Summary
- Kingdom Hearts 4 is highly anticipated, set to bring new elements in the Lost Master Arc to the franchise after a long wait.
- Potential delays for KH4 due to various factors like the COVID-19 pandemic may push the release date further than expected.
- Despite the uncertainty, loyal fans can enjoy the upcoming Kingdom Hearts Missing-Link game while KH4 takes its time to deliver the best experience.
Two years after the reveal of Kingdom Hearts 4, there is still no sign of the next chapter in Disney and Square Enix’s action-RPG franchise. Revealed as part of the series’ 20th anniversary celebration, this game is set to bring Kingdom Hearts into the Lost Master Arc after its entire run had previously been spent in the Dark Seeker Saga. Whatever Kingdom Hearts 4 brings will be a big deal inside and out of its universe, and fans are eager to reach it quickly after the infamously long wait between Kingdom Hearts 2 and 3.
It’s unclear when Kingdom Hearts 4 will show up next, and there are a number of factors, such as the approaching launch of Kingdom Hearts Missing-Link and KH4 starting development during the COVID-19 pandemic, that could hold it off even further. There is a case to be made that Kingdom Hearts 4 might reappear in 2024, but with hardly a word about it in the lead-up, that would come as a shock. Despite the uncertainty involved, however, there are plenty of reasons to suggest that Kingdom Hearts 4 is making the right move by staying silent.
Kingdom Hearts 4 Rumor is Good News for Fans of the Franchise
A new rumor is potential good news for fans eagerly anticipating the release of Square Enix's Kingdom Hearts 4.
Kingdom Hearts Fans Are Well-Equipped To Wait For KH4
This is not the first time that the Kingdom Hearts fanbase has been kept waiting for a new game, and the latest example is still fresh in many players’ minds. Kingdom Hearts 3 was announced in 2013 at the Sony E3 conference, and took until 2019 to come out. Even director Tetsuya Nomura admitted that the game was announced too early, but KH3 made things even worse by staying in the conversation through almost-annual trailers, ramping up into a deluge of spoiler-filled marketing once the game was almost done. If Kingdom Hearts fans can stay loyal through that, then there isn't much KH4 can do that will lose their interest.
Kingdom Heart Missing-Link Offers A Diversion Before Kingdom Hearts 4
Besides, there are plenty of Kingdom Hearts games to revisit in the meantime, with most available in modern collections. Another new Kingdom Hearts title is also on its way, that being Kingdom Hearts Missing-Link. Judging by its ongoing beta tests, Missing-Link will probably be released before the end of 2024, and can do more than just keep the IP active. Missing-Link's fan-service-laden action combat and likely bridge between Kingdom Hearts Union Cross and Dark Road’s stories should attract plenty of fan attention, and there's no telling what revelations about Scala ad Caelum or Sigurd could be relevant to Kingdom Hearts 4.
Letting Kingdom Hearts 4 Take Its Time Has Great Benefits
Not only is the Kingdom Hearts community prepared for more silence on Kingdom Hearts 4's front, the game itself should also be busy preparing for when it's time to break that silence. There were various problems in Kingdom Hearts 3 that should be addressed by KH4, and if the game needs more time to do that, then it should have that time. As this is a transitional period for the franchise, it's in Kingdom Hearts 4’s best interest to be the best soft reset point possible to attract plenty of newcomers.
Revealing Kingdom Hearts 4 Near Its Launch Would Be Ideal
KH4’s aging reveal trailer can't be taken back, but that won't be an obstacle to the game's reception if it handles things right. As previously mentioned, Kingdom Hearts 3 was infamously revealed early and then over-marketed, so it would be best if Kingdom Hearts 4 downplays the former and avoids the latter. Something closer to the surprisingly short time between Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth’s debut and launch would be ideal. If Kingdom Hearts 4 waits for the right moment to break its silence, it should still have its old fans in its corner as it shows its best to potential new ones.
Kingdom Hearts 4
- ESRB
- e
- Developer(s)
- Square Enix
- Publisher(s)
- Square Enix
