White Knight Chronicles 2 will be released on July 8 in Japan and will require players to have finished the original game if they wish to play the sequel's content, according to a 4gamer (translation by Andriasang).

To developer Level 5's credit, WKC2 will include an updated version of the first game with new systems developed for the sequel. It is certainly an interesting requirement, however, considering that WKC is not a short game. I understand the desire to have players be familiar with the story that will be picked up in the second title, but requiring a finished playthrough is a bold move. Imagine if BioWare required a Mass Effect completion save to play Mass Effect 2. Thankfully, PlayStation 3 save files are easily shared and distributed on the Internet. Read more »

1up reports that Sony Computer Entertainment Japan has set a release date for White Knight Chronicles 2, a sequel to Level 5's original RPG (pictured left). The PlayStation 3 exclusive game, originally announced at Tokyo Game Show 2009, will be available in Japan on July 8.

The sequel will allow players to import his or her avatar from White Knight Chronicles, provided they have finished the first game's story mode. Read more »

Level-5 CEO Akihiro Hino recently spoke to college graduates at a recruitment seminar in Tokyo's Shibuya Ward where he revealed some of the company's aspirations. These included an interest in an American expansion, as well as the desire to self-publish more games for consoles.

Japanese gaming news site, andriasing, shared some of Hino's commentary on both matters (via Dengeki Online). When asked about Level-5's future development plans during the seminar's Q&A period, Hino explained the company's affinity for Nintendo DS development but also alluded to plans for future (and potentially self-published) games. Read more »