'Kingdom Hearts 3' release date, news: 11th installment features better graphics and gameplay

Ever since it was first announced three years ago, "Kingdom Hearts 3" has since been one of the most anticipated up-and-coming game sequels for both the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One consoles.

And with the forthcoming release of the remastered collection, "Kingdom Hearts HD 2.8 Final Chapter Prologue" in December, the hype for the eleventh installment in the highly acclaimed role-playing game franchise is starting to build up.

A report recently cited a fan-made GIF posted on Reddit showing a snippet from "Kingdom Hearts 2" and then one from "Kingdom Hearts 3," in an attempt to highlight the graphical difference between the two games. Both scenes show the game's main protagonist, Sora, in attack mode with battle pals Goofy and Donald Duck trailing behind him. The most noticeable thing in the two scenes is the amount of details seen in "Kingdom Hearts 3" as opposed to "Kingdom Hearts 2."

The landscape, for one, looks more realistic with sharper lines, and Sora seems lighter on his feet in "Kingdom Hearts 3," indicating better and faster gameplay controls. The combat scene seems flashier too with more accessible battle magic controls.

This should come as no surprise at all. "Kingdom Hearts 2" was first released in Japan in 2005, and was later on revised to "Kingdom Hearts 2 Final Mix" in 2007. PlayStation has since gone through two console updates following the PlayStation 2, "Kingdom Hearts 2's" gaming platform. Of course, each new generation of the PlayStation offers better controls and more realistic visuals than the last. And between now and the rumored released of "Kingdom Hearts 3" in 2017, the game developers will have further improved on the game's graphical details, making for a different, though still familiar "Kingdom Hearts" gameplay experience.

Meanwhile, the "Kingdom Hearts 3" trailer released during the 2015 Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) featured the so-called "Attraction Flow," which incorporates Disney Park attractions such as the "Big Magic Mountain," "Pirate Ship," and "Mad Tea Party," into Sora's attack skills.

Additionally, Sora's Keyblade also features transformations unique to each individual world that he and his friends visit throughout their mission. Such transformations include magic blasters, dual blow guns and a chariot helmed by a Pegasus among others.

"Kingdom Hearts 3" picks up after the events of "Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance" and will reportedly mark the end of the "Dark Seeker Saga." Sora is expected to team up once again with Goofy and Donald Duck, along with Riku and King Mickey, in a quest to stop the villainous Xehanort from starting a second Keyblade War. Confirmed Disney characters that will join the adventure include Rapunzel from Tangled and Baymax from Big Hero 6.

However, this will not be the final game in the commercially successful franchise. The game developers have already determined where each particular character should be by the end of the game so that they can continue these characters' story arcs in upcoming installments.

"Kingdom Hearts 3" is rumored to drop in 2017 but Square Enix has yet to confirm an actual release date.