After the release of Kingdom Hearts: Melody of Memory, the series began gearing up for the next wave of titles. The biggest one is Kingdom Hearts 4 and the latest mobile spin-off, Missing Link, set to release before it.
Fast forward a few years, and no updates on both titles have been given. However, Square Enix finally breaks that silence with news on both upcoming Kingdom Hearts projects, some good and some bad.
A World that Never Was – Missing Link Canceled
At the most recent Square Enix Quarterly report, it was revealed that the upcoming Augmented Reality Action RPG Missing Link would cease development. Square Enix provided the following comment regarding the cancellation.
We have made the decision to cancel the development of Kingdom Hearts Missing-Link. We wish to convey our heartfelt apologies to everyone who has been looking forward to the start of service.
Although we worked hard on developing and adjusting the game in the hope that it would be enjoyed by lots of players, we determined that it would be difficult for us to offer a service that players would find satisfactory over a long period of time, leading us to the decision to cancel development.
We would like to take this opportunity to express our thanks to everyone who gave us their support and assistance with the multiple closed beta tests. We are truly sorry to have to make this announcement. The Kingdom Hearts series will continue. We are hard at work on Kingdom Hearts IV, and hope you’ll continue to support the series as you keep an eye out for further updates.
The Broken Key – Kingdom Hearts Doesn’t Need Mobile Titles
While fans of the Kingdom Hearts franchise have expressed sadness over Missing Link’s cancellation, I stand firmly on the other side of that conversation.
I love the series, but I’m tired of mobile spin-offs containing key story information that future titles use as their backbone. Look no further than Kingdom Hearts 4, using major plot points and characters from Kingdom Hearts: Unchained X.
It was a mobile title that ran for many years and ended after Kingdom Hearts 3, with many of its story details explained being used in post-credits sequences. It even received an expansion, called Dark Road, giving much-needed insight into the franchise’s cornerstone villain.
A Chain of Memories – An Era Proper Kingdom Hearts Spin-Off Releases
I would’ve loved to see all that in a proper, console spin-off, similar to what Square Enix did back during the 3DS/PSP/DS era of gaming.
With the rising costs of game development and handheld-only platforms being replaced by hybrid consoles (Nintendo Switch, etc), this style of spin-offs costs more to produce.
Hence, a push toward Kingdom Hearts in the mobile market, and it is not confirmed if Square Enix will make another mobile project in the series following Missing Link’s cancellation.
A Light Peaking Through the Door – Kingdom Hearts 4 Is Alive & Well
Considering all this bad news for the series, one would imagine Kingdom Hearts 4 could be in trouble. The game hasn’t received a proper update since its reveal back in April 2022. But thankfully, Square Enix and Disney have provided a small update on the title.
To our Kingdom Hearts community,
We’re currently working hard on Kingdom Hearts IV and will continue pouring ourselves into the game’s development. We’re dedicated to making this an experience that lives up to your expectations!
We’ve seen how excited you are, and we are truly grateful from the bottom of our hearts. We are equally excited and can’t wait to share more about Kingdom Hearts IV when the time is right. Until then, we appreciate your patience. Thank you for your continued support.
Breaking Down the Images – Kingdom Hearts 4 Image Breakdown
While many of you know me as ‘Lord Sonic’, I know a lot about this series. Here is our breakdown on the screenshots released and what they could imply for the full experience.
Kingdom Hearts 3 Combat System Returns
While the combat system uses new elements, mainly the key-chain aspect of Sora’s iconic Keyblade weapon, the menu, interface, and more return from Kingdom Hearts 3. It’s also worth noting the slight change to the command menu.
In Kingdom Hearts 3, there wasn’t a ‘left’ arrow on the command menu, but similar to Kingdom Hearts 2, there is one in this screenshot.
Could summons take up a whole command row? Or is this linked to the new ‘Build’ command?
The King is Playable Once More
In Kingdom Hearts 2, players took control of King Mickey in some battles when Sora died. But here, players will control Mickey during unique platforming/combat sections. The original Kingdom Hearts 4 trailer ended with Donald and Goofy going on their quest. Maybe the Disney crew is undergoing their side-stories alongside Sora’s world-traveling misadventures.
The Stella Factor – Unchained Key Characters Still Showing Up
Present in the original Kingdom Hearts 4 trailer and once more appearing in this screenshot, Unchained X’s Strelitzia. She’s an important character linked to Fortellers and The Master of Masters, forces Sora will likely butt heads with not unlike his battle against Orginization XIII and Master Xehanort.
It also could imply that additional Unchained X characters will appear.
Sora in the Big City – Quadratum in Kingdom Hearts 4
The last screenshot Square Enix shared with fans features Sora standing in Quadratum. It may not appear to be much, but the image of Sora staring at a seemingly endless highway could be the ‘portal’ to other worlds.
While other Keyblade Wielders in the series donned armor and used their weapons to travel between worlds, Sora always used the Gummi Ship. Since he’s alone now, Sora could use these ‘highways’ to travel to new locations.
Closing Thoughts on Kingdom Hearts Updates
As a fan of the series, I feel torn. On one hand, I’m happy Square Enix is finally discussing Kingdom Hearts 4 again. It has been over three years since we’ve heard any update on the title. The reveal that it’s not vaporware and will be released is wonderful.
On the other hand, considering how long we waited for news, low-quality screenshots, and a promise that ‘development continues on the project’ isn’t great. Hopefully, a proper trailer with a new release window will be at Summer Games Fest or TGS 2026.
