Editing Kingdom Hearts HD 2.8 Final Chapter Prologue

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{{Infobox CVG
|title=Kingdom Hearts HD 2.8<br>Final Chapter Prologue
|image=[[File:Kingdom Hearts HD 2.8 Final Chapter Prologue Logo KHHDFCP.png|center|300px]]
|japan=キングダムハーツ HD 2.8 ファイナルチャプタープロローグ
|romaji=Kingudamu Hātsu HD 2.8 Fainaru Chaputā Purorōgu
|developer={{w|Square Enix}}
|publisher={{w|Square Enix}}
|release='''Playstation 4:'''<br>[[File:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] January 12, 2017<br>[[File:Flag of the United States.png|20px]]/[[File:Flag of Canada.png|20px]] January 24, 2017<br>[[File:Flag of European Union.png|20px|Europe]]/[[File:Flag of Australia.png|20px]] January 24, 2017<br>'''Xbox One:'''<br>[[File:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] February 18, 2020<br>[[File:Flag of the United States.png|20px|United States]]/[[File:Flag of Canada.png|20px|Canada]] February 18, 2020<br>[[File:Flag of European Union.png|20px|Europe]]/[[File:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] February 18, 2020<br>'''PC:{{note|Digital only via Epic Games Store}}'''<br>[[File:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] March 30, 2021<br>[[File:Flag of the United States.png|20px|United States]]/[[File:Flag of Canada.png|20px|Canada]] March 30, 2021<br>[[File:Flag of European Union.png|20px|Europe]]/[[File:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] March 30, 2021<br>'''Nintendo Switch:{{note|Cloud Version}}'''<br>[[File:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] February 10, 2022<ref>[https://twitter.com/_KINGDOMHEARTS/status/1483321654046433283 '''''Twitter (@_KINGDOMHEARTS)''''']</ref><br>[[File:Flag of the United States.png|20px|United States]]/[[File:Flag of Canada.png|20px|Canada]] February 10, 2022<ref name="Switch">[https://twitter.com/KINGDOMHEARTS/status/1483318234082250752 '''''Twitter (@KINGDOMHEARTS)''''']: "Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5+2.5, 2.8, III + Re Mind (DLC) as well as the all-in-one Integrum Masterpiece all launch on Nintendo Switch via cloud on February 10th!"</ref><br>[[File:Flag of European Union.png|20px|Europe]] February 10, 2022<ref name="Switch" />
|genre=Console action role-playing game
|modes=Single player
|ratings= {{w|ESRB}}: E10+<br> {{w|PEGI}}: 12+
|platforms={{w|PlayStation 4}}<br>{{w|Xbox One}}<br>{{w|Personal computer}}<br>{{w|Nintendo Switch}}
}}
'''''Kingdom Hearts HD 2.8 Final Chapter Prologue''''', stylized as '''''Kingdom Hearts HD II.8 Final Chapter Prologue''''', is a compilation of three ''{{c|Kingdom Hearts|series}}'' titles set as a follow-up to ''[[Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5 ReMIX]]'' and ''[[Kingdom Hearts HD 2.5 ReMIX]]''. The titles feature HD graphics, and are composed of a remastered version of ''[[Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance]]'', an immediate sequel to ''[[Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep]]'', and an animated side-story to ''[[Kingdom Hearts χ]]''.<ref name="SEPC">[http://press.na.square-enix.com/releases/530/kingdom-hearts-hd-28-final-chapter-prologue-coming-to-the-playstation4 '''''Square Enix Press Center''', "KINGDOM HEARTS HD 2.8 Final Chapter Prologue Coming To The PlayStation®4 System"'']</ref> The game was released in Japan on January 12, 2017, and was released worldwide on January 24, 2017 for the PlayStation 4, Febuary 18, 2020 for the Xbox One, March 30, 2021 on PC via the {{w|Epic Games Store}}, and February 10, 2022 on Nintendo Switch as a Cloud version.<ref>[https://twitter.com/KINGDOMHEARTS/status/1445402204190515216 '''''Twitter (@KINGDOMHEARTS)'''''] "Cloud versions of Kingdom Hearts 1.5+2.5, 2.8 and 3 (+ Re Mind) are coming to Nintendo Switch"</ref>

The PS4 version was later re-released in North America as part of a combo pack known as ''[[Kingdom Hearts The Story So Far]]'' alongside the PS4 version of ''[[Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5 + 2.5 ReMIX]]''.

==Development==
The existence of ''[[Kingdom Hearts 0.2 Birth by Sleep -A fragmentary passage-]]'' was teased during "[[A Fragmentary Passage]]", the Secret Episode of ''[[Kingdom Hearts Birth By Sleep Final Mix]]'' that bridged the gap between ''Birth by Sleep'' and the original ''{{c|Kingdom Hearts|game}}'' and ended with the phrase "''Birth by Sleep -Volume 2-''". This drew speculation from fans that this ending hinted at a new game, especially when the game was localized outside of Japan in 2014 as part of ''[[Kingdom Hearts HD 2.5 ReMIX]]''. <ref>[https://www.engadget.com/2011-01-19-kingdom-hearts-birth-by-sleep-volume-2-teased-by-final-mix-sec.html Kingdom Hearts: Birth by Sleep: Volume 2 teased by Final Mix secret ending]</ref> In the October 2, 2014 issue of ''Weekly Famitsu'', Tetsuya Nomura was interviewed and questioned about this new ending. He replied with “It shows the existence of Aqua’s story in the Realm of Darkness. It means that she didn’t just wander about in the Darkness for ten years, but that she passed through many experiences. However, it is a 'Fragmentary Passage,' as the name suggests – that story was severed and wasn’t told. I hope I can tell it when given the opportunity”.<ref>[https://www.kh13.com/news/nomura-hopes-to-tell-birth-by-sleep-volume-2-s-story-one-day Nomura hopes to tell Birth by Sleep -Volume 2-'s story one day]</ref> 

In the credits for ''Kingdom Hearts HD 2.5 ReMIX'', screenshots for ''[[Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance]]'' are visible, similarly to how screenshots of ''[[Kingdom Hearts II]]'', ''[[Kingdom Hearts Re:coded]]'', and ''[[Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep]]'' were visible during the credits of ''[[Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5 ReMIX]]''. Fans theorized this hinted at the game getting some kind of re-release. In September 2015, Square Enix announced that an HD remaster of ''Dream Drop Distance'' alongside a feature film adaptation of ''[[Kingdom Hearts χ]]'', and an original entry titled  ''[[Kingdom Hearts 0.2 Birth by Sleep -A fragmentary passage-]]'' would release as a collection titled ''Kingdom Hearts HD 2.8 Final Chapter Prologue'' in 2016 exclusively on PlayStation 4. On the topic of the name, Nomura would state that ''Kingdom Hearts: Dream Drop Distance'' is considered number 2.6 in the series since it follows the events in ''HD 2.5 ReMIX''. The ''Kingdom Hearts χ'' games are considered 0 in Nomura's counting system because the series protagonist Sora does not appear. ''Birth by Sleep'' is 0.1, thus resulting in a 0.2 value for ''A Fragmentary Passage''. When added together, the numbers total 2.8.<ref>[https://kotaku.com/explaining-kingdom-hearts-hd-ii-8s-bizarre-title-1732274464 Explaining Kingdom Hearts HD II.8's Bizarre Title]</ref>.

Square Enix released a trailer for the game at Jump Festa 2015, where they revealed all entries in the collection are rendered in Unreal Engine 4, the same engine ''[[Kingdom Hearts III]]'' was being developed in at the time.<ref>[https://www.gematsu.com/2015/09/kingdom-hearts-0-2-uses-kingdom-hearts-iii-technology Kingdom Hearts 0.2 uses Kingdom Hearts III technology]</ref> Another trailer released at Tokyo Game Show 2016, featuring ''Simple And Clean -Ray Of Hope MIX-'', a new remix of "[[Simple and Clean]]" made specifically for this collection. The game had an initial release date for December 2016, but was delayed and officially released in Japan on January 12, 2017 and internationally on January 24, 2017.

==Content==
*'''''[[Kingdom Hearts Dream Drop Distance HD]]''''': An upgraded version of ''Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance'' created with high-definition home consoles in mind.

*'''''[[Kingdom Hearts 0.2 Birth by Sleep -A fragmentary passage-]]''''': A small-scale game that tells the story of [[Aqua]]'s journey in the [[Realm of Darkness]] leading into ''[[Kingdom Hearts III]]''. Rendered entirely in {{w|Unreal Engine 4}} and {{w|Kingdom Shader}},{{fact}} it lasts as long as it takes to venture through a single world in a main-series game.

*'''''[[Kingdom Hearts χ Back Cover]]''''': an 80-minute movie rendered entirely in Unreal Engine 4 and it utilizes the Kingdom Shader used in ''Kingdom Hearts III''.{{fact}} It tells the story of ''Kingdom Hearts χ'' from the [[foreteller]]s' perspective.

==Changes==
===''Kingdom Hearts Dream Drop Distance HD''===
{{main|Kingdom Hearts Dream Drop Distance HD}}

===Xbox One release===
*User interface elements have been changed to fit the console.
*The Disney Interactive Studios logo was replaced with the Disney logo.
*The Unreal Engine 4 logo was replaced with the Unreal Engine logo.
*There is an option to change profiles by pressing the X button in the game selection screen.
*The Streaming Restrictions guideline is now called "Before You Stream...".
*Extras is replaced with Screen Options which adjusts the screen.

===PC release===
*User interface elements have been changed to fit the system.
*The ESC key brings up a menu which contains options for Graphics, Framerate, "Before you Stream...", and to exit to Desktop.

===Nintendo Switch release===
*The game is now streamed to the console through the cloud, using the technology provided by Ubitus.
*All games can now seamlessly transition between docked mode and handheld mode.
*User interface elements have been changed to fit the console.

==Trivia==
[[File:FFXV Kingdom Hearts 2.8 insert.png|thumb|150px|''Kingdom Hearts 2.8'' insert containing an original release date.]]
*An insert for ''Kingdom Hearts 2.8 Final Chapter Prologue'' was included in releases of ''Final Fantasy XV''. However, some of the inserts included the initial December 2016 release date that was delayed.

==Notes and references==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://www.kingdomhearts.com/2_8/us/ Official NA Site]
*[http://www.square-enix.co.jp/kingdom/khhd_fcp/ Official JP Site]
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{{KH series}}
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