Kingdom Hearts HD 2.8 Final Chapter Prologue PS4 File Size Revealed

Ahead of its January 2017 release, the required install size for Kingdom Hearts HD 2.8 Final Chapter Prologue was confirmed for the PlayStation 4. The game’s official listing on the PlayStation Store website indicated a download of 27.6 GB. The product page viewed directly on a PS4 console showed a slightly larger requirement of 29.63 GB. This minor difference was common for PS4 titles, often reflecting the base game size versus the size with a potential day-one patch included in the pre-load data. Regardless of the exact number, players planning to purchase the digital version knew they would need to clear approximately 30 GB of hard drive space for this key collection.

A Trio of Kingdom Hearts Stories

The Final Chapter Prologue name is fitting, as the package contains three separate experiences designed to set the stage for Kingdom Hearts III. The collection was a crucial entry for fans looking to be fully caught up on the series’ complex narrative. It brought a previously handheld-exclusive title to consoles for the first time, added a new cinematic, and provided a brand-new playable episode.

Dream Drop Distance and χ Back Cover

The most substantial part of the collection is Kingdom Hearts Dream Drop Distance HD. This is a full high-definition remaster of the 2012 Nintendo 3DS game. The console version featured updated graphics, reworked controls for the DualShock 4 controller, and other quality-of-life improvements over the original. The story follows Sora and Riku through the Sleeping Worlds as they take their Mark of Mastery exam.

Also included is Kingdom Hearts χ Back Cover, a one-hour cinematic movie rendered in the same engine as Kingdom Hearts III. It explores the mysterious backstory of the Foretellers from the mobile game Kingdom Hearts Unchained χ, providing critical lore that connects to the ongoing “Dark Seeker Saga” and the future of the series.

A Fragmentary Passage and the Road to Kingdom Hearts III

The main draw for longtime fans was Kingdom Hearts 0.2 Birth by Sleep – A Fragmentary Passage. This short, entirely new playable episode directly follows the character Aqua after the secret ending of Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep Final Mix. It serves as both an epilogue to that story and a prologue to Kingdom Hearts III, with its ending leading directly into the opening of the next mainline game. Developed using Unreal Engine 4, A Fragmentary Passage gave players their first taste of the visuals, combat, and gameplay mechanics that would define Kingdom Hearts III, acting as a technical and narrative bridge to the long-awaited sequel.

Physical and Digital Editions

Square Enix released the collection on January 24 in North America. It was available digitally on the PlayStation Store and physically in stores. A special incentive was offered for digital preorders: an exclusive static PS4 theme. For collectors and physical media enthusiasts, a Limited Edition was offered at launch. This edition, available for preorder at standard retail price, included the game disc and a collectible enamel pin featuring official artwork of King Mickey and Sora, making it an attractive option for dedicated fans of the franchise.