The exact release date of the game is not yet known, but it’s expected to arrive in 2017. Most fans predict that the date will be towards the end of the year rather than the beginning, but it’s always possible that we might get a surprise from Square Enix.
Knowing the studio though, they definitely won’t keep quiet when they are close to bringing the game out. If the release is actually planned for the first months of 2017, then it won’t be long until they reveal the exact date.
The studio knows how to build up hype, and they’ve demonstrated this many times in the past. They also continue to do that even today, with the most recent example being their work on the new “Deus Ex”.
But at the same time, “Kingdom Hearts” is a more special franchise for them, and it’s a bit different from the studio’s standard works. One of the features that separates it from the rest is the extra secrecy that surrounds the development of each new game in the series. According to some fans, the main reason for that is the studio’s close relationship with the various holders of intellectual properties that are included in each “Kingdom Hearts”. And with the rumors that surround “Kingdom Hearts 3” and the franchises that could be referenced in it, this becomes even more valid.