Square Enix Events Schedule

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Square Enix, and Tetsuya Nomura in particular, have been infamous of late for sharing as little information as possible regarding their hyped up products and games.  Japan’s own J.J. Abrams if you will.  However, with the recent managerial restructuring happening at Square Enix, the proverbial “embargo” on game details has been lifted.  From today until the end of the year, there will be a total of four large-scale entertainment events happening around the world that Square Enix has frequently participated in, but seldom gave out large swaths of information on.  That changes this year, as Square Enix, Tetsuya Nomura, Final Fantasy XV and of course, the Kingdom Hearts series will be present for all four events.

Japan Expo (July 4-7)
The largest Japanese culture convention in Europe, Japan Expo has always been a forefront for all things anime, games, film and music from Japan.  This year, Square Enix will have a larger presence than ever before with several key members in attendance.  The focus will primarily be on Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XII, Final Fantasy X|X-2 HD Remaster and Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn.  However, on July 6th, the focus will shift to Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5 ReMIX with series producer Shinji Hashimoto in attendance, discussing the series’ history and delving into some development secrets.  Other surprises are in store as well!

Tokyo Game Show 2013 (September 21-22)
A Square Enix, and general gaming culture staple, The Tokyo Game Show is arguably the second-largest interactive entertainment expo in the world.  Many of Japan’s top developers and publishers use this chance to show off their latest hooks, and Square Enix has been no stranger to it.  They are arguably the show’s largest attraction, and such, you can bet that we’ll be getting some good stuff regarding the Kingdom Hearts series.  This year, we might even get a glimpse at the long-rumored Kingdom Hearts HD 2.5 ReMIX.  And am I also the only one who hasn’t forgotten about Kingdom Hearts χ?  The Tokyo Game Show will start September 21st and conclude on the 2nd.

D23 Expo 2013 (October 12-14)
Disney’s very own fanclub expo.  It’s primarily been utilized as a merchandizing front, but as of the last few years, several Disney-involved video games have been show.  This year marks the first time D23 will be heading to Japan, and as expected, Kingdom Hearts will have a large showing, including Tetsuya Nomura in attendance.  We expect some good stuff regarding Kingdom Hearts III with this one.  D23 will be a three-day event, starting on October 12th and ending on the 14th.

Jump Festa 2014 (TBA December)
Primarily an expo showcasing the various brands tied to Shueisha properties (Naruto, Bleach, etc…), Jump Festa also serves as a exhibition hall for some of the various games tied to related to these properties.  While many people might not know it, Square Enix is also a large manga publisher in Japan who have frequently participated at the Jump Festa, and as of the last ten years, they’ve been showcasing their top-billing games and products here, mainly the Dragon Quest, Kingdom Hearts and Final Fantasy names.  While it’s nowhere near the haven of information that E3 and TGS are, new trailers occasionally pop up during Jump Festa, so there’s a fair bet to be expecting something good from this one as well.  A date has not yet been set, but as with previous Jump Festas, it will likely be held this December and last three days.
Keep your browsers locked on Kingdom Hearts Ultimania (at all times) and keep checking back as we cover these events as they come!

Link(s): Tokyo Game Show, D23, Jump Festa, Japan Expo