Square Enix have released 29 new screenshots from the English version of Kingdom Hearts 3D [Dream Drop Distance]. These screenshots show various parts of the game, and are in great quality. The screenshots from the opening scenes, in particular, are quite large. We definitely recommend you check them out! You can see them below, in our gallery.
Square Enix have released a new promotional video for the English version of Kingdom Hearts 3D [Dream Drop Distance], focusing on the new worlds present in the game. This video contains a lot of new English gameplay footage, is 2 minutes long, and available in 720p. You can watch it below, or download it from our video archive.
A television commercial for Kingdom Hearts 3D [Dream Drop Distance] has begun showing in Germany, advertising the European release of the game on July 20, 2012. Although the commercial is only 5 seconds long, it is good to see that Kingdom Hearts 3D is getting large amounts of exposure. Thanks to chrisn1211 who uploaded the commercial (and contacted us about it), you can watch it below.
Update 1: The video below has been updated with a better quality version.
Update 2: A new Kingdom Hearts 3D commercial has begun showing in Germany. Thanks to SaveDisneyShowsDE for the upload, you can see this below.
zouiguipopo has received an early copy of the French version of Kingdom Hearts 3D [Dream Drop Distance], and uploaded an unboxing video and video of the game's early footage to YouTube. From the unboxing video, we can see that unlike the Japanese version, the international version of Kingdom Hearts 3D will contain a full instruction booklet! The exclusive AR cards and other items in the box are also shown, along with the tutorial level of the game. You can watch this video below. Thanks to Terranort9406 from KH13 for the find.
The final boxart for the English version of Kingdom Hearts 3D [Dream Drop Distance] has appeared in GAME stores in the United Kingdom. Xalaru from KH13 managed to take some photos of this box, and thanks to him, you can see both the front and back covers of the game below. This is the first time that we've seen the final version of the back cover of the English version of the game.
Nintendo Show 3D is a regular video series by Nintendo, available to watch on the Nintendo 3DS' eShop. The July 12, 2012 episode of this show has featured Kingdom Hearts 3D [Dream Drop Distance]. This feature contains new English footage, as well as an overview of the game. Thanks to Terranort9406 from KH13 for the find, you can watch this footage below, or download it from our video archive.
San Diego Comic Con 2012 is an event running from July 12 to July 15, 2012. Square Enix is attending the event, and they are set to show off Kingdom Hearts 3D [Dream Drop Distance], as well as various Kingdom Hearts merchandise. We will regularly update this post with news as it appears.
Day 3 (Saturday July 14, 2012)
4:00PM EST: Churro has uploaded photos showing the Kingdom Hearts 3D card given out at the Square Enix booth. It advertises the demo now available on the Nintendo eShop and has the AR code for easy access. You can view them below.
Day 2 (Friday July 13, 2012)
6:30PM EST: NintendoCultureClub have shown some footage of the Kingdom Hearts 3D demo being played on the Nintendo 3DS XL. You can watch this below.
Day 1 (Thursday July 12, 2012)
6:10PM EST: Emily, Assistant PR Manager at Square Enix America has uploaded a photo showing a comparison of Kingdom Hearts 3D on the Nintendo 3DS and the Nintendo 3DS XL. You can view it below.
5:40PM EST: Churro has uploaded photos showing the Kingdom Hearts 3D demo being played on the new Nintendo 3DS XL. And it's looking pretty good. You can view them below.
5:30PM EST: Churro has uploaded another photo from the event. This photo shows the Kingdom Hearts 3D booth. You can view it below.
12:30PM EST: Square Enix are currently livestreaming coverage of Comic Con. You can watch this below. The livestream is currently over, but they are set to return at 12:00PM PST.
Day 0 (Wednesday July 11, 2012)
9:45PM EST: Square Enix have uploaded eleven photos to their official Flickr account, showing their new Kingdom Hearts 3D Play Arts. You can view them below.
7:37PM EST: Churro has uploaded another photo showing the Kingdom Hearts Four Piece Resin Set. You can view it below.
6:02PM EST: Churro has uploaded more photos from the event. They show the Kingdom Hearts 3D wall scroll, the Kingdom Hearts Four Piece Resin Set and and the games' booth. You can view them below.
6:00PM EST: Thanks to Churro from KHUltimania, we now know that the Kingdom Hearts 3D demo at the San Diego Comic Con is the same one as the one from E3 2012 (a demo based in Country of the Musketeers).
5:50PM EST: Churro from Kingdom Hearts Ultimania has uploaded photos showing the new Kingdom Hearts 3D Play Arts. The two new figurines are of Sora and Riku in their outfits from The Grid.
The official North American website for Kingdom Hearts 3D [Dream Drop Distance] has been updated. The website has six sections, with only four currently available. The sections are "About", "Gameplay", "Characters", "Media", "Worlds" and "Downloads". A description of the website, as well as all screenshots from the website, can be seen below. Thanks to Terranort9406 from KH13 for informing us about the update.
Official North American Kingdom Hearts 3D website
The about section includes a description or summary of the game, a link to pre-order the game and also The Kingdom Hearts North American Timeline which lists all the games released in North America. The characters section currently has three charatcers. They are Sora, Riku and King Mickey. Each character has a short description, renders of the character and a Dream Eater along with screenshots.
Under media there are two sub-sections one titled "Trailers" and and the other titled "Screenshots". Trailers contains three previously released trailers which can already be watched and downloaded in our trailer archive, while the screenshots sub-section contains screenshots previously seen. Lastly, the worlds section contains two worlds currently available. They are Traverse Town and Country of the Musketeers. Under each is a description of the world, a list of all the characters that appear in that world alongside renders and descriptions of each character. Screenshots are also available.
Update 1: Placeholders for the gameplay and downloads sections are up, accessible at http://na.square-enix.com/kh3d/gameplay.php and http://na.square-enix.com/kh3d/downloads.php. These sections are unfinished, but they do give us a hint at what we can expect to see there-- downloads is set to contain wallpapers, Facebook covers and icon packs; and gameplay is set to contain 12 videos explaining features of Kingdom Hearts 3D.
Update 2: The official European website for Kingdom Hearts 3D has also been updated with these changes. For the first time ever the North American and European websites are identical. Even The Kingdom Hearts Timeline is identical despite Kingdom Hearts Re:Chain of Memories not being released in Europe or Australia.
Characters
Media
Traverse Town
Country of the Musketeers
Square Enix have announced that they will be livestreaming coverage of San Diego Comic Con 2012 on their official Ustream account. Their coverage will be starting on July 11 at 8:00PM PST. A follow up Tweet said that they will be "showing content from the show floor and hosting some live giveaways". With Kingdom Hearts 3D [Dream Drop Distance] confirmed to appear at the event, it is likely that this livestream will show us footage of the game's playable demo.
A television commercial for Kingdom Hearts 3D [Dream Drop Distance] has begun showing in France, advertising the European release of the game on July 20, 2012. The commercial is 15 seconds long, and thanks to KHDestiny who uploaded the commercial, you can watch it below.
Update: MusiqueDePubs have uploaded a direct HD 1080p version of the video, and we have replaced the video below with this version. Thanks to Terranort9406 from KH13 for the find.
The Australian version of Kingdom Hearts 3D [Dream Drop Distance] has been confirmed to contain the same pre-order bonus as the North American version and European versions-- exclusive AR cards. While we already knew about the North American version and about the European version's pre-order bonus, this is the first time we've seen a confirmation for Australia.
We managed to snap this photo of a Kingdom Hearts 3D display in a JB Hi-Fi store in Australia, holding many Kingdom Hearts 3D boxes with the "Exclusive AR cards included" sticker present. It's good news to see that the exclusive AR cards will be available in every region!
Update: It has now been confirmed that all Australian retailers are providing the AR cards.
Nintendo have announced that they will be handling the sales, marking and distribution of Kingdom Hearts 3D [Dream Drop Distance] in Europe, Australia and New Zealand. This was revealed in a press release from Nintendo, seen via Nintendo Life. Thanks to CardCaptorDeadpool from KH13 for the tip.
Update: Square Enix Europe have announced that, due to their earlier decision to not translate Kingdom Hearts 3D into Spanish, Nintendo Ibérica (Nintendo of Spain) have decided not to distribute the game. Instead, the game will be available through select retailers in Spain (in English language). They released the following statement:
Following our recent announcement that Kingdom Hearts 3D [Dream Drop Distance] would be localised into English with English, French and German subtitles only, Nintendo Ibérica has taken the decision not to act as distributor for this game in Spain. For those who still wish to buy the English version of the game in Spain, it will still be available through select retailers and it will be on sale from 20 July 2012.
We understand that there has been huge disappointment from fans in Spain, as well as other European countries. We completely understand this and we are sorry that we have not been able to fully satisfy all the fans needs for this version of the game.
San Diego Comic Con 2012 is a gaming event that will be running from July 12 to July 15, 2012. It is unknown if Kingdom Hearts games will see coverage during the event, but we have just learned that Square Enix will be showing new Kingdom Hearts Play Arts (Kingdom Hearts figurines) on display. This announcement comes from hidemi_mad_dog, the person responsible for working on the Play Arts.
Update: Details regarding the new Kingdom Hearts Play Arts at Comic Con have been revealed. The set will contain Mickey, Goofy, Sora and Donald, be available for a price of US$90, and be limited to only 200 pieces. A photo of the set can be seen below, thanks to Final Fantasy Merchandise.
San Diego Comic Con 2012 is a gaming event that will be running from July 12 to July 15, 2012. Square Enix have revealed their lineup of games that will be appearing at the event via My Nintendo News, and this lineup confirms that Kingdom Hearts 3D [Dream Drop Distance] will be previewed at the event. The following paragraph was released with the lineup:
Kingdom Hearts 3D [Dream Drop Distance] – Celebrating the franchise’s 10th anniversary, Kingdom Hearts 3D [Dream Drop Distance] features a spectacular story that promises to be a fun backdrop to the colorful cast of Disney characters making their 3D debut on a handheld title. In addition to brand new worlds, Kingdom Hearts 3D [Dream Drop Distance] will also feature never before seen gameplay elements and will be available on July 31.
For those attending, GameRevolution have revealed where and when the game will be playable. You can see this below.
Square Enix Booth
HITMAN: ABSOLUTION, Kingdom Hearts 3D [Dream Drop Distance], Sleeping Dogs, TOMB RAIDER
San Diego Convention Center, Booth 3829
Nintendo Lounge
Kingdom Hearts 3D [Dream Drop Distance] and HEROES OF RUIN
Mariott Marquis & Marina – San Diego Ballroom
333 W. Harbor Drive
Thursday, July 12 9:30 a.m. – 7 p.m.; Friday, July 13 9:30 a.m. – 7 p.m.; Saturday, July 14 9:30 a.m. – 7 p.m.; Sunday, July 15 9:30 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Kingdom Hearts 3D [Dream Drop Distance] is set to release in Europe on July 20, 2012. The European store "GAME" has revealed that they will be giving away a small bonus with pre-orders of the game-- a small Halloween Town-themed Sora dangling keychain. Thanks to KHDestiny, a photo of this offer in French can be seen below.
Update 1: Again, thanks to KHDestiny, we have received a photo of another pre-order bonus that will be given away by GAME in Europe. This is another dangling keychain, but this time, it's Cloud! You can see the photo of this offer in French below.
Update 2: Nintendo of France have officially announced this pre-order bonus, which is available for "select retailers". It is unknown if this will be exclusive to France, or will also be in other European countries. The good news is, Nintendo of France have supplied an image with this Tweet, and the image shows both Leon and Aqua in keychain form! This image can be seen below.