Official press release - Kingdom Hearts trifecta

London (September 21, 2007) – Square Enix, Co., Ltd. (Tokyo, Japan, Square Enix), a leading developer and publisher of interactive entertainment software and services, announced three new titles in the award-winning KINGDOM HEARTS series at the Tokyo Game Show 2007 held in Makuhari Messe. The new titles are KINGDOM HEARTS 358/2 Days for the Nintendo DS™, KINGDOM HEARTS Birth by Sleep for the PSP® (PlayStation®Portable) system, and KINGDOM HEARTS coded for mobile phones. These titles are currently only confirmed for release in Japan. Release in other territories will be determined at a later date.

KINGDOM HEARTS is a fresh and original series of role-playing games created by the collaboration of The Walt Disney Company’s game development affiliate, Disney Interactive Studios, and Square Enix. The first instalment, released in 2002, has been followed up by two chart-topping sequels. The immense popularity of the series has earned worldwide shipments of over 11 million copies in only five and a half years.

The following pages contain additional details about KINGDOM HEARTS 358/2 Days for the Nintendo DS, KINGDOM HEARTS Birth by Sleep for the PSP, and KINGDOM HEARTS coded for mobile phones.

KINGDOM HEARTS 358/2 Days
Developer: Square Enix Co., Ltd. / h.a.n.d. Inc.
Publisher: Square Enix Co., Ltd.
Platform: Nintendo DS
Genre: RPG
ESRB: TBD
Ship Date: TBD

The untold story of another hero.
Organization XIII, Number 13, Roxas

In KINGDOM HEARTS 358/2 Days, you will explore a variety of Disney worlds in not only single-player mode, but also in multiplayer missions made possible by the unique networking features of the Nintendo DS.

-Twilight Town-
Roxas and Axel were watching the sunset from their usual spot on the station’s clock tower after a long day of collecting “hearts” from the Heartless, as ordered by their organization. When their daily work ended, they often spent their evenings there. They talked about the day’s work and other things over ice cream.

“Do you know why the sun looks red as it sinks below the horizon? It’s because among the countless colours comprising light, red travels the greatest distance.”

“You’re just trying to show off, Axel!”

It was idle chatter between two boys without hearts.
This is the untold story of Organization XIII’s Roxas.

Staff
Director : Tetsuya Nomura (FINAL FANTASY V-VIII, X, FINAL FANTASY VII
ADVENT CHILDREN, KINGDOM HEARTS）
Co-director: Tomohiro Hasegawa （FINAL FANTASY VIII, X, KINGDOM HEARTS series）
Producer: Patrick Chen （KINGDOM HEARTS series）
Executive Producer: Shinji Hashimoto （KINGDOM HEARTS series）

KINGDOM HEARTS Birth by Sleep
Developer: Square Enix Co., Ltd.
Publisher: Square Enix Co., Ltd.
Platform: PSP
Genre: RPG
ESRB: TBD
Ship Date: TBD

It was an awakening that would signal the beginning of the KINGDOM HEARTS saga.

KINGDOM HEARTS Birth by Sleep is the tale of a new trio of heroes, told across three scenarios utilizing the groundbreaking technology of the PSP. Exciting new features will be introduced on top of the traditional controls, game system, and visual style of its predecessors.

The Keyblade is said to hold phenomenal power. One legend says its wielder
saved the world, while another says that he wrought chaos and ruin upon it.
—from Ansem’s Report (KINGDOM HEARTS)

Long before Sora took up the Keyblade, there were other Keyblade masters. One of these masters, Xehanort, disappeared one day along with his apprentice. This event proved to be a foreshadowing of great disaster to come. Aware of the threat, another master ordered his three apprentices to seek out Xehanort and his cohort.

Staff
Director : Tetsuya Nomura (FINAL FANTASY V-VIII, X, FINAL FANTASY VII
ADVENT CHILDREN, KINGDOM HEARTS）
Co-director: Tai Yasue （KINGDOM HEARTS Re: Chain of Memories）
Producer: Patrick Chen （KINGDOM HEARTS series）
Co-producer: Yoichi Yoshimoto (Musashi Series, KINGDOM HEARTS CHAIN OF MEMORIES)
Executive Producer: Shinji Hashimoto （KINGDOM HEARTS series）

KINGDOM HEARTS coded
Developer: Square Enix Co., Ltd.
Publisher: Square Enix Co., Ltd.
Platform: Mobile Phones (devices/carriers TBD)
Genre: RPG
ESRB: TBD
Ship Date: TBD

A Disney universe as vast as the mobile network awaits you.

In KINGDOM HEARTS coded, you will journey through a variety of Disney worlds on an exciting adventure brought to life by advanced mobile phone technology and gorgeous graphics never before seen on the platform. This marks the first collaboration between Square Enix and the Walt Disney Internet Group.

After the events of KINGDOM HEARTS, Jiminy Cricket returned to Disney Castle to organize his journal. While he arranged his records, his eyes fell upon a page with a mysterious message.

We must return to free them from their torment.

However, no matter how hard Jiminy tried to recall the source of the text, he couldn’t remember. So the King digitized the contents of the journal and started an investigation. Within the world traced from the contents of Jiminy’s Journal, a boy awoke on Destiny Island. It was the beginning of a new quest for a virtual Sora.

Staff
Director: Tetsuya Nomura (FINAL FANTASY V-VIII, X, FINAL FANTASY VII
ADVENT CHILDREN, KINGDOM HEARTS）
Co-director: Hajime Tabata （BEFORE CRISIS –FINAL FANTASY VII–, CRISIS CORE –FINAL FANTASY VII-）
Producer: Kakuko Obinata （KINGDOM HEARTS series）
Associate Producer: Kousei Itou （BEFORE CRISIS -FINAL FANTASY VII-）
Executive Producer: Shinji Hashimoto （KINGDOM HEARTS series）

*All of the above information applies only to the Japanese version of the games announced.

GamesPress