Episode of Birth by Sleep Final Mix heavily hinted at a future title of the Kingdom Hearts series with that given name. The scenes show Aqua in the Realm of Darkness, above shown viewing the Castle of Dreams after it has fallen, King Mickey in the Realm of Darkness, and scenes from throughout the series. Symbolism is used to hint that the game occurs between "KH0" and "KH1", making this KH0.5. In other words, occuring between Birth by Sleep and Kingdom Hearts.

 

This all fits in with Nomura's "mystery game", a game which Nomura has referred to in the past but not given details about. Supposedly, this started production after the release of Birth by Sleep. The game was said to appear at E3 2010, and many thought that this was referring to Kingdom Hearts Re:coded and Kingdom Hearts 3D. However, Nomura later stated that the "mystery title" did not appear at E3.

 

So, it is pretty much confirmed-- that the "mystery game" Nomura has discussed earlier is in fact Birth by Sleep -Volume Two-. However, we lack an official announcement from Square regarding the game. So, this leaves us with two big questions-- what console, and when will it be released?

 

What console?

 

Birth by Sleep -Volume Two- appears to use the same "game engine" as the original Birth by Sleep. What this means is that the game shares models, such as that of the characters, namely Aqua and King Mickey and any other characters reappearing in the title, as well as maps, such as Castle of Dreams and any other reappearing worlds.

 

As these models and maps were used for Birth by Sleep, which was on the PlayStation Portable (PSP), it would make a lot of sense for Square to use the game engine on the same console, rather than porting it. This means Birth by Sleep -Volume Two- would likely be on the PSP.

 

Another possibility is the PSP2 or "PlayStation NGP", as game engines are easily ported from the PSP to this, however this does not make as much sense as the PSP2 would not utilize the improved graphics capabilities of the new console if using the old game engine. Also, if we assume it is true that development started after Birth by Sleep, then the PSP2 does not fit in the development timeframe. So, PSP is the obvious console.

 

Release date?

 

Speculation about the release date basically comes down to who is developing the title, and when did they start? As discussed earlier, it is likely that the Osaka team-- the team responsible for Birth by Sleep and later Dream Drop Distance-- are likely the ones developing. This is because the same game engine would imply the same developers, and also, the main Kingdom Hearts team is busy with Final Fantasy Versus XIII-- so, it must be Osaka.

 

It being the Osaka team leaves us with two possibilities. One, that the game will be released before Dream Drop Distance, or two, that it will be released after. Dream Drop Distance is a major game, on a new console with a new game engine. This means the game will take some time to develop, and probably won't be completed until the second half of 2012 at the earliest.

 

So, given this, it would imply that due to Nomura aiming for a Kingdom Hearts title every year, Birth by Sleep -Volume Two- will probably release before 3D, probably towards the end of 2011 or the beginning of 2012. Due to the probability that game development started last year after Birth by Sleep, and considering the shortened development time due to the reusing of a game engine, this seems likely.

 

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However, what do you think? We probably won't get an official announcement until E3 2011 in June, where Nomura has stated he wants to reveal something special, so until then it is really up to speculation. So, let us know, what console do you think it will be on and when do you think it will release? Post in the poll.

it's between PSP or NGP i personally would prefer NGP With some Unique idea using dual touch screen from Nomura

Oh i hope aqua gets out of realm of darkness!!! i bet she is oh boy!!

I think it may be released next year, Birth By Sleep took years to devoleop and the team's, as stated, are busy with other games, 3D, FFXIII, FF IV, or maybe even Dragon Quest...

 

Since BBS is a KH main story (I mean long types, ex:KH II, not like KH COM or Days), it takes time.

 

Although I wish that it will be released on PS2 (becuz I only have this), but yeah, I think it will be on PSP.

Aqua is in the Realm of Darkness... Ven is in a coma... And Terra has become Xehanort... How in the world is it even possible for a sequel to exist?

 

Hello, a game in the Realm of Darkness! Aqua vs hordes of Heartless. What fun!

 

It'll probably be PSP in Dec 11 for Japan and PSP for US in Feb 12 for us Americans.

 

I wonder if they'll be any faster at localizing the game. It took BBS nine months (correct me if I'm wrong), but Dissidia Duodecim only 3 weeks!

i think i understand what birth by sleep volume two is about...

 

remember the kh ii final mix secret ending was called birth by sleep?-maybe it means its the sequel to that secret movie.

 

and remember what nomura called kh birth by sleep?-he called it episode 0, so maybe the 0 in birth by sleep volume two refers to kh birth by sleep.

 

yeah i think its like this

 

1-kh i

 

0-kh birth by sleep

 

zero point-kh birth by sleep final mix

 

0.5-???

My parents hate having to buy new consoles, so I'm hoping PSP. Also, 2011 doesn't seem reasonable, sadly... so My vote is 2012.

Oh i hope aqua gets out of realm of darkness!!! i bet she is oh boy!!

 

i strongly hope she doesnt

i dont think this will be like a MAIN game but it will be a way to explain what hapend to aqua and terra but itl be fun to play as aqua in the realm of darknes

XBOX PLEASE! we NEED KH on Xbox. I don't have any of those other fancy consoles, and my parents surely aren't thinking of buying another one.

 

it'll never happen!

Well it started working since BBS came out last yr in america... so it would probably come out for japan in 2011 and 2012 for us. Yes, considering NGP models didnt exist yet when it was a work in progress.. then its obviously a psp game. Who would throw away all the work done on it already just so it can be on the latest game consoles? (i wouldnt..) Anyways i bought a psp for bbs and when this comes out im getting it. AND im already saving for a freaking 3ds! (90$ in savings x-x)

Well it started working since BBS came out last yr in america... so it would probably come out for japan in 2011 and 2012 for us. Yes, considering NGP models didnt exist yet when it was a work in progress.. then its obviously a psp game. Who would throw away all the work done on it already just so it can be on the latest game consoles? (i wouldnt..) Anyways i bought a psp for bbs and when this comes out im getting it. AND im already saving for a freaking 3ds! (90$ in savings x-x)

 

They sure did that when making birth by sleep when they changed from ps2 to psp but it was before the official announced it.

Can't be on PSP, because the NGP makes it obsolete & there wouldn't be a market for it anymore.

 

Can't be on NGP because PS3/360 caliber graphics require higher budgets to make & I doubt S-E would invest that much in a side game.

 

So I'm going with other. They could get a head start on 3DS by releasing this & a port of BBSFM well before KH3D.

 

Alternately, if v2 features a playable Mickey & is set in a "dark" world, then Disney might push for it on Wii as a spiritual follow-up to Epic Mickey.

A system doesn't become obsolete immediately after a system is announced. The NGP is at earliest being released at the end of the year. In Japan. it won't have enough momentum going for it to overtake the PSP for at least a year or two, probably more, and even then, many people will probably still use the PSP because the NGP can't use UMDs.

If BBSV2 has been in development since BBS was released, it will be released before the PSP is a memory.

It's not like companies withdraw all support for a system when its successor is released though.

I predict a PSP Release in either 2012 or 2013. I am hoping it gets released after KH3D (as I will actually be able to play 3D), but I am betting that KHBbSV2 will come out before KH3D. Also, I demand it have an actual title instead of "Kingdom Hearts: Birth by Sleep Volume 2", as the acronym is horrendously long, and it just doesn't sound good at all.

I predict a PSP Release in either 2012 or 2013. I am hoping it gets released after KH3D (as I will actually be able to play 3D), but I am betting that KHBbSV2 will come out before KH3D. Also, I demand it have an actual title instead of "Kingdom Hearts: Birth by Sleep Volume 2", as the acronym is horrendously long, and it just doesn't sound good at all.

 

Yeah the name is really long and makes it sound like its a side game. (which people suggest is) I actually take it as a main game because this game will fill in a whole 11 yr plot hole in the kingdom hearts series.

I think a more "realistic" set date would be PSP 2012. I think it will be realeased in Japan Early January(Or who knows, might just be able to squeeze a release in Japan December 2011) and then U.S can expect a April-July 2012 release.

 

I for one HOPE it releases on the PSP. I just bought a PSP about a month ago just to play BBS (and will play other PSP titles but mainly got it for BBS), and would hate to buy a new console.

Square has started this revolutionary process where they start localizing games before they're released in Japan. Many companies have just started to do this. It ensures a much closer release date to the Japanese release. Instead of nine months.

Before BBSFM we all thinked that aqua IS IN THE REALM OF DARKNESS MORE THAN 10 YEARS!

But it looks like Aqua get out of the realm of darkness!

Or is escaping me something?

PSVita in 20(13-99)

All I know is if it is released on PSP2, I am not playing it. I already have plans to buy a 3DS eventually and I'm only getting it because I like my DS so much I know I will love the new gen. But my PSP is hardly ever used and I'm not going to throw away money for one KH game when I can just watch the cutscenes online. That said, I will be happy if it does come out for PSP. Then I'll have more use out of my PSP.

 

~I completely agree with you~

 

GAH!!! Why can't Square Enix stick to one console,I mean really!