Summary
It’s been some time since fans of Square Enix and Disney’s star crossover series have heard fromKingdom Hearts 4. Since its announcement as part of the series’ 20th anniversary celebration in April 2022, the game has gone dark, with focus mostly shifting over to the mobile titleKingdom Hearts Missing-Link. AsMissing-Linkentered the year during a round of beta testing, it’s likely approaching its full launch sometime in 2024.Kingdom Hearts 4will apparently share some relevant characters with the game, so mainlineKHfans can at least look forward to that.
Of course, whetherKingdom Hearts 4will be active at all in 2024 is another question, especially considering theKHrelease traditions that are already broken. Square Enix’s larger projects have built up a reputation over the past decade of disappearing for years after their announcement, andKH3itself is guilty of this. No other upcomingKingdom Heartstitles have been announced or rumored to come first, soMissing-LinkandKingdom Hearts 4are all that fans have to look forward to, and only the former has a public presence. However, ifKH4’s development is going smoothly, then it may do more than just resurface in 2024.
Kingdom Hearts 4 Might Break Its Silence In 2024
The release ofKingdom Hearts 4in 2024 is far-fetched, but it could be closer than fans realize. Several statements made throughout 2020 imply that at leastKH4’s planning started around that time. Of note wasKHseries director Tetsuya Nomura discussing theKH3 ReMindsecret boss Yozora’s futurein a September NME interview, and telling Destructoid in the same month that:
“Right now, we are in the process of discussing our future plans within Square Enix and with Disney and nothing has been set in stone, but I do have some concepts percolating in my head.”
Accounting forKingdom Hearts 3’s early switch from Square Enix’s Luminous Engine to Unreal Engine 4, andKingdom Hearts 4taking the smoother leap from Unreal Engine 4 to 5, a late 2020 start meansKH4might be ready for Winter 2024at the earliest. This accounts for the game’s likely-large scope, though beginning development mid-pandemic would slow it considerably on top of the constant communication needed with Disney. Still, assuming no major setbacks, a 2025 launch is feasible. If that’s the case, then fans should expect to hear much more fromKingdom Hearts 4as 2024 moves on.
When It Returns, Kingdom Hearts 4 Is Going Loud
Kingdom Hearts 4trailers could appear in 2024 as early as an April State of Play presentation, but are more likely to begin in June at the Summer Game Fest kickoff. Square Enix typically uses a back-loaded marketing strategy, meaning whenKingdom Hearts 4has more news prepared, announcements will keep coming till the game is out. Gamescom, Tokyo Game Show, a potential PlayStation Showcase, The Game Awards, and every smaller convention or trade show in between could all haveKH4trailers, and even arrange closed previews and hands-on demos across that time.
AssumingKingdom Hearts 4will release in the first quarter of 2025 means a lot of its marketing should line up withKingdom Hearts 3and bothFinal Fantasy 7 Remakeentries, which had similar launch dates and lead-ups. That means plenty of gameplay footage, world reveals, and story hints will crop up with every trailer, and a launch window should be set early on. If a Marvel orStar Warsworld features inKH4, they should also underscore an earlier trailer. As long asKingdom Hearts 4doesn’t repeat the mistakesKingdom Hearts 3made in its lead-up to launch, fans should have a lot to look forward to in 2024, regardless of when the game arrives.
