IGN have conducted an interview with Tai Yasue, the co-director of the Kingdom Hearts series. Here, Yasue discusses Kingdom Hearts HD 2.5 ReMIX, revealing a lot about the new title, while also showing off the E3 2014 gameplay demo. You can see the full interview below, or read a summary of the important points below that.

- The decision to make both HD 1.5 ReMIX and HD 2.5 ReMIX was made at the same time, in anticipation for Kingdom Hearts III.
- In Kingdom Hearts II Final Mix, a lot of UI and VFX are improved, in addition to the textures.
- Soundwise, over 90 songs were re-recorded with live instruments, from a hired orchestra.
- In Birth by Sleep Final Mix, a lot is changed with polygons and textures. The graphics now use over 4x as much memory as on the PSP.

-- A question some people have been asking me is why not release a PS4 version and take advantage of next-generation architecture?

Yasue: When we were first coming up with the idea for 1.5, 2.5 and 3, PS3 was the main console for us. We sort of wanted to have it gathered in one console, the PS3. But, we haven't really-- we might-- there's a consideration of going to the next-gen as well, we haven't really decided, there's no announcements yet, but I guess we're open to ideas for now.

- Nothing has been decided yet regarding a HD 2.5 ReMIX collector's edition for North America or Europe.
- There will be more trophies in HD 2.5 ReMIX than HD 1.5 ReMIX, some hard, some easy, due to the sheer amount of content in Kingdom Hearts II Final Mix and Birth by Sleep Final Mix.
- "Will the collection give us any previews for Kingdom Hearts III?" For the Re:coded cinematics theatre, there will be some secret events that will give a fuller understanding to the backstory of Kingdom Hearts.

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Aggghhh you have no idea how much I needed to see another 2.5 video. 

Sweet. I really like Sora's Christmas Town outfit.

Those questions were good

IGN have conducted an interview with Tai Yasue, the co-director of the Kingdom Hearts series. Here, Yasue discusses Kingdom Hearts HD 2.5 ReMIX, revealing a lot about the new title, while also showing off the E3 2014 gameplay demo. You can see the full interview below, or read a summary of the important points below that.

- The decision to make both HD 1.5 ReMIX and HD 2.5 ReMIX was made at the same time, in anticipation for Kingdom Hearts III.- In Kingdom Hearts II Final Mix, a lot of UI and VFX are improved, in addition to the textures.- Soundwise, over 90 songs were re-recorded with live instruments, from a hired orchestra.- In Birth by Sleep Final Mix, a lot is changed with polygons and textures. The graphics now use over 4x as much memory as on the PSP.

-- A question some people have been asking me is why not release a PS4 version and take advantage of next-generation architecture?

 

Yasue: When we were first coming up with the idea for 1.5, 2.5 and 3, PS3 was the main console for us. We sort of wanted to have it gathered in one console, the PS3. But, we haven't really-- we might-- there's a consideration of going to the next-gen as well, we haven't really decided, there's no announcements yet, but I guess we're open to ideas for now.

- Nothing has been decided yet regarding a HD 2.5 ReMIX collector's edition for North America or Europe.- There will be more trophies in HD 2.5 ReMIX than HD 1.5 ReMIX, some hard, some easy, due to the sheer amount of content in Kingdom Hearts II Final Mix and Birth by Sleep Final Mix.- "Will the collection give us any previews for Kingdom Hearts III?" For the Re:coded cinematics theatre, there will be some secret events that will give a fuller understanding to the backstory of Kingdom Hearts.

Sweet! I really do hope they release the game on the playstation 4 console so it gives me a better variety with kingdom hearts 3. I hope they dont think about xbox because kingdom hearts fits more of a playstation game, not a xbox game .

Sweet! I really do hope they release the game on the playstation 4 console so it gives me a better variety with kingdom hearts 3. I hope they dont think about xbox because kingdom hearts fits more of a playstation game, not a xbox game .

 

They would release it on Xbox One as well since it would be so easy to port to. Square Enix don't do exclusives much anymore.

They would release it on Xbox One as well since it would be so easy to port to. Square Enix don't do exclusives much anymore.

Really? man this sucks. Still would get it for ps4 over xbox one

Really? man this sucks. Still would get it for ps4 over xbox one

 

How on earth does Square Enix making money suck? That's kinda sad.

How on earth does Square Enix making money suck? That's kinda sad.

Nah its not that, its just personally, i dont feel like kingdom hearts should be on an xbox. Didnt stop to think how they make lots of money off of that though so yeah...

Well, shit. There goes me feeling special for having a PS3. 

Well, shit. There goes me feeling special for having a PS3. 

 

He didn't say they will, just that it's under consideration. I'm sure they have LOTS of things under consideration. I'm betting they'll just use PlayStation Now since it's confirmed Square Enix is supporting it.

Hopefully they do. Porting KH1, KH2, and BBS to next gen consoles would be an awesome way of reaching fans who don't have a PS3.

 

They need a title for next year so, unless they decide to stop their "one game a year" plan or announce another title, this seems like the only thing they could release.

 

I don't see much point in it. It just seems they would save money making it for the PS4 as that's where most of their sales would come from, its not as popular as FF and that already sells really poorly on the 360.

They would release it on Xbox One as well since it would be so easy to port to. Square Enix don't do exclusives much anymore.

You have to keep in mind that Square probably signed exclusivity deals for 1.5 and 2.5, they might not be allowed to release it on an Xbox platform.

You have to keep in mind that Square probably signed exclusivity deals for 1.5 and 2.5, they might not be allowed to release it on an Xbox platform.

 

Also, Square made Kingdom Hearts 1 around the same time that Sony purchased 20% of Square's shares, so Sony probably made them agree to keep those games exclusive forever.

Seriously,they really know how to make us abandon the old consoles for the new ones...

Hopefully they do. Porting KH1, KH2, and BBS to next gen consoles would be an awesome way of reaching fans who don't have a PS3.

 

They need a title for next year so, unless they decide to stop their "one game a year" plan or announce another title, this seems like the only thing they could release.

 

There is no "one game a year" thing.

 

 

I don't see much point in it. It just seems they would save money making it for the PS4 as that's where most of their sales would come from, its not as popular as FF and that already sells really poorly on the 360.

 

And yet Kingdom Hearts III is coming to Xbox One.

 

 

Also, Square made Kingdom Hearts 1 around the same time that Sony purchased 20% of Square's shares, so Sony probably made them agree to keep those games exclusive forever.

 

That's not true, Kingdom Hearts begun development before that mess. Sony purchased those shares after The Sprits Within's mess.

That's not true, Kingdom Hearts begun development before that mess. Sony purchased those shares after The Sprits Within's mess.

 

KH1 began development before, but Sony may have been able to influence Square into agreeing to make (and keep) a few games exclusively Sony.

 

I wouldn't mind the Kingdom Hearts collections going onto Xbox One (it means that more Xbox owners might buy KH3), but we all know how much Sony likes to restrict developer freedom (like how they recently tried to gain the rights for Sunset Overdrive, which resulted in Insomniac going to Microsoft instead). Making an exclusivity deal with Square wouldn't be unusual for Sony.

KH1 began development before, but Sony may have been able to influence Square into agreeing to make (and keep) a few games exclusively Sony.

 

I wouldn't mind the Kingdom Hearts collections going onto Xbox One (it means that more Xbox owners might buy KH3), but we all know how much Sony likes to restrict developer freedom (like how they recently tried to gain the rights for Sunset Overdrive, which resulted in Insomniac going to Microsoft instead). Making an exclusivity deal with Square wouldn't be unusual for Sony.

 

I doubt keeping games exclusive to PS2 at that point was an issue. Square Soft had poor relations with Nintendo and the Xbox was some new box from the USA that sold poorly.

 

All companies restrict things. It's normal.

 

Square Enix's business model is to have their games on multiple platforms. DChiuch's right though, there probably is an exclusivity deal for the HD collections.

I'd still like to know what the Re:Coded 'KH backstory secret events' thing even means. Are they just a synopsis of every game, including DDD, via cutscenes or what?

Having it ported on next gen would make my wallet rest easy.

Maybe KH 3D will be included in the next gen collection.

Maybe KH 3D will be included in the next gen collection.

I don't think it will be considering KH3D is already rendered in an HD format. Plus KH3D has a section for cutscenes so it wouldn't really be necessary.

I don't think it will be considering KH3D is already rendered in an HD format. Plus KH3D has a section for cutscenes so it wouldn't really be necessary.

Well if there's not KH3D, I don't know who could buy again the hd remix collection.

I'd honestly be surprised if there wasn't some sort of "complete" collection for next gen before the release of Kingdom Hearts III. The big one though is Dream Drop Distance, do they remake it before KH3 or do they simply just recap the events slightly at the beginning of the game? I don't think KH3D needs to be remade any time soon but to deny the fact the story is important seems silly to me. Though, Yasue did kind of give the impression that by playing 1.5 & 2.5 you'd be ok going into KH3... so really it's anyone's guess.