Kingdom Hearts 4is one of the most anticipated games currently in development. The game was announced during theKingdom Hearts20th Anniversary Eventin April 2022, to the surprise of the series' many fans. Those in attendance were treated to a short teaser trailer, which was later posted by developer Square Enix online. However, Square Enix has not revealed anything further aboutKingdom Hearts 4in the time since leading many fans to already become frustrated with the title. This turn of events is reminiscent of a similar issue, followingKingdom Hearts 3’s first reveal. Despite rewarding diehard fans with a shocking announcement,Kingdom Hearts 4’s reveal already sees the title repeating the mistakes ofKingdom Hearts 3.
InKingdom Hearts 4, Sora finds himself in the world of Quadratum, following the events ofKingdom Hearts 3: ReMind. The trailer immediately caught the attention of gamers worldwide, as its graphics depicted a much more realistic environment, as well as updated, less cartoony, proportions for Sora and Strelitzia. While the trailer did not depict any of the worlds Sora will be traveling to, it did feature the return of the Heartless. Despite being announced over a year ago, the reveal trailer remains the only source of information forKingdom Hearts 4.
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Kingdom Hearts 3 Fans Endured Massive Wait
Kingdom Hearts3 was announced atSony’s E3 2013 Press Conference, alongsideFinal Fantasy 15. Fans of Square Enix were stunned when sequels to two of its biggest franchises were announced for the PS4.Kingdom Heartsfans, in particular, relished the announcements, as the series had released a host of spin-offs and remasters in the time sinceKingdom Hearts 2was released for the PS2. Despite the teaser being mere seconds long, and announcing the title to be “In Development”, anticipation forKingdom Hearts 3was unrivaled.
Unfortunately, fan anticipation forKingdom Hearts 3became a burden, rather than a shared celebration, as the title experienced various developmental changes followed by long droughts of silence from Square Enix. WhenKingdom Hearts 3was finally released in January 2019, fans had endured nearly six years of waiting, and the title bared little resemblance to its first teaser’s style and tone. The long period of anticipation led many fans to feel disappointed in the end product, citing myriad storyline issues, failure to tie up major loose ends, and an overall tone that was far more childish than previous entries and spin-offs.
Kingdom Hearts 4’s Reveal Appears to Repeat KH3’s First Mistake
Kingdom Hearts 4’s reveal was an unexpected giftto longtime fans, leading to immense anticipation among the larger fanbase. The reveal came only 3 years afterKingdom Hearts 3was released, which is shocking when compared to the 14-year gap between the release ofKingdom Hearts 2andKH3’s own announcement. However, just as it did forKingdom Hearts 3, developer Square Enix has followed the announcement ofKingdom Hearts 4with a period of absolute silence. This has left fans in an awkward and familiar place, leading some to fear thatKingdom Hearts 4, like its predecessor, was announced far too early.
WithKingdom Hearts 4seemingly repeating the developer’s previous mistakes, fans could be set to endure an incredibly long wait for the game’s release. Over a year after its reveal, no details about the title’s worlds, story, or release have been given the smallest hint. Perhaps the biggest issue with this situation is that it opensKingdom Hearts 4up to other problems that its predecessor faced, such as the impossibility to meet the expectations of such a long wait. Time will tell whetherKingdom Hearts 4’s development period can avoid its predecessor’s mistakes, but without more consistent and realistic expectations from Square Enix, fans are left to blindly speculate what the title’s eventual release will entail.
Kingdom Hearts 4is currently in development.
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