Kingdom Hearts 4: Everything we know so far

We've at least had a little update on Kingdom Hearts 4, with Square Enix confirming the team are still hard at work to bring us the highly anticipated entry in the long-running series. Dropping a statement alongside confirmation that the mobile game Missing Link has been cancelled, the published also posted some shiny new screenshots of the game, which is only heightening the level of excitement.

First revealed during the Kingdom Hearts 20th Anniversary event back in 2022, we've only really been getting small breadcrumbs of news ever since, so it's great to see more of the RPG, which promises to be something of a soft reset that builds on the Sora's last outing in Kingdom Hearts 3.

With the screenshots showing off Sora's updated look and some other features - including the appearance of Mickey Mouse - they've certainly left us all the more eager to learn more. And as we approach the Summer Game Fest schedule 2025 lineup of showcases set to come, we can only hope for another glimpse of what is one of the most anticipated new games in the pipeline. While we await more news, read on below for an overview of everything we know so far about Kingdom Hearts 4.

Kingdom Hearts 4 release date speculation

Square Enix is yet to confirm a Kingdom Hearts 4 release date. The game was said to be in early development back in 2022, and it had been quite quiet on the update front following the announcement - even Goofy's English voice actor didn't realize it had even been announced that same year.

But the publisher recently confirmed work is still underway on Kingdom Hearts 4 in 2025 in a statement that accompanied the news that mobile game Missing Link has been cancelled. Even so, we've yet to get an indication of when KH4 will arrive, and it looks like we'll still be in for a wait for the next entry to arrive - especially if the unverified rumors coming in 2024 suggesting that Kingdom Hearts 4 could release in 2026 are to be believed.

Kingdom Hearts 4 platforms

Square Enix is yet to confirm the Kingdom Hearts 4 platforms. Square Enix is currently working closely with Sony, having launched Forspoken, Final Fantasy 16, and Final Fantasy 7: Rebirth as PS5 platform exclusives.

However, given that Kingdom Hearts has traditionally launched across a wider array of systems, we're hopeful that it'll also land on PC, Xbox Series X, and potentially even the Switch 2.

Kingdom Hearts 4 trailer

We got our first look at the Kingdom Hearts 4 trailer in April 2022, as Square Enix celebrated the series' 20th anniversary. It came as a shock to fans of the series, not only because of the unexpected nature of the reveal but also because it features an art style that is completely different to anything Kingdom Hearts has had before.

The photo-realistic trailer features appearances from Sora, Strelitzia, a Darkside heartless, a brief appearance from Donald and Goofy, and a little gameplay in the world of Quadratum. It's all very exciting, and honestly, the short teaser reminds us why Kingdom Hearts is one of the best anime games still to this day!

Kingdom Hearts 4 story

Back in 2022, it was said that Kingdom Hearts 4 would see an "epic new storyline". But trying to predict exactly what direction the Kingdom Hearts 4 story will go in isn't easy by any means - nobody knows what director Tetsuya Nomura has planned next. What we do know is that this will be the first chapter of 'The Lost Master Arc', which succeeds 'The Dark Seeker Saga' – that's the saga we played through in the previous games.

We also know that some of Kingdom Hearts 4's story takes place in Quadratum, a world made up of neither light or dark that might take place outside of the realm of reality and resembles Shibuya in the real life Tokyo. What this means for Donald and Goofy is yet to be revealed.

As fans of the series will no doubt know, droplets of canon lore can also come from the most unexpected of places when it comes to Kingdom Hearts 4, and Tetsuya Nomura shared some curious fruit lore on the first game's anniversary that's pretty baffling - whether it'll be connected to the next entry's story is a big question mark, but it certainly gave fans some food for thought.

Thankfully, Nomura acknowledged that Kingdom Hearts 4 will be something of a "reset" to keep new players from getting confused, so it'll be interesting to see how approachable the upcoming installment is.

Looking to catch up on the series to prepare for Kingdom Hearts 4? Take a look at our break down of how to play the Kingdom Hearts games in order.

Or if you need a quick recap ahead of the new game, you can check out our article explaining the Kingdom Hearts 3 ending.

Kingdom Hearts 4 gameplay

It's difficult to tell exactly what the Kingdom Hearts 4 gameplay will be like, but we did get a very brief look during that first reveal trailer. From this footage, we can see that a variation of the Flowmotion mechanic will be returning, as well as the usual abilities such as magic and just whacking darkness with the keyblade.

It also looks like Sora will also use the keyblade's keychain as a grappling hook to get him closer to enemies and, like in Kingdom Hearts 3, traverse up the side of buildings.

We got another look at the grappling-hook like movement in a screenshot Square Enix dropped on BlueSky (as seen above), which shows Sora balancing on chains to catapult through the air, with the signature command inputs in the bottom left corner of the screen, which show we can attack, use magic, and access items. Curiously, there's also a "build" option, which may link to how we can use the grappling-hook-like feature, or point towards something else we'll be able to do. We've yet to see this in action to know for sure, but it's certainly exciting.

Elsewhere, we can also see Mickey Mouse atop a chandelier, which could hint at some platforming-style sections, and possibly tease that we may be able to control the famous mouse at certain points.

All signs point to more of the Kingdom Hearts gameplay we know and love but with a few upgrades.

For a refresher on how the previous entry plays, check out our Kingdom Hearts 3 review.

Kingdom Hearts 4 worlds

In terms of Kingdom Hearts 4 worlds, all we know for sure so far is that Quadratum is one of them. Speaking with Game Informer, Tetsuya Nomura has confirmed that Quadratum is the "initial base within the game" and that we will "spend time there and then go to different worlds and then go back there." He also confirmed that "there will be Disney worlds in Kingdom Hearts 4", but is yet to share any details.

All we can do is speculate at this point, but there are some theories about what Disney-themed worlds might be making an appearance – a few eagle-eyed fans have spotted potential references to a Star Wars-themed world in Kingdom Hearts 4.

Using geo-location, some folks have even worked out that the latest screenshot of Sora in combat appears to be set on a street in Tokyo - which may indicate the game will take place in real-world locations.

Kingdom Hearts 4 Sora

Although he may look slightly different from his previous appearances, there will be a Kingdom Hearts 4 Sora. The spikey-haired guardian of light is a main staple of the Kingdom Hearts series and has appeared in almost all 13 of the games.

This time around, Sora will sport a much more realistic look. As we can see from the reveal trailer, his hair is a little less tall and his clown shoes have been swapped for a pair that actually fit him. Don't panic though, he's still going to wield the signature Kingdom Key keyblade.

Kingdom Hearts 4 Strelitzia 

Kingdom Hearts 4's Strelitzia appeared alongside Sora in the reveal trailer. This mysterious girl was thought to be a newcomer to the series, however, those who played Kingdom Hearts Union X know exactly who she is. So, who is Strelitzia in Kingdom Hearts 4?

We won't spoil anything in case you do go back and play the full series, but let's just say that Strelitzia is a keyblade wielder whose story takes place years before Sora, Donald, and Goofy get together. How she ended up with Sora will hopefully be revealed in the upcoming game.

Kingdom Hearts 4 Final Fantasy 

A big question is will Kingdom Hearts 4 have Final Fantasy characters? If you've already played through Kingdom Hearts 3, you would have noticed the distinct lack of Final Fantasy characters. The first two games in the series feature cameos from Cloud Strife, Sephiroth, Squall 'Leon' Leonheart, Aerith Gainsborough, Yuffie Kisaragi, Cid Highwind, and more.

As for whether we'll see any of these characters again, Tetsuya Nomura has said that the future of Final Fantasy characters in Kingdom Hearts is currently uncertain.

Check out some of the best JRPGs to play while you wait for Kingdom Hearts 4