A New Chapter in the KINGDOM HEARTS Series Delivers Three Brand-new Titles to the Nintendo DS, PlayStation Portable, and Mobile Phones
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
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.
About KINGDOM HEARTS
KINGDOM HEARTS
Ship date: March 28, 2002 (Japan)
Platform: PlayStation 2
Units Shipped Worldwide: Over 5.9 million units (Includes KINGDOM HEARTS FINAL MIX and Ultimate Hits)
Synopsis
Sora is torn away from his friends by a violent storm caused by a sudden shift in the world, and swept away to an "outside" he had never known before. There he meets Donald and Goofy before setting out to find their missing king, as well as Sora's lost friend, Riku. The trio encounters many people on their journey, and overcomes countless obstacles before finding their friends. However, to prevent further damage to the world, they are separated yet again...
KINGDOM HEARTS CHAIN OF MEMORIES
Ship date: November 11, 2004 (Japan)
Platform: Game Boy Advance
Units Shipped Worldwide: Over 1.5 million units (Includes Ultimate Hits)
Synopsis
Sora travels down a long road that meanders through endless fields, and comes to a crossroads. As Sora stands in the crossroads, he gazes up at the night sky and thinks of his lost friends.
Just then, a mysterious man approaches from down one of the branching paths. "Ahead lies something you need," he says, "but to claim it you must lose something dear." When the man vanishes, only a single path remains. The path leads to a mysterious fortress called "Castle Oblivion."
In the coming journey, what will Sora gain, and what will he lose?
KINGDOM HEARTS II
Ship date: December 22, 2005 (Japan)
Platform: PlayStation 2
Shipped Worldwide: Over 4 million units (Includes KINGDOM HEARTS II FINAL MIX+ and Ultimate Hits)
Synopsis
One year has passed since the events in KINGDOM HEARTS.
A boy named Roxas wakes up to another day in Twilight Town where he is enjoying summer vacation with his friends. Strange events begin to occur around him as he is plagued by the thoughts of Sora, a boy much like him. He encounters Naminé, a girl trying to give him back his memories, and a mysterious group known as Organization XIII. He could have never predicted the truth that he would be forced to confront. And when Roxas slept, "he" awoke...
More
About Buena Vista Games
Buena Vista Games, Inc. (BVG) is the interactive entertainment affiliate of The Walt Disney Company. BVG publishes, markets and distributes a broad portfolio of multi-platform video games and interactive entertainment worldwide. The company also licenses properties and works directly with third-party interactive game publishers to bring products for all ages to market. For more information, please log on to http://www.bvg.com
About Square Enix Co., Ltd. and Square Enix Ltd.
With headquarters in Tokyo, Japan, Square Enix Co., Ltd. (Square Enix) develops, publishes and distributes entertainment content including interactive entertainment software and publications in Asia, North America and Europe. Square Enix brings two of Japan's best-selling franchises - FINAL FANTASY®, which has shipped over 75 million units worldwide, and DRAGON QUEST®, which has shipped over 43 million units worldwide - under one roof. Square Enix is one of the most influential providers of digital entertainment content in the world and continues to push the boundaries of creativity and innovation.
Located in London, Square Enix Ltd. handles operations in Europe and other PAL territories including sales, marketing and publishing of Square Enix titles. More information on Square Enix Ltd. can be found on the Internet at http://www.square-enix.com
®Disney. Developed by SQUARE ENIX.
Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas ® Touchstone Pictures.
Characters from FINAL FANTASY video game series: ® 1990, 1994, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2005 Square Enix Co., Ltd. All Rights Reserved. DRAGON QUEST, FINAL FANTASY, SQUARE ENIX and the Square Enix logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Square Enix Co., Ltd. in the United Kingdom and/or other countries. Nintendo, Nintendo DS and Game Boy Advance are trademarks or registered trademarks of Nintendo. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
Square Enix Limited is a company registered in England & Wales under the number 3679704 whose registered office is Castle House, 37-45 Paul Street, London EC2A 4LS.
Contact:
Alex Huhtala
Public Relations Manager
Square Enix Ltd
+44 (0) 20 7324 5223
alexh@square-enix-europe.com