One of the most frequently asked questions by fans of Kingdom Hearts is "When will Kingdom Hearts III be released?" Often, fans complain that the gap between Kingdom Hearts II and the eventual KH3 has taken much too long, and is filled with too many "side" games. So, why is it taking so long, and when will KH3 be released? Keep reading to find out.

 

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Kingdom Hearts II finished development in 2005, and after this, the same development team begun work on Kingdom Hearts II Final Mix, completing the project sometime in 2007. This team is referred to by Square Enix as the "Kingdom Hearts team", as they are the team responsible for the development of both KH1 and KH2.

 

After the completion of KH2FM, the Kingdom Hearts team began work on another title, Final Fantasy Versus XIII. Since development of this game started, in 2007, the Kingdom Hearts team have been unavailable to work on other games-- and as the eventual Kingdom Hearts III will be developed by the Kingdom Hearts team, until Versus XIII is completed, development won't be able to start.

 

So, when will Versus XIII be finished? Tetsuya Nomura has started that the game is "unlikely to release in 2011". So, this implies that Versus XIII will release early 2012 at the earliest. Towards the release of the game, the development team will be able to begin work on their next title-- KH3. So, for this reason, it is possible that development of KH3 could begin early 2012.

 

So, what does this mean for the release date of Kingdom Hearts III, and other dates surrounding the game? If we assume the above to be correct, that development will begin early 2012, then at the absolute earliest, it is possible that small amounts of information concerning KH3 could be revealed at the end of 2011. This will probably just be in the form of interviews and possibly early character art, but it is possible we will get something before development starts.

 

However, of course, there is the possibility that things don't pick up until later. If Square chooses to release information only after development has started, then we may not hear anything until the middle of 2012, or later. Then, after this, development will take some time. Development of major games usually take 2 to 3 years, so, optimistically thinking, it is possible that we may see a Japanese release of Kingdom Hearts 3 in 2014, and a North American release in 2015.

 

It is worth noting that even though many "side games" are coming out for Kingdom Hearts, that is, games that are not numbered titles on consoles, it is not true that these games are delaying KH3. The only reason KH3 is taking so long is simply that the development team is busy with Versus XIII, and nothing else. The "side games" are a way to keep the fans busy, rather than giving us nothing until KH3.

 

And isn't that better? Although 358/2 Days and Re:coded have been perceived as flawed by some, Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep is definitely on the same level as one of the numbered titles. Although for a handheld console, the game is very long, detailed, and visually impressive. Nomura has gone as far to refer to the game as "KH0", confirming its importance as a "main game" in the series. So, it is not right to say that we haven't gotten a fair share of Kingdom Hearts since KH2.

 

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However, of course, the release date of KH3 is still up to speculation. When do you think it will release? Post in the poll and let us know.

 

Also, we are allowing the community to ask a question, which will be answered next time. Today's question was "When will Kingdom Hearts III be released?" So, what do you want to know next? Leave a comment.

tutti frutti. I think that the actual release of KH3 won't be until around 2015, mostly due to the fact that those of use who have been waiting for FFVersus13, with myself being included, have not seen, found, or discovered in any way, the release date of FFVersus13 and the fact that for the time being this game is still in production. Unless Nomura has kept the information on KH3 tight while also working on FFV13, then I don't think we will get any info on KH3 any time soon. It wasn't long after KH2 that we got info on Coded, BBS, and KHDays. The only info that we have, at least to my knowledge, is that it will be on its way at some point in the future. But, my guess overall is around 2015.

All right people, let's look at the facts. Versus XII isn't finished yet, but as soon as they do, they'll start working on KH:DDD. DDD could probably come by the end of this year, and Versus XIII by early 2012, Kingdom Hearts 3 might come out by the end of 2012. I want it so f@):ing bad!!!!!

iam sure its 2014

All right people, let's look at the facts. Versus XII isn't finished yet, but as soon as they do, they'll start working on KH:DDD. DDD could probably come by the end of this year, and Versus XIII by early 2012, Kingdom Hearts 3 might come out by the end of 2012. I want it so f@):ing bad!!!!!

 

Please look at the right facts, be realistic, and don't contradict yourself, because you did all those things in that post.

Please look at the right facts, be realistic, and don't contradict yourself, because you did all those things in that post.

 

Exactly. FF Versus 13 comes out in early 2012 and KH3 will come out by the end of 2012. LOL Nomura and the KH team must be robots.

That means we're going to have to wait another three years! An eight year interval?! That's ridiculous! Most fans of the game would be grown up by then!

 

I completely agree. I was a young kid when I played the KH games and I loved them. Now I'm going off to med school. They made me wait so long that I don't think I'll ever get the time to play KH3 when it comes out.. whenever that is...

i was just on the gametrailers.com and was watching the missing in action video and one of the nominees was final fantasy versus 13 which means that the game has been finished but not released and that also means that kh 3 is probably being worked on as we speak.

here is the game trailer missing in action video

http://www.gametrailers.com/video/missing-in-best-of-e3/716381

 

it is already available for preorder at amazon

 

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000ZK9QBY/ref=asc_df_B000ZK9QBY1599817?smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&tag=pg-1555-95-20&linkCode=asn&creative=395093&creativeASIN=B000ZK9QBY

Okay, I'm sure we all know that Kingdom Hearts III isn't coming out yet because the KH team is working on Final Fantasy Versus XIII, and not because Square Enix wants to keep milking the series. I only want to note that the side games (which aren't really "side games", the only one that would technically qualify for that term is Days, but BBS and coded are pretty essential to the series' main storyline) aren't really there to occupy us with stuff until KH3, but that they really serve a purpose. Think about it, if there WAS no Days, BBS, and coded, and KH3 just came after KH2, then what would the story be? Sora, Riku, and Kairi going to high school or something? That'd be lame! The true use of these handheld games, I believe, are to soup up the storyline and make it even more awesome by introducing more characters and plotholes that not only give KH3 an awesome story but also raise up fan anticipation for all the questions to be answered in the upcoming game. The handheld games are not working AGAINST KH3 to delay it, if anything, they are helping make KH3 what it will be. And if the more side games there are, as long as they make KH3 awesomer, I'm all for them.

 

That being said, I'm tired of all the haters who say that the handheld games are all trash and that Nomura should just go on to KH3 and stop stalling. If they KNEW about the situation, and how these games help, they wouldn't be so angry. Yeesh, and when I say I'm a real fan for liking all the games, they say I'm just a sucker.

 

And I don't get why people don't like Days/coded but adore BBS and say it's superior to the other two. Really, all three are great games. I don't think Nomura had the intention to SPECIFICALLY make BBS better than the two for his own nefarious purposes.

 

ADD ME AND DARK WE AGREE WITH YOU THAT THE SIDE GAMES ROCK TOO.ADD ME AND DARK SORA!BTW I SOOO QUOTE THAT! People just need to remember the limits of portable consoles.they can only do so much! btw talk to me on my page for more epic talk!or... ill make a room for KH loves like you and me and Dark Sora!

KH3.. I don't really care about it. We know nothing about it. DDD & BBSV2 is what I'm looking forward to.