Since last year, there have been a lot of reports saying that the Disney characters coming to the crossover role-playing game other than mainstays Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, and Goofy, are possibly those found in “Tangled,” “Hercules,” and “Frozen.”
But both game developer Square Enix and Disney have yet to confirm those reports. Then subsequently, reports also started coming out that “Big Hero 6” characters will also be featured in the game following an artwork that came out showing game protagonist Sora with his key blade out and riding on Baymax.
Several months after, there were reports that also started coming out that “Toy Story” shall also be featured in “Kingdom Hearts 3” especially when a supposed leaked image of the game showed Sora, Donald, and Goofy riding what looks like Buzz Lightyear’s Astroblaster.
Lately, however, more rumors started coming out and the possible new characters from other Disney franchises are reportedly coming to the game including “Pirates of the Caribbean,” “Peter Pan,” “Snow White,” “Mulan,” “The Lion King,” and the Hunchback of Notre Dame,” reports MNR Daily.
However, all these remain as speculations pending the confirmation or denial from either Square Enix or Disney or both.
In addition to Disney characters, there are also reports that other characters from the other popular Square Enix video game franchise, “Final Fantasy,” will also cross over to “Kingdom Hearts 3.”
Accordingly, Cloud Strife and Sephiroth from “Final Fantasy VII” shall be coming to the game. The reports were based on the recent tweets of Steve Burton, who lends voices to both characters.
Game’s likely release date
Square Enix will be releasing this year the “Final Fantasy XV” so it is unlikely for the developer to release “Kingdom Hearts 3” in 2016.
The 2016 release date rumors about “Kingdom Hearts 3” started gaining ground when Amazon retail giant listed on its website that pre-order for the game would be made available before the game’s release which indicated December 30, 2016.
However, Amazon quickly clarified its listing by saying that the placeholder release date for “Kingdom Hearts 3” is December 31, 2016 and January 1, 2017 just happens to be the next shipping day after that placeholder date, reports Crossmap.
But critics and gamers are one in saying that “Kingdom Hearts 3” could likely come out next year. They just don’t have any idea on when exactly next year will the game be released on the gaming consoles.
Intentionally slowed down
Meanwhile, Steve Burton also confirmed that “Kingdom Hearts 3” is indeed in the thick of development when he posted on Twitter early last month that he will be doing some work for the other highly-anticipated Square Enix game.
Having been announced as early as the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) 2013, it is obvious that Square Enix has busied itself working on the game.
However, since much of the focus of the game developer has been on the widely anticipated role-playing game “Final Fantasy XV” over the past couple of years because it is due for release this year on the Xbox One and the PlayStation 4, development of the “Kingdom Hearts 3” has been intentionally slowed down.
Now, that “Final Fantasy XV” is pretty much set for release late this year, Square Enix has been focusing more on the development of “Kingdom Hearts 3.”
The tweet of Steve Burton only confirmed that Square Enix is obviously past the midpoint on the development of “Kingdom Hearts 3” as it is now focusing on laying down voices on the game’s character.
This also means that the gameplay and the plotline of the crossover role-playing game are pretty much done and the voice-laying means that “Kingdom Hearts 3” is already in the final phase or finishing touches of its continued development.