Google may launch two Pixelbook 2 laptops in October

Google may have two new Pixelbook laptops in the works with a planned October debut for them both. Although not announced by the search giant, recent commits in the Chromium repository point to two new designs that may well be iterations on the same model — one that makes use of a specialized mainboard that appears to be built around Intel’s eighth-generation Kaby Lake architecture.

The original Pixelbook received a mixed response when it debuted in October 2017. Although easily the most powerful Chromebook ever released, it came with a price tag of $1,000, which is a hard sell when that puts it in the same price bracket at laptops running desktop operating systems like our favorite, the Dell XPS 13. Perhaps that’s why we may be looking at two second-generation Pixelbooks, so that there is more of a variation in price.

If the commits dug up by ChromeUnboxed are to be believed, both the code-named “Atlas” and “Nocturne” devices could be based on the same motherboard, currently code-named “Krabbylake.” That would suggest that Intel will be using Kaby Lake hardware for its new design. The first generation of that architecture made up the base of Intel’s seventh-generation CPUs, but Kaby Lake has also been used in the eighth-generation, especially with the Kaby Lake R and Kaby Lake G ranges, which offer medium to high-performance chips.

Another suggestion that Nocturne is a Pixelbook iteration is a commit about an attachable keyboard, code-named “Whiskers.” That keyboard is said to have an “Assistant” key and a “Control Panel” key. Both of those are currently only found on one Chromebook keyboard: The Pixelbook.

This news backs up previous rumors we’ve heard that Google was working on a newer, more powerful Pixelbook to release in 2018. We’ve been told that it would sport smaller bezels surrounding the display and would enhance its internal hardware to Intel’s eighth generation.

Considering the original Pixelbook was recently discounted by $250, it could be that Google is looking to clear stock of its older model before the new-generation device arrives. ChromeUnboxed thinks we’ll see it (and perhaps two variations of the design) at the #madebyGoogle event which takes place on October 4.

That may come just days after an announcement of brand-new Intel CPUs, so October is shaping up to be an exciting time for new hardware.

Editors’ Recommendations

• Google could release the most powerful Chromebook ever this year
• Intel’s 10nm CPU finally makes it to retail in a refreshed Lenovo IdeaPad laptop
• The Pixelbook could soon run Windows 10
• Apple’s new MacBook Air with Intel’s 8th-gen processors expected this year
• Intel’s ninth-generation CPUs could launch on October 1

The top reasons to use a VPN on your phone

It never hurts to be a little more secure.

You’ve probably heard your security-conscious friends talking about their favorite VPNs from time to time, and why using one is so important — or maybe you are the security-conscious friend having these conversations — but what exactly is a VPN, and why should you be using it?

VPN stands for Virtual Private Network. It’s basically a way for you to connect to the internet without your ISP or anyone else seeing what you’re doing. By using a VPN, you’re connecting to a separate network that works as a middleman between you and the sites you’re visiting, typically encrypting your sensitive information like passwords and banking info.

What is a VPN and should I use it on my phone?

Security

It’s pretty much a no-brainer that encrypting your information is a good idea. Whether you’re on a public WiFi network at your local coffee shop or hotel lobby, or your job is extra concerned with security, using a VPN can be the only thing standing in the way of an unwanted third party gaining access to your data.

VPNs aren’t perfect, and using one doesn’t guarantee that your information is perfectly safe, but it’s far better than not having any kind of protection at all. Most good VPNs feature end-to-end encryption so that even if someone were to intercept your data, they’ll have a hard time deciphering it. The important thing is finding a VPN you trust, since they’re the ones handling your info back and forth.

Just keep in mind that this back and forth handling can be slow, since you’re adding an additional step in the browsing process. VPNs let you choose your simulated location, so play around with your options until you find a decently fast connection.

Outside access

Choosing your location isn’t just useful for finding faster VPN connections, it’s also the best way to experience the internet from other users’ perspectives. Maybe you’re visiting China and need to access Google services. Maybe you’re trying to watch a TV show on that streaming service that isn’t available in your country. There are plenty of reasons you might want to browse the web from different regions of the world.

You might be surprised to learn how many services are region-locked — especially if you live somewhere like the U.S. that rarely misses out on features and services. Whether it’s something you think about every day or hardly even a passing thought, there are plenty of ways to experience the internet differently than you might be used to.

Downloading

There are plenty of torrenting apps are on phones these days, and if you’ve ever taken advantage of them, you might have received an email notice from your carrier or ISP who, along with the company that rightfully owns your pirated media, wasn’t too happy with your recent activity. There are plenty of legitimate reasons to download torrents — you might already own a legal copy of the file or it might not be copyrighted in the first place — but without getting into the legality of it, torrents happen.

So do plenty of other forms of downloading content, and to avoid getting on your ISP’s bad side for it, you can use a VPN, which replaces your IP address with a completely different one based on the location you chose to use.

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Do you use a VPN?

Not everybody needs to use a VPN, especially if you only browse from a desktop at home. But when you’re using an unsecured network on your phone, it can be a huge help in making your online experience a bit safer and more private. There are plenty of great VPN services out there, from NordVPN to Private Internet Access, IPVanish, and TunnelBear. Most (but not all) will run you a small monthly or annual fee, but it’s well worth it for the peace of mind they’ll provide you with.

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Do you use a VPN service on your phone? And if so, which one is your favorite? Let us know in the comments below!

Are you getting the 128GB or 512GB Galaxy Note 9?

Do you want lots of storage or lots and lots of storage?

With the Galaxy Note 9, Samsung ticked off a lot of boxes that Note fans have been wanting for years. Huge 4,000 mAh battery? Check. An S Pen that can be used as a remote control? Yep. Large storage configurations? You betcha.

Looking specifically at that last point, Samsung’s selling the phone with two storage makeups — 128GB and 512GB.

Both should be more than enough for most people, and looking through the AC forums, it appears that folks are pretty much split down the middle in regards to which version they’re buying.

ISPM
08-09-2018 04:53 PM

“

128GB, cheaper and still nearly 10x my current storage amount with an extra 2GB of RAM which should be a noticeable difference, the 512GB with the 8GB RAM will be a good choice for those who are constantly multi-tasking etc but the 128 is plenty enough for me.

Reply

buzzy3970
08-09-2018 06:08 PM

“

Was debating, but with Verizon’s BOGO and bestbuy offering 100 off makes sense to get the 512gb and 128gb for the free one.

Reply

Mr Segundus
08-09-2018 06:10 PM

“

512GB. I don’t need that much storage, but I want it. Plus the extra 2GB of RAM will be awesome. I just hope it doesn’t kill the battery quicker. =/

Reply

Carrie Greicar
08-09-2018 08:24 PM

“

Considering T-Mobile wants an arm and a leg down, I’m probably only getting the 128gb

Reply

What about you? Are you getting the 128GB or 512GB Galaxy Note 9?

Join the conversation in the forums!

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Should you upgrade your headphones for PlayStation VR?

Great audio experiences are a huge part of VR.

No matter what VR headset you are using, you want to make sure you have decent headphones. That full immersion experience, where your physical world is replaced by the virtual one, has a lot to do with hearing things from all around you. Knowing that when you turn your head you’ll see something coming from the direction you just heard it is a big deal, but if you can hear the real world as well it takes away from this experience.

Since PlayStation VR does come with wraparound earbuds, wired headphones may not seem like a big deal. However, the higher quality the headphones, the better the immersion is in the VR World.

Killer headphones are going to be a big deal with PlayStation VR, so here’s what you should be looking for if you’re planning an upgrade.

• Best overall: PlayStation Gold Wireless
• Best runner up: Bionic Mantis
• Best on-a-budget- option: iJoy Premium

PlayStation Gold Wireless

Wired headphones also mean another cable dangling from your body while you’re playing, though, and that could be a problem when furiously moving around with PlayStation Move controllers in each hand. If you’re thinking about going wireless, Sony already makes a fantastic headset specifically for the PlayStation 4 that sounds great and will play nice with PlayStation VR. It’s called PlayStation Gold Wireless, and you can pick them up today for $98.50!

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Why is PlayStation Gold the best option?

Why are these headphones the best? They’re headphones that were built for gaming on the PlayStation and it definitely shows. They support 7.1 surround sound so you never miss a thing, and have an internal noise-canceling microphone to make sure your friends can always clearly hear what you are saying when you game together. If you prefer a wired setup, these headphones rock a 3.5mm headphone jack which means you do have the ability to plug them in physically. You even have the option to customize these headphones by swapping out the faceplate for something more suited to your style.

Go integrated with Bionic Mantis

For those of you that want something designed just for PlayStation VR, there is one last option. The Bionic Mantis headphones. Designed specifically for use in VR, these headphones look more like earbuds and deliver an awesome experience. They clip right onto your headset and then rest against your ears. This means you won’t get the uncomfortable feeling of an earbud jammed into your ear canal, or the discomfort of headphones digging into the top of your head. For only $49.99 there’s no hefty price tag hitting your wallet

See at Bionik Gaming.

What makes Bionic Mantis so cool?

Bionic Mantis has hit our number two on the list for quite a few reasons. These headphones click directly into your PlayStation VR, which ought to also help with sound quality. These are some of the first headphones built specifically for VR, and they were created with PlayStation VR users in mind. Heck, they even match the color. These are a great option for anyone who is looking for an awesome pair of headphones to use in VR. You get the superior audio quality of headphones with PlayStation VR, without wires to get in your way or earbuds that will fall out in the process.

Spare your waller with iJoy Premium

iJoy headphones are perfect for when you’re working on a budget. For only $15.99 on Amazon, you can get yourself a pair of these over-the-ear headphones that will work just fine for your PlayStation VR usage. This way you can give yourself a more controlled audio without having to break your bank.

See on Amazon.

Why is iJoy Premium the best option for my budget?

Aside from price, there are a few awesome features these headphones have. Not only do you have the comfort of over-the-ear, but you can connect them through BlueTooth. This means there are no cords when you are attempting to run from the zombies in your face. There are 7 different options of colors for you to choose from and over 4 hours of battery life! The package is complete with a 6-month warranty option, so you don’t have to worry if you get a defective pair. Your money is still protected. You won’t get the best noise-canceling options, but they’ll definitely get the job done.

What kind of headphones are you rocking?

Are you using a different pair of headphones than what we’ve listed above? Tell us what you’re using and why you love or hate them in the comment section below! Or shoot me a tweet about it @originalsluggo.

Updated August 2018: We’ve added iJoy to our list so you also have an option for when you’re on a budget!

The Alcatel 7 is now on sale at MetroPCS for $130

The phone has an 18:9 display and dual rear cameras.

The Alcatel 7 is finally making its way to the United States after first being announced at MWC in February, and for its U.S. debut, the phone’s being sold exclusively through MetroPCS.

Like so many other phones this year, the Alcatel 7 features a narrow 18:9 6-inch display with a resolution of 2160 x 1080. Powering the phone is a MediaTek MT6763T octa-core processor, 2GB RAM, and a 4,000 mah battery — the same capacity found on the much more expensive Samsung Galaxy Note 9.

Other specs for the Alcatel 7 include a 12MP + 2MP rear camera combo, 8MP front-facing camera, 32GB of expandable storage (up to 128GB), rear-mounted fingerprint sensor, and Android 8.1 Oreo.

The Alcatel 7 is available for purchase at MetroPCS now and has a retail price of $179.99. That’s a fair price as is, but MetroPCS is making the phone even more affordable by making it free after porting your exisitng number and signing up for an unlimited LTE plan. Along with that, customers can also get it for just $129.99 when adding a new line of service or upgrading an exisitng line.

See at MetroPCS

Doing just enough [#acpodcast]

Daniel Bader, Andrew Martonik, and Jerry Hildenbrand unwrap all the details from “Samsung Unpacked 2018” event and discuss the flagship of the fleet: Galaxy Note 9! There were two other additions to the Galaxy product line as well — Galaxy Watch and Galaxy Home.

Galaxy Watch is mostly an evolution of the Samsung Gear smartwatches we’re already familiar with, but Galaxy Home brings Bixby into the smart speaker market. Join us!

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Show Notes and Links:

• Samsung Galaxy Note 9 hands-on preview: $1000 well spent
• Samsung Galaxy Note 9: Everything you need to know!
• Samsung Galaxy Watch: Everything you need to know
• Samsung Galaxy Watch hands-on preview: Another Gear in all but name
• Samsung’s first Bixby smart speaker is the Galaxy Home

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Grab a SanDisk 200GB microSD card for just $48 today

Expand the capacity.

This 200GB card normally sells for closer to $70 and this is one of the best prices we’ve ever seen on it. You can use it to expand the storage in your phone, tablet, action camera and much more. It has transfer speeds of up to 100MB/s and it is shockproof, waterproof and can even withstand X-rays.

If you are looking for more storage, Amazon has the 400B variant of this card down to just $171 today. You can’t go wrong with either option here, but just make sure you pick one up before the discount ends!

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4 things the Galaxy Home must do to challenge the Echo, Home, and HomePod

The Galaxy Home could be a total flop, but it doesn’t have to be.

On Thursday, August 9, Samsung hosted its Unpacked event in New York City to talk about its three biggest gadgets going into the second half of the year.

The Galaxy Note 9 was the star of the show, and while the Galaxy Watch wasn’t a huge focus, it was something we were expecting to make an appearance. What did catch us off guard, however, was the unveiling of the Galaxy Home.

The Galaxy Home is Samsung’s first ever smart speaker, and it looks like it’s designed to take the Apple HomePod and Google Home Max head-on. There’s still a lot that Samsung’s yet to reveal about the Galaxy Home, but if the company really wants this to succeed, there are four key areas that it needs to focus on.

Sound fantastic

Of the little time Samsung spent talking about the Galaxy Home during Unpacked, one thing the company did seem to emphasize was the sound quality of the Home’s speakers.

Samsung notes that it set out to create “high-quality sound” when designing the Galaxy Home, and as we see with many of Samsung’s other audio products, the Galaxy Home’s been stamped with AKG’s tuning approval.

You’ll find six speakers throughout the Galaxy Home that aim to kick out sound from every angle (similar to the HomePod), and these are accompanied by a subwoofer that provides “deep, rich bass.” We’ve also got things like “natural sound processing”, “SoundSteer”, and plenty of other buzz-words to hype it up.

If Samsung can live up to the bar it’s set for itself and offer a listening experience that’s comparable to the HomePod and noticeably better than the regular Google Home, it can use that in conjunction with the other below points to win the hearts (and wallets) of those looking for a speaker that’ll make their music sound as good as possible.

Bixby 2.0 has to deliver

Among all of the Unpacked madness, Samsung also took some time to talk about Bixby 2.0.

Bixby 2.0 promises to be more useful than previous versions, allowing users to make restaurant reservations, books rides with Uber, find nearby concerts/events, etc. This is all pretty typical virtual assistant stuff, but one big change coming to Bixby is that it’ll finally allow for more natural conversations.

If anything can hold the Galaxy Home back from greatness, it’s Bixby.

In one demo of Bixby 2.0, the assistant was asked what the weather would be like during Labor Day weekend. After the question was answered, it was followed up with “What about the first weekend in October?” The key detail here is that the user didn’t need to specifically mention the weather — Bixby just knew that that’s what it was being asked about.

This is something the Google Assistant’s been able to do for a while, but any improvements that make Bixby feel less like a robot are welcome.

Samsung’s demonstration of Bixby 2.0 on the Note 9 revealed that it’s still quite a bit slower compared to Alexa and Google Assistant, but it’s possible this could just be a bug that’ll be worked out before Bixby 2.0’s official release.

If it isn’t, and Bixby does continue to be as slow as it’s always been, the Galaxy Home is going to look a lot less appealing to anyone hoping to make frequent use of its smart features.

Unique integrations with other Galaxy products

On a related note, the Galaxy Home should offer compelling reasons for Galaxy S9 and Note 9 owners to purchase it instead of a Google Home, Sonos One, etc.

Apple offers a lot of reasons for iPhone owners to use the HomePod, but does so to a fault by blocking out anyone else from using it.

With the Galaxy Home, Samsung can offer a middle ground by making it accessible to everyone while giving owners of other Galaxy devices even more goodies. It should be simple to set up controls for Philips Hue lights, but using devices part of Samsung’s SmartThings collection should be even easier to manage.

Users should have the option of streaming from whatever music service they want, but thanks to Samsung’s partnership with Spotify, even more powerful voice controls and features could be offered with it.

Get the price right

Lastly, Samsung has to get the price right for the Galaxy Home.

The Apple HomePod and Google Home Max — arguably the best-sounding smart speakers on the market — cost a very pretty penny at $349 and $399, respectively.

I’m not sure if this is possible from a business perspective, but if Samsung can deliver the high-quality audio it’s promising at a $249 – $299 price tag, it’ll be the clear winner for customers that want a high-end audio experience while stretching their dollar as far as possible.

What would you like to see?

That’s what I think Samsung needs to do for a successful Galaxy Home, but what about you? Sound off with your hopes/wishes in the comments below!

Samsung’s first Bixby smart speaker is the Galaxy Home

Google may soon let you run Windows 10 on Chromebooks using ‘Campfire’

Campfire — Google’s version of Apple’s Boot Camp — could be just on the horizon.

Google was discovered to be getting Windows 10 certification for its Pixelbook earlier this year, and thanks to the folks at XDA Developers, we now have more details on Google’s vision for bringing Windows 10 to not just the Pixelbook, but other Chromebooks as well through a new service called “Campfire.”

Similar to Apple’s Boot Camp, Campfire will allow users to have two operating systems installed on a Chromebook at once so they can boot into whichever OS they’d like at any given time.

Users won’t be required to enable Developer Mode on their Chromebook in order to use Campfire, and according to XDA, getting things set up with Campfire should be pretty simple.

Now, with Campfire, Google will push signed updates to RW_LEGACY via the regular auto-update process, so firmware flashing won’t be a concern for Joe Public. A recent commit for enabling Alt OS through crosh with a simple [alt_os enable] command indicates that it will be a fairly easy setup process from the user’s end too.

As for what devices will be able to use Campfire, more details are trickling in here, too.

40GB appears to be the minimum storage requirement for Campfire (30GB going to Windows 10 and 10GB being used for Chrome OS), and while we don’t know which Chromebooks specifically will be supported, talk of “campfire variants” suggests that it’ll be supported on more than just the Pixelbook.

It’s still unclear when Google will officially unveil Campfire, but with the Pixel 3 event likely coming up in early October, it’s possible we’ll learn more then. Stay tuned!

After using Chrome OS for four months, I never want to go back

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Kingdom Hearts 3: Everything you need to know!

Want to know what’s going on with Kingdom Hearts 3? Here’s everything we know so far

In the early years of gaming, there were quite a few swings taken at the creation of a game utilizing Disney properties. Most of those games ranged anywhere from unplayable to mediocre as far as quality goes.

Then in 2002, Square released Kingdom Hearts onto the PlayStation 2. Disney fans and gamers rejoiced as they finally had a significant video game with Disney characters. Thus far, there have been a total of nine Kingdom Hearts games and here in 2018 Square stands poised to release a new entry to the gaming public.

We have been hearing rumblings about Kingdom Hearts 3 for years now but there is finally light at the end of the tunnel for fans of the series. As it stands now, we should see a release toward the end of 2018. However, what do we know about Kingdom Hearts 3 right now? Let’s take a look.

What’s new with Kingdom Hearts 3?

All the latest Kingdom Hearts 3 details can be found straight ahead. Be sure to check back often to find out everything new as we head toward release!

July 17th, 2018

Those looking to pre-order Kingdom Hearts 3 just received some extra incentive to do so from GameStop. The company has revealed that one of three fabric posters will be included with your pre-order of the game, and it’s up to you to cast your vote on Twitter with the hashtags noted in the image above to decide which one it will be.

June 11th, 2018

Sony had their own piece of exclusive Kingdom Hearts 3 footage to show at E3 2018. The new footage confirms the inclusion of Pirates of the Caribbean. This isn’t the franchise’s first appearance in a Kingdom Hearts game, with Kingdom Hearts 2 having been the first.

Yes, Captain Jack Sparrow is back, and Sora’s crew are on deck to help him live the pirate’s life. The gameplay sequences for this world seem pretty epic, with both a ship battle and a fight with a huge sea monster being featured. The trailer also shows that a replica version of Riku will make an appearance.

Alongside that new footage, we get word that not only will there be a special edition Kingdom Hearts 3 PlayStation 4 console, but you’ll also be able to buy all three mainline Kingdom Hearts games as a bundle. That means you’ll get Kindom Hearts 1.5 HD Remix, Kingdom Hearts 2.5 HD Remix, and Kingdom Hearts 3 in the same package. They’ve even thrown in Kingdom Hearts 2.8: Final Chapter Prologue for good measure.

A release date for the special edition PS4 has not yet been confirmed, though it’s likely we’ll see it on or close to Kingdom Hearts 3’s release date, which was previously confirmed to be January 29th, 2019.

June 10th, 2018

Square Enix has announced a release date for Kingdom Hearts 3. It’ll be arriving January 29th, 2019. Originally, their goal was to get the game out in 2018. However, the company needs more time to ensure the game is the best it can be before launch.

With that news, we also saw a new trailer at E3 2018 that revealed new details, namely showing off new content and abilities surrounding previously unannounced Disney franchises. Those franchises include heavy-hitting staples such as Frozen and Lion King, with Elsa and Mufasa making appearances, respectively.

A whole new world

Since its inception, an important element of the Kingdom Hearts games has been the setting. Part of the joy of these games is the opportunity to explore familiar Disney worlds in a way that is not possible when you’re watching a film. Some of the worlds which have been tapped for inclusion in KH3 include Andy’s House from Toy Story, Twilight Town, Mount Olympus from Hercules, Monsters Inc, Tangled, and even San Fransokyo from Big Hero 6.

With Disney owning just about every existing IP under the sun there doesn’t seem to be many worlds left that are not within their reach. However, everything indicates that all the worlds tapped for inclusion will remain those who lie directly under the Disney Umbrella, as well as some from underling Pixar.

While Kingdom Hearts 3 isn’t a traditional open world game, Square Enix has a clear goal to increase the scope and capacity of each world. Some of these levels are the most expansive we’ve ever seen in a Kingdom Hearts game. You’ll especially feel the scale at places like Toy Box in the Toy Story world, or Mount Olympus over in Hercules’ corner. Despite the increased size, Square Enix manages to create each world with the level of detail that’ll make you feel like you’re in the theater watching your favorite movies all over again. It’s this nice balance of scope and focus that gets us excited to be sucked into Disney’s magical kingdom once more.

Characters Welcome

Another critical element of the Kingdom Hearts series has, of course, been characters. There is something undeniably exciting about running into some of your favorite Disney denizens whilst you progress through a KH game.

While your main characters will remain steadfast – Sora and the gang are back – there are some additions. With the inclusion of the aforementioned worlds, it should come as no surprise that we will see end up crossing paths with their related character inhabitants. You’ll certainly be seeing Woody, Buzz, and the glutton of other toys living in Andy’s room for the Toy Story sections. I, for one, am totally ready to get some heals from Beymax.

And that’s alongside mainstays such as Goofy, Donald Duck, and Mickey Mouse, all of whom have proven to be valuable comrades for Sora over the years.

Gameplay

Kingdom Hearts 3 will seemingly feature a keen blend of all the combat mechanics introduced in each previous title. Keyblades still cut foes down with ease and magic is still here to help you quickly dispel waves of enemies. However, we’ll also be seeing new mechanics such as character summons, keyblade transformations, link attacks, something Square Enix is calling “attractions,” and more. Here’s a quick rundown of what those types of attacks are:

• Character Summons: You can call on one of your Disney or Pixar friends to fight alongside you for a short time.
• Keyblade Transformations: Alongside your keyblade’s normal abilities and combos, you can transform the keyblade after hitting a series of uninterrupted attacks. The temporary transformation unlocks a wealth of new abilities, as well as a finisher attack.
• Link Attacks: Like Character Summons, this mechanic brings your friends into the fray, but instead of being there as a sidekick they’ll execute a more coordinated and powerful attack with Sora.
• Attractions: These are flashy, big abilities that play out like rides you’d see at Disneyworld and Disneyland. For instance, you can call on something like a water ride to splash through a ton of foes.

There will also be other miscellaneous gameplay mechanics that may be unique to certain worlds and sequences. For instance, Sora can take control of robot Gigas at Toy Box to help him get around the store and fight enemies faster. Expect a lot of variety in this regard.

Players will get stronger as the game goes on with a leveling system that should increase your power, health total, mana pool, and offer new abilities. And it’s not just Sora getting this treatment, either – all your mainstay companions have their own experience to grow.

World traversal has been a big part of the Kingdom Hearts series, and Sora’s movement abilities are seeing some interesting changes with this entry. Sora has seemingly been practicing parkour as a new mechanic allows him to scale up, down, and across walls. This is likely to help players quickly maneuver through a world is just as wide as it is tall, with verticality being a staple element of Kingdom Hearts.

As was the case in most Kingdom Hearts games to date, you’ll be fighting enemies who use Darkness for evil. Darkness is both an alternate realm and an actual force of energy. Good characters can use Darkness to augment their abilities, though the bad ones use it with far more malevolent intentions. Much of your battling will be done against those known as the Heartless, a common enemy in the game. The Heartless are actually living forms of the darkness that exists in everyone’s heart. Their goals are likely driven by some evil no-gooder behind the scenes, as the heartless don’t act on any sort of feeling or emotion of their own.

When can I play?

Square Enix has announced that Kingdom Hearts 3 will now launch January 29th, 2019. The game was originally given a 2018 launch window, but Square Enix has felt the need to delay it, likely to make sure it gets the polish it needs.

If you want to get in line early, you can always head over and preorder a copy for $60.

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In its long and storied history, Kingdom Hearts has done a stellar job of taking the elements that work and adding new ones. Like a fine wine, Kingdom Hearts has (mostly) gotten better with age. At this point, we don’t know everything about what is in store for us but as the year progresses we will undoubtedly see more new pieces of the puzzle unveiled.

I think Square knows that part of the magic and joy in these games is the surprise of running into unexpected characters. I have no doubt that they are holding a few cards close to their chests for the time being but I can’t wait to find out what those cards are.

What do you want to see in Kingdom Hearts 3?

Updated August 2018: It’s quiet on the news front for Kingdom Hearts 3, but know that we’re checking each and every day and will update you when there’s something new!

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