LightKeyDarkBlade

From what I can read in the text beside the illustration, it's when Ephemer first meets the Player where the Player helps him defeat an Invisible.

It's actually accurate to call them spin-offs. However, we need to make clear of the definition of a "spin-off".
A spin-off is a work that is derived from existing works, telling a story in a different aspect but in the same setting. A spin-off can then either choose to either deviate completely from the main storyline or to remain in it. In the case of the KH series, the spin-offs focus on characters other than the main protagonist Sora (except for Re:CoM and DDD), telling their sides of the story while at the same time, expand the plot of the Dark Seeker Saga (up to KHⅢ) without deviating from it. Re:CoM serves as the bridge between the first two mainline games while the others introduce the background of characters (and are also the bridges between KHⅡ and KHⅢ) and eventually, everything converges and culminates in KHⅢ.
So calling them as spin-offs is not wrong. It's just that people have the misconception that "spin-offs" are supposed to have nothing to do with the main narrative and so the spin-offs of the KH series are supposed to be unimportant. Then, they complain that the spin-offs are too closely tied to the mainline games. It just doesn't make sense.

It's actually accurate to call them spin-offs. However, we need to make clear of the definition of a "spin-off".
A spin-off is a work that is derived from existing works, telling a story in a different aspect but in the same setting. A spin-off can then either choose to either deviate completely from the main storyline or to remain in it. In the case of the KH series, the spin-offs focus on characters other than the main protagonist Sora (except for Re:CoM and DDD), telling their sides of the story while at the same time, expand the plot of the Dark Seeker Saga (up to KHⅢ) without deviating from it. Re:CoM serves as the bridge between the first two mainline games while the others introduce the background of characters (and are also the bridges between KHⅡ and KHⅢ) and eventually, everything converges and culminates in KHⅢ.
So calling them as spin-offs is not wrong. It's just that people have the misconception that "spin-offs" are supposed to have nothing to do with the main narrative and so the spin-offs of the KH series are supposed to be unimportant. Then, they complain that the spin-offs are too closely tied to the mainline games. It just doesn't make sense.

It's actually accurate to call them spin-offs. However, we need to make clear of the definition of a "spin-off".
A spin-off is a work that is derived from existing works, telling a story in a different aspect but in the same setting. A spin-off can then either choose to either deviate completely from the main storyline or to remain in it. In the case of the KH series, the spin-offs focus on characters other than the main protagonist Sora (except for Re:CoM and DDD), telling their sides of the story while at the same time, expand the plot of the Dark Seeker Saga (up to KHⅢ) without deviating from it. Re:CoM serves as the bridge between the first two mainline games while the others introduce the background of characters (and are also the bridges between KHⅡ and KHⅢ) and eventually, everything converges and culminates in KHⅢ.
So calling them as spin-offs is not wrong. It's just that people have the misconception that "spin-offs" are supposed to have nothing to do with the main narrative and so the spin-offs of the KH series are supposed to be unimportant. Then, they complain that the spin-offs are too closely tied to the mainline games. It just doesn't make sense.

It's actually accurate to call them spin-offs. However, we need to make clear of the definition of a "spin-off".
A spin-off is a work that is derived from existing works, telling a story in a different aspect but in the same setting. A spin-off can then either choose to either deviate completely from the main storyline or to remain in it. In the case of the KH series, the spin-offs focus on characters other than the main protagonist Sora (except for Re:CoM and DDD), telling their sides of the story while at the same time, expand the plot of the Dark Seeker Saga (up to KHⅢ) without deviating from it. Re:CoM serves as the bridge between the first two mainline games while the others introduce the background of characters (and are also the bridges between KHⅡ and KHⅢ) and eventually, everything converges and culminates in KHⅢ.
So calling them as spin-offs is not wrong. It's just that people have the misconception that "spin-offs" are supposed to have nothing to do with the main narrative and so the spin-offs of the KH series are supposed to be unimportant. Then, they complain that the spin-offs are too closely tied to the mainline games. It just doesn't make sense.

It's actually accurate to call them spin-offs. However, we need to make clear of the definition of a "spin-off".
A spin-off is a work that is derived from existing works, telling a story in a different aspect but in the same setting. A spin-off can then either choose to either deviate completely from the main storyline or to remain in it. In the case of the KH series, the spin-offs focus on characters other than the main protagonist Sora (except for Re:CoM and DDD), telling their sides of the story while at the same time, expand the plot of the Dark Seeker Saga (up to KHⅢ) without deviating from it. Re:CoM serves as the bridge between the first two mainline games while the others introduce the background of characters (and are also the bridges between KHⅡ and KHⅢ) and eventually, everything converges and culminates in KHⅢ.
So calling them as spin-offs is not wrong. It's just that people have the misconception that "spin-offs" are supposed to have nothing to do with the main narrative and so the spin-offs of the KH series are supposed to be unimportant. Then, they complain that the spin-offs are too closely tied to the mainline games. It just doesn't make sense.

It's actually accurate to call them spin-offs. However, we need to make clear of the definition of a "spin-off".
A spin-off is a work that is derived from existing works, telling a story in a different aspect but in the same setting. A spin-off can then either choose to either deviate completely from the main storyline or to remain in it. In the case of the KH series, the spin-offs focus on characters other than the main protagonist Sora (except for Re:CoM and DDD), telling their sides of the story while at the same time, expand the plot of the Dark Seeker Saga (up to KHⅢ) without deviating from it. Re:CoM serves as the bridge between the first two mainline games while the others introduce the background of characters (and are also the bridges between KHⅡ and KHⅢ) and eventually, everything converges and culminates in KHⅢ.
So calling them as spin-offs is not wrong. It's just that people have the misconception that "spin-offs" are supposed to have nothing to do with the main narrative and so the spin-offs of the KH series are supposed to be unimportant. Then, they complain that the spin-offs are too closely tied to the mainline games. It just doesn't make sense.

It's actually accurate to call them spin-offs. However, we need to make clear of the definition of a "spin-off".
A spin-off is a work that is derived from existing works, telling a story in a different aspect but in the same setting. A spin-off can then either choose to either deviate completely from the main storyline or to remain in it. In the case of the KH series, the spin-offs focus on characters other than the main protagonist Sora (except for Re:CoM and DDD), telling their sides of the story while at the same time, expand the plot of the Dark Seeker Saga (up to KHⅢ) without deviating from it. Re:CoM serves as the bridge between the first two mainline games while the others introduce the background of characters (and are also the bridges between KHⅡ and KHⅢ) and eventually, everything converges and culminates in KHⅢ.
So calling them as spin-offs is not wrong. It's just that people have the misconception that "spin-offs" are supposed to have nothing to do with the main narrative and so the spin-offs of the KH series are supposed to be unimportant. Then, they complain that the spin-offs are too closely tied to the mainline games. It just doesn't make sense.

It's actually accurate to call them spin-offs. However, we need to make clear of the definition of a "spin-off".
A spin-off is a work that is derived from existing works, telling a story in a different aspect but in the same setting. A spin-off can then either choose to either deviate completely from the main storyline or to remain in it. In the case of the KH series, the spin-offs focus on characters other than the main protagonist Sora (except for Re:CoM and DDD), telling their sides of the story while at the same time, expand the plot of the Dark Seeker Saga (up to KHⅢ) without deviating from it. Re:CoM serves as the bridge between the first two mainline games while the others introduce the background of characters (and are also the bridges between KHⅡ and KHⅢ) and eventually, everything converges and culminates in KHⅢ.
So calling them as spin-offs is not wrong. It's just that people have the misconception that "spin-offs" are supposed to have nothing to do with the main narrative and so the spin-offs of the KH series are supposed to be unimportant. Then, they complain that the spin-offs are too closely tied to the mainline games. It just doesn't make sense.

We're exactly 3 months behind now. The Japanese version is at 895 now while we're at 880. At the pace that it's going, we're actually catching up gradually. Back in April, we were around 4 months behind. Though I don't think the updates'll be simultaneous at any point in the future.
Anyway, the music for Game Central Station (and its connected games) are indeed pretty good!

Yup! As long as something not explicitly elaborated upon in the games/titles, there can be multiple interpretations. I believe even the details exclusive to Nomura's interviews are not 100% set in stone.
I'm curious on the what the OP's theories are.

I tried watching the Japanese cutscene to see if I can find anything there, but it's generally the same but with some important details. You can watch it here if you want to.
From what I can see, Xigbar (Luxu) is taken aback by how powerful Sora's ties with his friends are, where both Sora and Xigbar's (and Xemnas too, I suppose) hearts react so much that Xigbar is able to see Sora's friends momentarily.
Xigbar is saying that Sora himself is nothing and that his only power comes from his friends, and not a true Keyblade wielder. Sora retorts by saying that his connection with the Keyblade's chosen ones makes him strong. In the Japanese version, the mention of the "Keyblade's power" is more explicit. I guess Xigbar is surprised that the power of the Keyblade can empower friendship, and has never seen it before in his entire lifetime given how the Keyblade War occurred.
Another possibility is that his reaction is a facade. He's trying to push Sora to exhaust himself into a deep sleep.
That's what I think.

That is actually not Kotaku's review. They are still in the process of writing it. The reviewer would be Tim Rogers, and ironically, he got assigned to do it after he made this video: https://kotaku.com/kingdom-hearts-iii-is-an-unreviewable-video-game-1831985374
It's a very fun video.

It's true that quite a few things were revealed in the trailers. But I've seen some spoilers (both gameplay and plot) and some of them without context, there are indeed a lot more surprises.

That is actually not Kotaku's review. They are still in the process of writing it. The reviewer would be Tim Rogers, and ironically, he got assigned to do it after he made this video: https://kotaku.com/kingdom-hearts-iii-is-an-unreviewable-video-game-1831985374
It's a very fun video.

We would need to look at a proper translation of the interview. There seems to be a lost of context in the tweet and that it's not clear enough.
Changing the release date is not as easy as a flick of a finger, especially when the worldwide release is just days away. What about the midnight launch events throughout the entire world? The shipments? The Square Enix company themselves? This is affecting every single store and company associated with the release of the game. All of the plans and schedules would need to be changed.
I'm sorry to say this, but it's physically impossible to change release date now. 0% chance.

We would need to look at a proper translation of the interview. There seems to be a lost of context in the tweet and that it's not clear enough.
Changing the release date is not as easy as a flick of a finger, especially when the worldwide release is just days away. What about the midnight launch events throughout the entire world? The shipments? The Square Enix company themselves? This is affecting every single store and company associated with the release of the game. All of the plans and schedules would need to be changed.
I'm sorry to say this, but it's physically impossible to change release date now. 0% chance.

You have no idea how serious it is. There's even a case I heard regarding manga. Some manga are released within magazines weekly or monthly so they're only released officially in physical format to Japanese. Manga translators typically have someone or some people to get the raw material illegally for them to translate. And this happens before the magazine is released officially and so translated manga are revealed to public before the Japanese are even able to buy the magazines and read them. And so, there are some uninformed manga readers who have no idea how this thing works and how they're actually reading illegally obtained material, make tweets regarding what they've read on Twitter normally to the author themselves, therefore alarming the author and the Japanese of this illegal work which is extremely disrespectful to all the Japanese. So there's a case I've heard where a person who obtained the raw material got caught and jailed.
What do you think of a person stealing products of a video game and selling them in advance of the official release date just for their own profit, then? It's much worse, isn't it?

You have no idea how serious it is. There's even a case I heard regarding manga. Some manga are released within magazines weekly or monthly so they're only released officially in physical format to Japanese. Manga translators typically have someone or some people to get the raw material illegally for them to translate. And this happens before the magazine is released officially and so translated manga are revealed to public before the Japanese are even able to buy the magazines and read them. And so, there are some uninformed manga readers who have no idea how this thing works and how they're actually reading illegally obtained material, make tweets regarding what they've read on Twitter normally to the author themselves, therefore alarming the author and the Japanese of this illegal work which is extremely disrespectful to all the Japanese. So there's a case I've heard where a person who obtained the raw material got caught and jailed.
What do you think of a person stealing products of a video game and selling them in advance of the official release date just for their own profit, then? It's much worse, isn't it?

You have no idea how serious it is. There's even a case I heard regarding manga. Some manga are released within magazines weekly or monthly so they're only released officially in physical format to Japanese. Manga translators typically have someone or some people to get the raw material illegally for them to translate. And this happens before the magazine is released officially and so translated manga are revealed to public before the Japanese are even able to buy the magazines and read them. And so, there are some uninformed manga readers who have no idea how this thing works and how they're actually reading illegally obtained material, make tweets regarding what they've read on Twitter normally to the author themselves, therefore alarming the author and the Japanese of this illegal work which is extremely disrespectful to all the Japanese. So there's a case I've heard where a person who obtained the raw material got caught and jailed.
What do you think of a person stealing products of a video game and selling them in advance of the official release date just for their own profit, then? It's much worse, isn't it?

You have no idea how serious it is. There's even a case I heard regarding manga. Some manga are released within magazines weekly or monthly so they're only released officially in physical format to Japanese. Manga translators typically have someone or some people to get the raw material illegally for them to translate. And this happens before the magazine is released officially and so translated manga are revealed to public before the Japanese are even able to buy the magazines and read them. And so, there are some uninformed manga readers who have no idea how this thing works and how they're actually reading illegally obtained material, make tweets regarding what they've read on Twitter normally to the author themselves, therefore alarming the author and the Japanese of this illegal work which is extremely disrespectful to all the Japanese. So there's a case I've heard where a person who obtained the raw material got caught and jailed.
What do you think of a person stealing products of a video game and selling them in advance of the official release date just for their own profit, then? It's much worse, isn't it?

First, we have to understand that darkness is not necessarily evil in the lore of Kingdom Hearts. Mickey learned that based on Riku.
I don't believe that Vanitas is only restricted to negativity. I presume that Vanitas himself believed it that way and so got dragged into his cycle of negativity regarding the Unversed. This is based on the canon KHBbS novels. Xehanort sort of misguided him.
And believe it or not, he's connected to Sora in some way. His face is the obvious evidence.

First, we have to understand that darkness is not necessarily evil in the lore of Kingdom Hearts. Mickey learned that based on Riku.
I don't believe that Vanitas is only restricted to negativity. I presume that Vanitas himself believed it that way and so got dragged into his cycle of negativity regarding the Unversed. This is based on the canon KHBbS novels. Xehanort sort of misguided him.
And believe it or not, he's connected to Sora in some way. His face is the obvious evidence.

First, we have to understand that darkness is not necessarily evil in the lore of Kingdom Hearts. Mickey learned that based on Riku.
I don't believe that Vanitas is only restricted to negativity. I presume that Vanitas himself believed it that way and so got dragged into his cycle of negativity regarding the Unversed. This is based on the canon KHBbS novels. Xehanort sort of misguided him.
And believe it or not, he's connected to Sora in some way. His face is the obvious evidence.

My name is of no importance. What about you? Do you remember your true name?
Checkmate. Just like the legend. Darkness prevails, and light expires.