While "Kingdom Hearts 3" was not that visible at the E3 2016, it has been revealed that the upcoming "Kingdom Hearts 2.8" game will be closely tied to the story of the new sequel.
At the said event, "Kingdom Hearts 3" co-director Tai Yasue revealed that the events in the upcoming "Kingdom Hearts 2.8 Final Chapter Prologue" paves the way for the entire "Kingdom Hearts" series, and with the game, even casual players will have better understanding of what will happen in "Kingdom Hearts 3."
Yasue told Gamespot, "I think from 'Kingdom Hearts 2.8,' as the numbering suggests, it's really necessary before you play Kingdom Hearts 3."
The game designer and co-director added that each of the experiences in the compendium is necessary for fans to understand the events that will unfold in the third mainline sequel.
Yasue stresses, "0.2, with you playing with Aqua, who is trapped inside the Dark World, that connects to Birth by Sleep. You experience her sorrow and torment. And she's a Keyblade Master, and her destiny is really intertwined with Sora's in Kingdom Hearts 3, so learning about her adventure, and her pain, really gives meaning to when you start Kingdom Hearts 3."
The upcoming "Kingdom Hearts 2.8" is a compendium of three experiences, all part of the "Kingdom Hearts" franchise. One noted feature is a remastered version of the classic 2012 3DS release "Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance." In addition, there is also "Back Cover," a summary of the events in "Kingdom Hearts Unchained X," and finally a new narrative, "0.2: A Fragmentary Passage."
Aside from being a backdrop for the upcoming sequel, "Kingdom Hearts 2.8," particularly the 0.2 experience, will give players an early glimpse of what "Kingdom Hearts 3" feels and plays like, Yasue said. Apparently, the new narrative is also made in Unreal Engine, and will also use the same mechanics and gameplay as "Kingdom Hearts 3."
"Kingdom Hearts 2.8 Final Chapter Prologue" launches in December, while "Kingdom Hearts 3" is expected to drop sometime next year.
