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When putting together our Most Anticipated Games of 2015 list we left a few games off primarily because they seemed likely to slip past the coming year.
Kingdom Hearts 3 , for example, is one of our most anticipated games and may be a potential 2015 release, but Square Enix‘s forthcoming slate and track record when it comes to delaying games suggest otherwise.
However, a new piece of information has come to light to suggest Kingdom Hearts 3 will release this year. It’s not the most iron clad source when it comes to Square Enix’s release plans, but it’s the closest we’ve got to release date talk in a while.
According to voice actor Bill Farmer, who has provided the voice for Goofy in numerous games and cartoons, Kingdom Hearts 3 is due for release at some point later this year. Not only that, Farmer has been told personally that the game will be out this year and is “certain” it will meet that window.
“I am certain that this is what I know & have been told.”
Bear in mind, this is just one voice actor’s claims, but it’s hard not to get excited regardless. Kingdom Hearts is easily one of Square Enix’s most beloved franchises, and a proper follow-up to KH2 has been a long time coming.
That being said, Square Enix is never one to rush their JRPGs, especially the mainline entries in their major properties (i.e. Final Fantasy ). Rather, history has shown they like to give their games as much development time as possible, which can sometimes be several years. Final Fantasy 15 , for example, has been in development under many different names and with a few different approaches, and is only now on a focused path.
In fact, Final Fantasy 15 might have the biggest impact on Kingdom Hearts 3 ‘s release date, as that appears to be first on the Square Enix JRPG slate. In other words, if Final Fantasy 15 doesn’t release this year, it seems unlikely that Kingdom Hearts 3 would either. And even if FF 15 does release in 2015it may be a fall title, which would leave little room for Kingdom Hearts .
Similarly, we have seen very little of Kingdom Hearts 3 , outside of the reveal trailerand a few small pieces of gameplay footagethat apparently weren’t actually part of the game. For all intents and purposes it sounds as if Kingdom Hearts 3 might be in the earlier parts of development, but Farmer seems convinced.
UPDATE: Whether it was to squash the rumors about a 2015 release date or simply a bit of PR control, Square Enix has come forward with this message:
There was a Goof! The release date for @KINGDOMHEARTSIII remains unannounced.— SQUARE ENIX USA (@SquareEnixUSA) January 8, 2015
Do you think Kingdom Hearts 3 will release in 2015? Why or why not?
Source: Bill Farmer(via IGN)
Follow Anthony on Twitter @ANTaormina